Asked by darwin

What should you not do in the security screen on the back of a check? Why?

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
You should not write, sign, stamp, staple, tape, highlight, or otherwise mark inside the printed security/endorsement screen on the back of a check.

Why:
- That area is reserved for the bank’s processing marks and endorsements (stamps, serials, machine-readable marks). Marking it can obscure those marks and cause delays or rejection.
- The screen is a tamper‑detection feature; writing over it can hide evidence of alteration or defeat the security design.
- Extra marks can interfere with automated scanning/OCR and the MICR processing used to clear the check.

Best practice: endorse only in the designated endorsement area and follow any printed instructions (e.g., “Endorse here” or “Do not write below this line”).