GB2037661A - Printing bank cheques - Google Patents

Abstract

In a process of printing personal bank cheques, a photograph of the account holder is reproduced on each cheque. The photograph may be reproduced at the same time as the account holder's name and account number are printed on the cheques, e.g. by use of a printing plate carrying the photograph, name and account number. Alternatively, the photograph may be reproduced by xerography.

Description

SPECIFICATION Printing bank cheques This invention relates to the printing of bank cheques, and mc.e specifically to the printing of cheques for personal account holders.

In the normal process for printing personal bank cheques, a colour background is printed on to the paper to make forgery more difficult, together with particulars of the bank and the branch. Subsequently batches of cheques are printed in magnetic ink (for subsequent computer processing) with the branch code and with a serial number for each cheque and each batch is made up into a cheque book. The account holder's name and account number may also be printed on the cheques at this stage, at the bank's central printing works, or they may be printed at a later stage, e.g. at the branch immediately before the book is issued to the account holder.

Much difficulty is caused to both account holders and shopkeepers by the misuse of stolen cheque books. If the shopkeeper does not insist on the production of a bank card, or if the card has been stolen with the cheque book and is also produced, he has no means of verifying the signature on a cheque.

It is an object of the invention to make such verification easier.

According to the present invention, in a process of printing personal bank cheques as described above, a photograph of the account holder is reproduced on each cheque during the printing before issue of the cheques to the account holder. Thus the photograph may be reproduced on the cheques at the same time as the account holder's name and account number are printed thereon, or before or after such printing.

In this way, any attempt by a person other than the account holder to pass a cheque can be much more easily detected. Even if the quality of reproduction of the photograph on the cheques is not particularly high, it is relatively easy to see whether the person presenting the cheque resembles the person shown in the photograph.

In cases wh,ere the account holder's name and account number are printed on the cheques at the bank's central printing works, a master copy or a printing plate cf the account holder's photograph will be held in the bank's records at the printing works to enable the photograph to be reproduced on the cheques at the same stage.

In cases where the account holde's name and account number are printed on the cheques at the branch immediately before issue of a cheque book, the master copy or plate of the photograph will be held at the branch for reproduction on the cheques at that stage.

The photograph may be simply reproduced by xerography from a standard type of photograph like a passport photograph. In that case, where final printing is effected by the issuing branch, the only additional equipment required is a xerographic copying machine at the branch, preferably with a mechanism for turning over the cheques in the book to enable them to have the photograph successively reproduced on each at high speed. This step can take place either before or after the printing of the name and account number.

Alternatively, where the photograph q reproduced on the cheques by use of a printing plate, either at a central printing works or at the branch which issues the cheque book, the printing plate may also carry the account hoider's name and account number so that the photograph, name and number are printed on to the cheques in a single operation.

1. A process of printing personal cheques, in which each cheque is printed with particulars of the bank and the branch, the branch code and an individual serial number and a batch of cheques making up a cheque book is also prated with the account holder's name and account number, wherein a photograph of the account holder is also reproduced on each cheque during the printing before issue of the cheque book to the account holder.

2. A process according to Claim 1 wherein the photograph is reproduced on the cheques at the same time as the account holder's name and account number are printed thereon.

3. A process according to Claim 2 wherein the photograph is reproduced on each cheque by means of a printing plate which also carries the account hoider's name and account number.

4. A process according to Claim 1 wherein the photograph is reproduced on each cheque by means of xerography.

5. A process of printing personal bank cheques, substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Printing bank cheques This invention relates to the printing of bank cheques, and mc.e specifically to the printing of cheques for personal account holders. In the normal process for printing personal bank cheques, a colour background is printed on to the paper to make forgery more difficult, together with particulars of the bank and the branch. Subsequently batches of cheques are printed in magnetic ink (for subsequent computer processing) with the branch code and with a serial number for each cheque and each batch is made up into a cheque book. The account holder's name and account number may also be printed on the cheques at this stage, at the bank's central printing works, or they may be printed at a later stage, e.g. at the branch immediately before the book is issued to the account holder. Much difficulty is caused to both account holders and shopkeepers by the misuse of stolen cheque books. If the shopkeeper does not insist on the production of a bank card, or if the card has been stolen with the cheque book and is also produced, he has no means of verifying the signature on a cheque. It is an object of the invention to make such verification easier. According to the present invention, in a process of printing personal bank cheques as described above, a photograph of the account holder is reproduced on each cheque during the printing before issue of the cheques to the account holder. Thus the photograph may be reproduced on the cheques at the same time as the account holder's name and account number are printed thereon, or before or after such printing. In this way, any attempt by a person other than the account holder to pass a cheque can be much more easily detected. Even if the quality of reproduction of the photograph on the cheques is not particularly high, it is relatively easy to see whether the person presenting the cheque resembles the person shown in the photograph. In cases wh,ere the account holder's name and account number are printed on the cheques at the bank's central printing works, a master copy or a printing plate cf the account holder's photograph will be held in the bank's records at the printing works to enable the photograph to be reproduced on the cheques at the same stage. In cases where the account holde's name and account number are printed on the cheques at the branch immediately before issue of a cheque book, the master copy or plate of the photograph will be held at the branch for reproduction on the cheques at that stage. The photograph may be simply reproduced by xerography from a standard type of photograph like a passport photograph. In that case, where final printing is effected by the issuing branch, the only additional equipment required is a xerographic copying machine at the branch, preferably with a mechanism for turning over the cheques in the book to enable them to have the photograph successively reproduced on each at high speed. This step can take place either before or after the printing of the name and account number. Alternatively, where the photograph q reproduced on the cheques by use of a printing plate, either at a central printing works or at the branch which issues the cheque book, the printing plate may also carry the account hoider's name and account number so that the photograph, name and number are printed on to the cheques in a single operation. CLAIMS

1. A process of printing personal cheques, in which each cheque is printed with particulars of the bank and the branch, the branch code and an individual serial number and a batch of cheques making up a cheque book is also prated with the account holder's name and account number, wherein a photograph of the account holder is also reproduced on each cheque during the printing before issue of the cheque book to the account holder.

2. A process according to Claim 1 wherein the photograph is reproduced on the cheques at the same time as the account holder's name and account number are printed thereon.

3. A process according to Claim 2 wherein the photograph is reproduced on each cheque by means of a printing plate which also carries the account hoider's name and account number.

4. A process according to Claim 1 wherein the photograph is reproduced on each cheque by means of xerography.

5. A process of printing personal bank cheques, substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example.