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Know your new “CTS-2010 Standard” Bank Cheque Format

By / September 21, 2016

It is now mandatory for banks to strictly issue standardised and enhanced new format of cheques called CTS-2010. Which will be available from 30th Sept 2012. Also already circulated cheques will be replaced within 31st December 2012. So it is necessary for all to understand how your new cheque format looks like.

Latest news-Deadline of 31st December 2012 is extended to 31st March 2013 from RBI. To see full details on new extension Click Here

1) Paper-Same specification will continue related to paper specification as it exist now. In addition to that, paper should be image friendly and have protection against any alteration by having new features as chemical sensitivity to acids, alkalis, bleaches and solvents giving  clear visibility of alteration. New cheque will not glow under Ultra-Violet light. This will make all cheques feel like same across all banks.

2) All cheques carry standardised watermark called “CTS-INDIA” which can be seen when you held cheque against light. This feature will avoid fraudulent from photocopying or printing it. Mark will be in oval shape, and diameter of it is 2.6 to 3.0 cms. Each cheque will have atleast one full mark. Sample of the same will look like this.

 

3) VOID pantograph-Pantograph with hidden or embedded “COPY” or “VOID” will appear in the cheque. This feature will not be visible on the scanned image at the resolution specified in CTS but will easily visible on photocopies and scanned images because the resolution used during such process will content higher resolution which is specified in CTS.  This will ensure photocopying and scanning of cheque.

4) Bank Logo-It will be printed in ultra-violet ink. The logo will be captured or visible in ultra violet enabled scanners. It will establishes genuineness of cheque.

5) Field placement of cheque-Placement of significant fields are made mandatory but additional fields can be added by banks with their wish. This will make capturing optical/Image character recognition (OCR/ICR) in offline mode and help banks in automating their payments. Sample of the cheque will looks like below.

6) Colour and Background-Light/Pastel colours will be mandated for cheques.  But the finalisation will be after consultation with Indian Bank Association and National Payment Corporation of India.

7) Clutter free background-Background will be keep clutter free as possible for improving  quality and clarity of images.

8) Alterations/Correction on cheques-No changes or corrections should be carried out on cheques (except for date validation purpose, if required).

9) Printing of account field-All cheques should be issued with the account number field pre-printed. Especially this is must for current accounts.

10) Additional security features-Other than above mandatory features cheque may content below few features based on Banks own risk calculation.

a) Supplementary watermark containing their own logo, b) embedded fluorescent fibers, c) fugitive ink,  d) Secondary fluorescent ink, e) micro-letting, f) toner fusing, g) check-sum, h) patterns, i) floral designs, j) bleeding ink, k) structural magnetic,  l) security thread, m) hot stamped holograms on multi city cheques and drafts, n) auto-detection tools, o) use of UV band to identify amount in words, amount in figures, signature and beneficiary name, p) pre-encoding of amount field on the MICR bandfor DDs and pay orders before issuing to customers. q) use of check-sum on the face of DDs and pay orders (other than MICR band). But the above said additional features are based on rules and regulation of CTS-2010.

Hope I simplified as much as possible. Few words are new to me too. But use generic wordings for better understand for all.

 

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77 thoughts on “Know your new “CTS-2010 Standard” Bank Cheque Format”

  2. s k mahendra

    MY BANK HAS CHARGED FOR FIRST CHEQUE BOOK ISSUANCE OF CTS CHEQUES WHERE AS FIRST CHEQUE BOOK SHOULD BE ISSUED FREE. COULD YOU PLEASE MAIL MR “RBI CIRCULAR WHERE IT WAS MENTIONED THAT FIRST CHEQUE BOOK TO BE ISSUED FREE” ON MY MAIL ID [email protected]

    Reply
  3. Navatha

    HI,

    Is it necessary that cheques should have the name of the account holder printed? Because for a ECS transfer some of the financial institutions insist on personalised cheques or alternatively ask us to get an account authorising form signed by the bank authorities.

    Reply
  8. Umakant

    Indian Bank charges rupees thirty for one CTS-2010 cheque book, from customers. Is this allowed? The account is an old one.

    Reply
    1. BasuNivesh

      Umakant-I heard the same news that few banks started to collect these charges. In my view it is unfair and I think RBI guidelines also not specify about charges. Let us see what will unfold in coming days.

      Reply
  10. Jaideep

    Thanks Basu! I have confirmed with SBI that the date has been extended until 31 March 2013. Just a matter of info for all other readers – SBI shall be charging such cheques with Rs. 2 per leaf for multi city operation, for accounts opened before 2012. For accounts opened this year, only the first cheque book issued will be free of cost, thereafter even they shall be charged. Normal single city cheques are not being issued. I fail to understand SBI’s motive to earn from such mode, from the general public for savings accounts.

    Reply
  11. Jaideep

    As per the latest news, the mandatory date has been extended to 31 March 2012. Is it correct? Secondly, do you have any knowledge that the leading private banks like Axis, HDFC, ICICI, etc – have been issuing such CTS 2010 compliant cheque books since 2010?

    Reply
    1. BasuNivesh

      Jaideep-I dont have any idea about neither of new date what you mentioned nor the issuing of CTS 2010 cheques since 2010. May be they are issuing but not in full fledged. Hence to make it uniformity RBI came with these new guidelines.

      Reply
  13. P C SUBRAMANIAN

    I enquired with SBT whether to change my holding cheque book to obtain the new CTS-2010. What has been orally informed is that so long the details relaing to the A/c No. Micr No. and IFSC etc are availabe in the cheque leaf already held, it may be sufficient and need not change the cheque book. Is it correct ?

    Reply
    1. BasuNivesh

      Subramanian-All the things like your account number, MICR and IFSC code remain same. But your cheque will be in new format.

      Reply
  15. Saravanan P

    Useful information. Thank you for your efforts to put up the information for people awareness. It shows your social commitment.

    Reply
    1. BasuNivesh

      Saravanan P-Thanks for commenting and certifying my efforts. Hope you share these information with your friends and relatives too.

      Reply
  17. T.Satyanarayana

    Basuji, You made me understand well about CTS 2010 standard cheques.The information about these cheques is even not known to some of our bank staff also.Any how thanks to u for the information and I have received the same format cheques from my bank.

    Reply
  18. Dr Nethaji Ganesan

    What does CTS stand for, is not explained in yr article, also the new CTS compliant cheques are fool proof against colour zeroxing, am i right?, i do not know how much of fraud took place due to fake cheques due to zeroxing, my banker tells me that for withdrawls the old cheques are valid only where clearances are involved the CTS Cheques are to be used any way the article was interesting

    Reply
  19. sachin pathak

    Thanks Basu ji, Your information regarding CTS-2010 standard cheques. Same Standard cheque book received by me from my banker.

    Reply
  23. ANIL

    SMSs RECEIVED IN MY VODAFONE NUMBER ********** from MTNL
    FROM :- MM-MTNL PRS>>>>”Dear customer, as per RBI guideline only CTS-2010 standard cheques would be acceptable for making payment towards your MTNL telephone mobile bills.”

    I have received above SMSs. 11 times & again 11 times after 30 minutes.

    Reply
  37. rajeev

    its very good . this has so many information regarding cts cheque and we could know what this cts is and how does it looks.
    rajeev

    Reply

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