New cheque specifications are a key part of plan to modernize Canadas cheque clearing system through image technology.  The new specifications are designed to ensure that high-quality images can be captured from the cheques for use by the Canadian Payments Association, financial institutions and their customers, and to make cheque processing more efficient.  For more information see Cheque Imaging: A Change Whose Time Has Come. The new cheque specifications are now in effect and are used for the production of new cheques.

Printers and companies that print their own cheques are encouraged to begin making the required system changes as early as possible.  All Canadian business cheques should conform with the specifications by June 30, 2007.  Personal cheques in the new format are now available.  Since the vast majority of personal cheques are ordered through financial institutions and there is less variation in their formats, it will likely be possible to continue to process most old format personal cheques on an interim basis until a new supply is needed, as long as satisfactory images can be captured from them.

To assist you in gaining more information regarding the new CPA Standard 006 Specifications For MICR-Encoded Payment Items please log on to the internet and follow the links below:

for general CPA information click here
               
for detailed CPA information regarding the new Standard 006 Specifications for MICR-Encoded Payment Items click here

for a quick guide to the new CPA Standard 006 Specifications For MICR-Encoded Payment Items click here
(Scroll down to "Specifications for Imageable Cheques Quick Reference, updated June 20 2006, pdf")

for MICR Specification Sheets: click here  (Scroll down to Appendix III)
 
for Proposed Specifications for "Image-Friendly" MICR-encoded Gift Certificates, Store Coupons and Paper Pre-Authorized Debits (PADS)
click here
(Click on proposed specifications to open a specific PDF document)

-- Source, Canadian Payments Association