Patent ID: 8126807

Claim:
A method for processing paper checks, comprising: a) receiving at a third party payment processor computer at least one data file containing a plurality of transaction records, each transaction record including MICR information for one paper check used in a transaction and an amount for the transaction, the transaction records being received without an image file; b) identifying a first portion of the transaction records associated with an indication of an end of a trial period; c) identifying a second portion of the transaction records that are not associated with any end of trial period; d) scanning said batch of checks thereby creating a digital image of the checks and, for each said check, associating said image with said check's MICR information; e) processing at the third party payment processor computer said check transactions according to type and associated trial period indicator according to all of the following rules: i) ACH-eligible transactions found in the first portion that are beyond the trial period are submitted to the ACH network for settlement without first being submitted to a matching protocol that searches for image files that match data files; ii) ACH-ineligible transactions found in the first portion that are beyond the trial period are submitted to the matching protocol to match image files to data files before being submitted for settlement; iii) ACH-eligible transactions found in the first portion that are not beyond the trial period are submitted to the matching protocol to match image files to data files before being submitted for settlement; iv) ACH-ineligible transactions found in the first portion that are not beyond the trial period are submitted to the matching protocol to match image files to data files before being submitted for settlement; v) ACH-ineligible transaction records found in the second portion are submitted to the matching protocol to match image files to data files before being submitted for settlement; and vi) ACH-eligible transaction records found in the second portion are submitted to the ACH network for settlement without first being submitted to the matching protocol to match image files to data files.