Check scanners, another geek toy to drool over
Friends, I’m crazy about new toys. I like playing with them; I like learning them; and I like the status of having them. Some of you are with me, and some of you think I’m a little obsessive in that. Today, I watched a webinar from Profit Stars on their Remit Plus software. Our bank has been pushing us to perform a remote deposit capture, which basically means that instead of taking a group of paper checks to the bank for deposit, we would upload check images to the bank digitally. If only they’d accept scans of cash, we’d do it today.
Their software, in conjunction with a good check scanner, does some cool stuff. One thing that I really like is that you can scan the check and the software will use OCR to decipher the CAR/LAR information on it. 
Basically, the software reads what you wrote (in your own handwriting) in the CAR field (ie: $100.00) and the LAR field (ie: One hundred and XX/100 dollars). Then it compares those numbers. If it is certain that they match, you don’t have to process that check. If not, you have to 10-key the amount in.
This is all done in conjunction with a check scanner, possibly a Canon CR 180 (pictured at right). This particular scanner, which I would love to see in our building, scans checks and performs the analysis of them at a rate of 180 checks per minute. WOAH! So, it reads the MICR data (bank routing number, account number, and check number), scans the front and back of the check, and prints an endorsement on the back of each one at a rate of 180 per minute. Again, WOAH! Check out this video, if for no other reason, you’ve got to hear the soundtrack.
We’re currently using a Magtek MICR Image to scan checks. The beauty of that is not having to use a different piece of software. The Magtek links right in to ACS, and the check image is saved in our ACS software. We think that saving the images is important so that when disputes come in, we can show the donor their check. It has made a lot of situations smoother for us. So, we scan the check, it reads the MICR data, pulls up the associated donor, and we 10-key the amount from the check and associate it with the fund they’re donating to. The downsides of this setup, compared to the other, fancier scanner are that this model does not have a hopper, so each check must be fed individually. Also, it only scans one side, so it cannot be electronically transmitted to the bank. The physical checks still have to be deposited. Finally, we have to 10-key the amounts where the other system has OCR do everything it can.
Is the personnel time valuable enough to make the investment? I sure don’t know. We’ll see what the bank is willing to pay for to get us hooked into this. I want the toy, but it needs to be a wise investment before I’m willing to jump in. Any of you using a similar setup?
My church is using the EXACT same setup as the one you are currently using! That is a little bit freaky!