Authorised company cheque suppliers - APACS standards and security features

Who are APACS ?

The Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) is a consortium common to all clearing banks who have been charged with setting and establishing the standard for Cheque Printing in the UK.

Why have the standards changed?

Automated cheque processing capabilities have been installed by Banks at enormous cost to streamline routines and speed up clearance of cheques through banks. These installations require a standardisation of cheque designs so that image readers can select information from predetermined positions on each cheque. This specifically affects 2" restraint area occupying the right hand edge of the cheque.

Cheque counterfeiting and fraudulent alteration is widespread. These white collar crimes saw a 30% upturn during 1993 when colour copiers and use of solvents have made the life to easy for determined criminals. The new paper and inks to be used will foil such activity. Changes here relate to the fugitive background inks used on cheques and the opportunity for automated readers to detect fraudulent alterations.

The standard effects the following:

Voucher size, the clear band area at the foot of the cheque, printing within the 2" restraint area, positioning and type style of the sorting code, the contrast levels between background and printed matter, format of the payee and amount in words lines and most importantly the amount box and £ symbol.

Security features related to paper and fugitive ink are:

Fluorescence CBS1 paper shall be UV dull - i.e. showing no fluorescence or brightness when tested under Ultra Violet light. The inclusion of coloured fibres, or any form of similar bright features (planchettes or fibres) in CBS1 is prohibited.

Paper CBS1 paper shall also have protection against alteration by having chemical sensitivity to acids, alkali's, bleaches and solvents giving a visible result after fraudulent attack.

Print The name of the printer of the base stock and, if practicable, the date (or at least month and year) of production of the stock shall appear on the face of the cheque. It shall be above the clear band, it shall be printed vertically on the extreme left of the cheque (after end margins, if applicable, have been removed) using a small but legible font. Where the personalisation is undertaken separately, the date of personalisation may be printed at the bottom left of the cheque above the clear band.

Design Features Strong design features are not permitted in the restraint area.

Conclusion

It is the cheque supplier and printer's responsibility to ensure that end users' cheques conform in every way to the APACS standard. End users should have the right to expect proper and complete guidance. More full details of the standard can be provided on request.