Appendix D to Part 229

(1) The depositary bank shall indorse an original check or substitute check according to the following specifications:

(i) The indorsement shall contain -

(A) The bank's nine-digit routing number, set off by an arrow at each end of the number and pointing toward the number, and, if the depositary bank is a reconverting bank with respect to the check, an asterisk outside the arrow at each end of the routing number to identify the bank as a reconverting bank;

(B) The indorsement date; and

(C) The bank's name or location, if the depositary bank applies the indorsement physically.

(ii) The indorsement also may contain -

(A) A branch identification;

(B) A trace or sequence number;

(C) A telephone number for receipt of notification of large-dollar returned checks; and

(D) Other information, provided that the inclusion of such information does not interfere with the readability of the indorsement.

(iii) The indorsement, if applied to an existing paper check, shall be placed on the back of the check so that the routing number is wholly contained in the area 3.0 inches from the leading edge of the check to 1.5 inches from the trailing edge of the check.^[31]

(iv) When printing its depositary bank indorsement (or a depositary bank indorsement that previously was applied electronically) onto a substitute check at the time that the substitute check is created, a reconverting bank shall place the indorsement on the back of the check between 1.88 and 2.74 inches from the leading edge of the check. The reconverting bank may omit the depositary bank's name and location from the indorsement.

(2) Each subsequent collecting bank or returning bank indorser shall protect the identifiability and legibility of the depositary bank indorsement by indorsing an original check or substitute check according to the following specifications:

(i) The indorsement shall contain only -

(A) The bank's nine-digit routing number (without arrows) and, if the collecting bank or returning bank is a reconverting bank with respect to the check, an asterisk at each end of the number to identify the bank as a reconverting bank;

(B) The indorsement date, and

(C) An optional trace or sequence number.

(ii) The indorsement, if applied to an existing paper check, shall be placed on the back of the check from 0.0 inches to 3.0 inches from the leading edge of the check.

(iii) When printing its collecting bank or returning bank indorsement (or a collecting bank or returning bank indorsement that previously was applied electronically) onto a substitute check at the time that the substitute check is created, a reconverting bank shall place the indorsement on the back of the check between 0.25 and 2.50 inches from the trailing edge of the check.

(3) A reconverting bank shall comply with the following specifications when creating a substitute check:

(i) If it is a depositary bank, collecting bank, or returning bank with respect to the substitute check, the reconverting bank shall place its own indorsement onto the back of the check as specified in this appendix.

(ii) A reconverting bank that also is the paying bank with respect to the substitute check shall so identify itself by placing on the back of the check, between 0.25 and 2.50 inches from the trailing edge of the check, its nine-digit routing number (without arrows) and an asterisk at each end of the number.

(iii) The reconverting bank shall place on the front of the check, outside the image of the original check, its nine-digit routing number (without arrows) and an asterisk at each end of the number, in accordance with ANS X9.100-140.

(iv) The reconverting bank shall place on the front of the check, outside the image of the original check, the truncating bank's nine-digit routing number (without arrows) and a bracket at each end of the number, in accordance with ANS X9.100-140.

(4) Any indorsement, reconverting bank identification, or truncating bank identification placed on an original check or substitute check shall be printed in black ink.

Footnotes - Appendix D to Part 229

^[31] The leading edge is definded as the right side of the check looking at it from the front. The trailing edge is defined as the left side of the check looking at it from the front. See American National Standards Specifications for the Placement and Location of MICR Printing, X9.13.

[Reserved]