Bureau of the Fiscal Service

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OTCnet Printable Job Aid

Capture a Check Offline

To capture a check in offline mode, complete the following steps:

1. From the Check Processing tab, click Check Scan. The Check Scan-Select Open Batch 

page appears.

• If there is internet connectivity and the terminal’s Local Verification Database (LVD) 

is out of date, a message appears asking, “The Check Verification Database is out of 

date, would you like to update the database now?”

• If Yes is clicked, the Download LVD task initiates and the latest copy of the LVD 

downloads to the terminal. After the download is complete, click Close.

• If No is clicked, a message appears asking whether to use the existing database. 

▪ If Yes is clicked, the out-of-date LVD is used. 

▪ If No is clicked, a Check Capture Supervisor must enter his/her online 

credentials and authorize the use of the out-of-date LVD.

2. Under Select Open Batch, if applicable, click Select for the relevant OTC Endpoint to scan a 

check(s).

• When a batch is in use and another user attempts to access the same batch, a Batch 

Lock message appears, stating the batch is in use and that you cannot access the 

batch.

• During the scanning process, if an operator only has access to scan against a single 

OTC Endpoint, the system will not prompt the user to select an OTC Endpoint.

• If an operator has OTC Endpoint has an Open batch, the batch details (Void Count, 

Approved Count, and Amount) are displayed.

• If an Agency is associated with an OTC Endpoint that is designated as a Central 

Accounting Reporting System (CARS) Reporter and accounting codes are not

available for selection, an error message appears and the operator cannot scan a 

check. 

• If an Agency is associated with an OTC Endpoint that is not a CARS Reporter, the 

operator can scan checks. Selecting an accounting code is optional.

Application Tips

Application Tips
Bureau of the Fiscal Service

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OTCnet Printable Job Aid

3. Click Next. The Check Scan page appears as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Check Scan – Perform Check Scan Page

Under ALC+2 (Agency Location Code +2), 

• Verify the OTC Endpoint. To change the OTC Endpoint, click Previous and 

return to Step 2

Under Processing Method,

• Select the Customer Present, Customer Not Present, or Back Office

Under Item Type,

• Select the Personal or Non-personal
Bureau of the Fiscal Service

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OTCnet Printable Job Aid

Table 1. FedACH and Check 21 Item Types

FedACH Check 21

• Direct Deposit of payroll, Social 

Security and other government 

benefits, and tax refunds

• Direct Payment of consumer bills 

such as mortgages, loans, utility bills 

and insurance premiums

• Business-to-business payments

• E checks

• E commerce payments

• Federal, state and local tax 

payments

• Business Checks

• Money Orders

• Treasury Checks

• Credit Card Checks

• Traveler’s Checks

• Cashier’s Checks

• Official Checks

• Third-party Checks

• Payroll Checks

• Checks drawn on state or local 

government

Under Scan Controls, 

• Click Start Scan to scan a check

• Insert the check in the scanner

• The maximum number of check items allowed to be scanned per batch is 3,000.

• Recapture an image of a check if it is inserted upside down; appears skewed; or the 

image is illegible. Click Cancel and reinsert the check in the scanner. Click Start 

Scan and re-enter the necessary data.

• Click Cancel to cancel the transaction. No data will be saved. 

• Click Receipt to access a receipt for review or printing. This is only available once 

the initial check is scanned.

• Click Clear Form to clear the data entered.

• Click Save to save the transaction.

• Click Scanner Config to provide scanner and processing method configuration 

information.

Application Tips

Additional Buttons
Bureau of the Fiscal Service

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OTCnet Printable Job Aid

Under Scanned Check Image, optional

• Click < to view the front of the check

• Click > to view the back of the check

• Click - to reduce the image of the check

• Click + to increase the image of the check

• Click Left Rotate to turn the image to the left

• Click Right Rotate to turn the image to the right

Under Agency Form Data, enter the check data in the field(s) provided

• Enter the Amount, required

OTCnet accepts two different Amount entry formats:

• If the deposit amount is for thirty-five dollars and fifteen cents, enter 35.15. 

• If no decimal point is entered, OTCnet will add a decimal and two zeroes at the end 

and save it as 3515.00 (three thousand five hundred and fifteen dollars).

• The Agency Form Data form is customizable and can include fields beyond the 

Amount field (e.g., Social Security Number). If your Agency has additional fields, 

they are displayed under the Amount field. Your Agency may deem the field(s) 

either mandatory or optional for you to complete an entry.

• If your Agency requires additional fields, contact your Deployment Specialist at 703-

377-5586 or fiscalservice.otcdeployment@citi.com.

• Ensure that you type in the data rather than copying and pasting from another 

source. Data that has been copied and pasted may result in an error.

Consider the following with Batch Mode:

• If you use an EC7000i or EC9100i to scan checks in Batch mode, a READY FOR 

BATCH SCAN, Waiting for check dialog box appears. Insert the checks one at a 

time. The dialog box shows the item count after each scan. When finished

scanning, click Stop.

• If you use a Panini I: Deal, Panini MyVision X, or Panini Vision X to scan 

checks in Batch mode, a READY FOR BATCH SCAN, Waiting for check dialog 

box appears. Insert the checks in the hopper. The dialog box shows the item 

count after each scan. When the hopper is empty or when finished scanning, 

click Stop.

Application Tips

Application Tips
Bureau of the Fiscal Service

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OTCnet Printable Job Aid

Under Agency Accounting Code, if applicable

▪ Click the Agency Accounting Code radio button and select a single 

accounting code from the drop-down list

Or

▪ Click the Multiple radio button. The Account Classification dialog box 

appears.

• Select an Accounting Code, enter the Amount, and click Add for 

each subtotal of the deposit

• Click Save

4. Click Save to save the image of the check and the data you entered. A message appears 

stating the transaction was successfully saved along with the Individual Reference Number

(IRN) and check amount.

While scanning a check, use enter on your keyboard to finalize. Notice that the IRN, 

Bank Number, Check Number, Account Number, Date & Time fields automatically 

populates (located in the frame of the Agency Form Data).

Click Return Home to return to the OTCnet Home Page.

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