Positive Pay Check Printing & Payee Best Practices – Grasshopper Bank

Positive Pay utilizes advanced imaging to read the payee name directly from the presented check and compares it against your issued check file. If the names do not match, an exception is created for your review. Following these best practices will streamline your processing and prevent unnecessary exceptions.

Check Printing Best Practices

Check Stock	Use checks that meet ANSI standards for business checks, with 24 lb MICR bond. Avoid artwork or logos that make the check image hard to capture, especially near the payee name. Artwork that is translucent or opaque and does not reduce image quality is acceptable.
Ink and Printers	Use black ink only. Use a PostScript printer, such as a laser printer, or another digital printer. Do not use dot-matrix printers.
Font and Spacing	Preferred font is Arial. Other acceptable fonts include: Times New Roman, Courier, Verdana, Univers, Tahoma, Albertus, Batang, Bookman, and Zurich. Use font size 10 on PostScript printers. Size 14 if measured at 200 dpi. Fixed pitch about or about 10 characters per inch. Leave enough space between letters so each letter is clear. For example, LIVE can be read as UVE if the letters are too close. Print a check and confirm the characters do not touch each other.
Date	The recommended date format on the check is MM/DD/YY.

Payee Best Practices

Payee Name Formatting

Do	Do Not
Print the payee name in UPPER CASE	Handwrite the payee name
Use as little punctuation as possible. UNITED WE STAND is better than UNITED-WE-STAND!	Use asterisks or unusual special characters
Use 96 characters or fewer	Use extra spaces, underlining, italics, or bold
Use the same payee name on the check and in the issued check data	Use different spellings of the same payee

Acceptable Characters

Letters A to Z and a to z
Numbers 0 to 9
Punctuation: , . : ; / & # @ ( ) ' — +

⚠️ Important Note: A payee name can use more than one line. Each line break is read as a space. The recommended date format on the check is MM/DD/YY.

Payee Name Placement

Place the payee name near the "Pay to the Order Of" line, to the right of it or just below it.
Horizontally, do not extend the payee name past the middle of the check.
Vertically, place the payee name just below the middle of the check. Do not extend it into the bottom quarter of the check or touch the MICR line.
Keep the payee name in a clear area with no other text, lines, or stamps touching it.

Maintain Payee Data

Enter payee names the same way each time in the accounting system and issued check files.
Add each payee once in Settings > Check Payees. Avoid different spellings of the same payee.
Review decision rules and approval rules that use Payee Name.

Correcting a Payee Mismatch

Select Exceptions
Select the check exception
Select the check image and compare the printed payee name to the issued check. Look for:
- A formatting difference, such as punctuation or abbreviation
- A data entry error in the issued check
- A print or image quality problem
- A possible alteration or fraud
If the issued check is incorrect and the check is valid, correct the issued check.
1. Select Issued Checks
2. Select the check that needs to be fixed
3. Correct the payee name
4. Select Save.
When the corrected issued check matches the presented check, the exception is removed.
1. If the check appears altered, select Return and follow the company's fraud review processs.
  1. Select a return reason, if prompted.
  2. Enter a note, if required.
2. Click Submit.

Support

If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, you contact Client Services Monday-Friday 9am-9pm ET by dialing 888.895.9685 or emailing support@grasshopper.bank.

For your convenience, we also offer support via secure message or chat.