KARACHI: The State Bank on Monday issued fresh instructions for enhancing security features in cheques while it amended some previous guidelines.

“For paper security, banks are required to ensure that all cheques contain printer’s logo or name as a watermark,” said the SBP circular. The watermark can be single or multi tone.

However, it must be ensured that Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) readability is not adversely affected by such watermarks.

Further, the paper used for cheques must contain at least one Invisible Ultraviolet (UV) security feature, such as UV fibres, UV Hi-Lites or any other.”

“At least the MICR code line shall be impact printed using the bleed through technology while the usage of bleed through technology on any other field of the cheque is optional for banks. It must be ensured that bleed through feature in the MICR code line or any other place is not laser printed,” said the circular.