Patent ID: 7636690

Claim:
A method of selecting alternate magnetic character ink recognition (MICR) data, the method comprising: storing a record of first MICR data associated with a first successfully processed check from a payor; receiving an indication that a second check from the payor failed to clear because at least a portion of second MICR data associated with the second check is incorrect, wherein the second check is different from the first check; reading a personal identification code associated with the payor, wherein the personal identification code was provided in association with the second check; locating the first MICR data associated with the first successfully processed check from the payor using the personal identification code; comparing, at a check acceptance computer, at least the incorrect portion of the second MICR data with a corresponding portion of the first MICR data to determine a number of differing digits; and submitting, by the check acceptance computer, the second check for processing using at least a portion of the first MICR data if the number of differing digits between the compared portions of the first and second MICR data is less than or equal to a predetermined number, the second check having previously failed to clear when submitted for processing using the second MICR data.