| Business checks are written everyday at | | | | checks received in the office at the end of |
| almost every place of business. At age 18, | | | | the day are totaled together and deposited |
| anyone with the adequate amount of money can | | | | into the bank account. |
| open a checking account of his or her own. | | | | |
| | | | When the person responsible goes to the bank |
| One aspect of checking account functions that | | | | and makes the deposit for the business, he or |
| many account owners are not familiar with the | | | | she hands a large number of checks to the |
| processing of their checks after they have | | | | bank teller. The teller will then verify the |
| been written. When shopping, the customer | | | | amount of the deposit to the total amount of |
| many times thinks to his or herself whether | | | | the checks. |
| he or she should pay cash, charge it, or pay | | | | |
| for the purchase with a check. He or she may | | | | After the deposit has been verified and all |
| ponder this question in their mind all the | | | | numbers are correct, the teller will then run |
| way to the check out counter. | | | | the checks through the proof machine to be |
| | | | verified again. The proof machine also |
| When the customer makes the decision to pay | | | | encodes the amount on the bottom right hand |
| for the merchandise with a check, a long | | | | corner of the check. When all of the work has |
| process is started. This process begins when | | | | been ran through the proof machine it is then |
| the check is handed over to the cashier. Once | | | | sorted by an automatic sorter that sorts the |
| all information has been properly placed on | | | | checks by their routing numbers. |
| the check the cashier then will normally ask | | | | |
| for two things, a home phone number and a | | | | After the checks have been sorted they are |
| driver's license number. | | | | sent to the bank that they have been drawn |
| | | | on. Once the checks arrive at the banks they |
| Once all of the necessary information has | | | | are drawn on, they are then sorted by their |
| been placed on the check by both the cashier | | | | account numbers. As these checks are being |
| and the customer the check is scanned in the | | | | sorted they are posted to the account |
| automatic check reader. This check reader | | | | automatically. The checks then, in account |
| recognizes the customers account number, | | | | number order are placed in a safe filing area |
| A.B.A. number (or routing number), as well as | | | | so they will not be lost until the bank |
| the check number. | | | | statements are sent to the account owners. |
| | | | |
| The computer system can then recognize the | | | | The check or a copy of the check is then sent |
| specific account and check to make sure that | | | | to the account owner in the mail with his or |
| there are no returned checks on that account. | | | | her statement. In the case that a copy of the |
| Once the check is approved, it is then | | | | check is sent to the owner the check is kept |
| printed or endorsed on the back with all | | | | in a safe place until it can be properly |
| proper information for deposits, including | | | | destroyed. |
| the amount of the purchase, cash back | | | | |
| received (if applicable), store location | | | | This is only one example of the way a check |
| number, date, time, cashier number, and the | | | | is cleared through a certain business. |
| customer's account number. | | | | Although, the basic concept of check clearing |
| | | | is the same, each individual company may go |
| The cashier then stores the check in a locked | | | | through its own processing procedure before |
| box until it is time for them to go home. All | | | | depositing the check to the bank. Most banks |
| checks are then added together to make sure | | | | handle their business checks in approximately |
| none are missing and to make sure the cashier | | | | the same manner. |
| put all checks in for the correct amount. All | | | | |