Why did my bank not honor a printed check?

When switching to a new service provider for check printing, it’s not uncommon to encounter issues with banks rejecting or holding checks. To reduce risk, we recommend first sending a small “test” check (e.g. $0.01) before issuing live vendor payments.

Some common reasons a bank may not honor a printed check include:

• New account restrictions – If this is the first time the account has been used for issuing checks, the bank may have security blocks in place that prevent check issuance until cleared.

• Fraud prevention measures – A sudden change in the check format or printing style can trigger fraud alerts, leading the bank to reject or hold the check.

• Formatting issues – Elements like signatures, logos, or security features that overlap with critical areas of the check (such as the MICR line) can interfere with processing.

If this happens, we recommend contacting your bank to confirm the specific reason and ensure the account and check format are fully approved for future use.