Check Reader - Is it worth it?

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Greghc48
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2015 11:23 am

Check Reader - Is it worth it?

Post by Greghc48 »

Just looking at the features that are available with Powerchurch. I've got some mild interest in the check reader feature. Would anyone care to share their experiences using Powerchurch with a check reader, and provide some feedback on it (good or bad)? We are a small church and probably have 50 - 60 contribution checks per week on average that we handle manually now. So.... the volume of checks is not a major driver toward changing what we are doing.

We are using Powerchurch 11.55.

Thanks in advance....

Greg

NeilZ
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Location: Dexter NM
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Re: Check Reader - Is it worth it?

Post by NeilZ »

Greghc48 wrote:Just looking at the features that are available with Powerchurch. I've got some mild interest in the check reader feature. Would anyone care to share their experiences using Powerchurch with a check reader, and provide some feedback on it (good or bad)? We are a small church and probably have 50 - 60 contribution checks per week on average that we handle manually now. So.... the volume of checks is not a major driver toward changing what we are doing.

We are using Powerchurch 11.55.

Thanks in advance....

Greg
It depends ... the check reader is great if the donor gives the same amount every week, not that its that hard to adjust the amounts and/or contribution funds, just that its faster if the donor is always giving to the same funds with the same amounts.

You still have to verify any amount on the check, and if you use envelopes, that the amount matches what is listed as going to the proper contribution fund.

The way it works is that the reader reads the account number off the check, and them matches it up with the saved account number it stored the first time a check was read for that donor. However, a problem for many are those 'checkfree' checks, issued directly from the bank. Very often the checks are written out of the same account at the bank where they accumulate such EFT type transaction amounts. So if you have two or more people paying their contributions directly from the bank, you need to process those manually, otherwise the system will only pull up the first donor matched to that checking account number.

As you can see, there are pros and cons.
Neil Zampella

Using PC+ since 1999.

Greghc48
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2015 11:23 am

Re: Check Reader - Is it worth it?

Post by Greghc48 »

Thanks Neil -

I'd say with our volume, we'll just keep handling manually. Also - we do have that situation re: bank issued checks on several donations. The reader would probably cause us more confusion then what it would be worth..

Thanks again for your thoughts....

Greg

Deb Frye
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Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 10:34 am

Re: Check Reader - Is it worth it?

Post by Deb Frye »

We began using the check reader in 2016 and it has really been a good thing for us. We are a church of about 75-100 contributors a week and it took a few hours to record the checks when doing it manually. Now its takes about an hour. You do have to make sure the amounts and funds are the same, but if they are it is a breeze. I would recommend it.

Greghc48
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Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2015 11:23 am

Re: Check Reader - Is it worth it?

Post by Greghc48 »

Thanks !!

wms7328
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Location: Unity Presbyterian Church
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Re: Check Reader - Is it worth it?

Post by wms7328 »

I would highly recommend the check reader. It cuts down on errors and also captures the check number for you which is great if you are trying to trace a contribution from someone that thinks they gave a check. It's a one time investment and over the years if it reduces errors it's well worth the expense.

Greghc48
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2015 11:23 am

Re: Check Reader - Is it worth it?

Post by Greghc48 »

Thanks for your input --- we'll keep thinking about it.

Appreciate your comment.

Greg

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