When you order from Bradford Exchange Checks, you may wonder what personal information you should have printed on your checks. It’s a good question: after all, choosing the right information to include on your checks is an important part of protecting yourself from identity theft, keeping your finances safe, and making sure the information you need is on your checks. Some personal information should be preprinted on every check, other information may occasionally need to be written on individual checks, and some info should never go on your check at all.

What You Should Have Preprinted on Checks

All checks must have your bank routing number and your account number printed on them. Your name and address should also be printed on your checks. Most businesses require that these pieces of personal information be preprinted by the check company–not handwritten–on checks in order to be accepted. In addition, a check number is also required on your checks.

What You May Sometimes Need on a Check

From time to time, you may be asked to include your phone number on your check. It is advisable to have your phone number preprinted on checks, although it is acceptable to simply hand write your phone number with a pen on a check when the need arises.

In addition, some places may want you to include your driver’s license number on your check. Never have this info preprinted; it is best to always avoid even hand printing this on your checks.. If your driver’s license number falls into the wrong hands, it can put you at risk of identity fraud, so always be cautious when disclosing this information.

What to Never Put on a Check

Your social security number should never goes on a check. No business or person will ever need this highly personal information in order to accept a check; a driver’s license number is all that’s necessary, at most. Your SSN is the single most important piece of personal information you have, so always safeguard it closely. If identity thieves get your SSN, they can drain your bank accounts, open new ones, and commit other fraudulent acts.

Bradford Exchange Checks has years of experience in producing quality checks that meet the highest standards of safety and security. All checks produced by Bradford Exchange Checks are made with a full suite of security features to help prevent fraud and keep your finances safe. By making sure to include the proper information on your checks, you can further protect your financial security, and help ensure that you can write every check with confidence. If you have any questions regarding what information should go on your checks, or any other security issues about your checks, feel free to contact Bradford Exchange Checks for more details.