Because the hardware currently can't handle it.
The IBM 3890 or the Unisys sorters that they run on currently couldn't do this. Check processing for any bank is pretty much a losing proposition money wise. No way are they going to spend the money to develop a whole new software to interpret this code or upgrade the hardware to read it. MICR readers on sorters are very tempermental, one dot of micr ink out of place and it reads something crazy.
How do I know? Been working in checks for 14 years and currently at the Federal Reserve with the group that supports and runs the Ck21 initiative.
Slashdot Mirror
Because the hardware currently can't handle it. The IBM 3890 or the Unisys sorters that they run on currently couldn't do this. Check processing for any bank is pretty much a losing proposition money wise. No way are they going to spend the money to develop a whole new software to interpret this code or upgrade the hardware to read it. MICR readers on sorters are very tempermental, one dot of micr ink out of place and it reads something crazy. How do I know? Been working in checks for 14 years and currently at the Federal Reserve with the group that supports and runs the Ck21 initiative.