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TECHNICAL UPDATE VOLUME 5

Volume 5 : Euro Denomination Cheque Specifications

B.1. Introduction
APACS have introduced an annex to the APACS 3.1 Standards for Euro Denominated Cheques. A conscious decision was taken to keep the cost of making these changes as low as possible. The features described below must appear on all cheques and drafts denominated in euros. These are the minimum requirements. If banks or customers wish to add additional identification or even completely redesign their cheques for euros then they may do so provided the minimum requirements are met. Additional identification shall be outside the restraint area.
As specific Transaction codes have been allocated for these items denominated in euros, it is vitally important that euro transaction codes only appear on euro denominated cheques and that sterling transaction codes only appear on sterling cheques, see clause B3.5.
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B.2. Distinguishing Features
The four distinguishing features are:
a. euro symbol in place of the £ symbol at the left of the amount box
b. the words "euro euro euro" between the amount box and the date line
c. a euro symbol in the top right hand corner of the cheque; the sorting code in OCR-B will have to move to the left
d. a bar down the vertical reference edge of the cheque to be level with the date line in a black or dark colour in the same colour as the euro symbol.The distinguishing features are designed to make it obvious to customers, and bank staff, as well as the cheque clearing processing equipment that a cheque is denominated in euros.
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B.3. Detailed Specifications

B.3.1. Currency symbol
The currency symbol replaces the £ symbol. It shall be 4mm high with its right hand edge in the left-hand amount box border. The PCS shall be greater than 0.6 (60%).

Example of currency symbol:

B.3.2. "euro euro euro" between amount box and date line
The words "euro euro euro" shall be printed in the centre of the space between the amount box and the date line. For business cheques it shall be no closer than 2 5/16" (58mm) to the bottom reference edge. The words shall be 1/8" (3.2mm) high in a sans serif lower case font (approximately 16pt).

Example in 16pt Arial font: euro euro euro

B.3.3. euro symbol in top right hand corner of cheque
The euro symbol shall be printed as near as practical to the top right hand corner of the cheque. The symbol shall be between 4mm and 6mm high (preferred). The sorting code number shall be moved to the left in order to accommodate the euro symbol in this position; the rightmost digit of the sorting code shall be 7/10" (18mm) from the vertical reference edge.

B.3.4. Bar down top of vertical reference edge
A bar 1/10" (2.5mm) wide and 3/4" (19mm) or more in length shall be printed down the vertical reference edge of the cheque from as near the top of the cheque as is practical without it bleeding into the voucher document above it, to no lower than the date line position.

B.3.5. Transaction code
Specific euro transaction codes shall be used in the MICR encode line. The transaction code for a non-trunctable corporate cheque ("05") shall always be in location 10 in the MICR line.

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B.4. Ink colour
The above distinguishing features on cheques denominated in euros should be printed in the same colour as the currency symbol, i.e. from the plate with the £/euro symbol on it.

Please contact us or visit the Euro website for further information.

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