Silver Bullet Releases Small Check Scanner MICR Read Performance Benchmark Study

PENSACOLA, Fl., April 12, 2006 -- Pensacola, FL-based Silver Bullet Technology recently completed its MICR read performance benchmark study on small check scanners.  The shift from centralized to distributed capture occurring in the financial industry has sparked concerns with the quality of data captured by the smaller, inexpensive check scanners.  Silver Bullet, in response to market indications of inferior MICR read performance from small check scanners, conducted an independent MICR read performance study. 

With the assistance of Deluxe Corporation, a major US check printer, a MICR stress test deck was assembled and used to perform the analysis.  The stress deck intentionally contains 9 MICR defect conditions representative of the type of defects that exist in live production environments. 

Nine different models from seven check scanner manufacturers were evaluated as part of the study. These scanners represent the most popular brands currently deployed in distributed capture environments.  For each check, the MICR codelines and the front-view black-and-white images were captured using the scanners' default image settings.  MICR read performance was measured for each scanner by counting field level rejects and misreads.

"Our evaluation confirms that the MICR read capability of small check scanners is inferior to the high speed capture equipment used in centralized capture," said Ray Higgins, Silver Bullet's director of business development. "To avoid an increase in the operational costs required to process resulting exceptions, the use of small check scanners will require companion technology to improve their MICR read performance."

For a copy of Silver Bullet's MICR Read Performance Benchmark Study whitepaper analysis, please click here to download.  

About Silver Bullet Technology, Inc.
Pensacola, FL-based Silver Bullet Technology, Inc., the industry's foremost check scanner experts, offers a comprehensive suite of Check 21 solutions and software tools.  Take advantage of Silver Bullet's considerable experience working directly with financial institutions, scanner manufacturers and software vendors.  Silver Bullet's Outrider™ suite includes tools to support scanner independence, to monitor scanners' hardware health remotely, and to insure data quality at the point of capture. Outrider includes four components: Ranger®, the industry's de facto check scanner interface, which gives applications the freedom to use almost any check scanner on the market; Peacemaker™, which reduces posting errors and labor costs associated with MICR rejects by automatically correcting MICR quality issues; Scout™, which monitors the health of deployed check scanners remotely and provides statistical web-based reports; and Ranger IQA™, which sets the standard for FSTC and ANSI X9B compliant data at the source. For more information, visit www.sbullet.com.

About Deluxe Corporation

Deluxe Corporation, through its industry-leading businesses and brands, helps financial institutions and small businesses better manage, promote, and grow their businesses. The company uses direct marketing, distributors, and a North American sales force to provide a wide range of customized products and services: personalized printed items (checks, forms, business cards, stationery, greeting cards, labels, and shipping/packaging supplies), promotional products and merchandising materials, fraud prevention services, and customer retention programs.  The company also sells personalized checks and accessories directly to consumers.  For more information about Deluxe, visit www.deluxe.com.