Regulation (NAP) – Technical Standard for Checks

Banco Central de S. T. P.	N A P PERMANENT APPLICATION STANDARD	CODE
		PS 99
PROPONENTE(S) NI	ENTRY INTO FORCE	ISSUE DATE
	02.01.03	31.12.02

SUBJECT: TECHNICAL STANDARD FOR CHECKS

PERMANENT APPLICATION STANDARD (NAP)

ARTICLE 1

SCOPE OF APPLICATION

1. These instructions apply to all Credit Institutions.

ARTICLE 2

OBJECTIVE OF THE STANDARD

1. This standard aims to standardize the check document, facilitating its use as a payment method in automated systems.

2. To this end, the following aspects are defined:

   a) presentation, format, and respective configuration; b) mandatory text, its layout, and printing; c) paper characteristics and ink requirements for use; d) security features.

Reviewed/Approved	Revocation Data :

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Banco Central de S. T. P.	N A P PERMANENT APPLICATION STANDARD	CODE
		PS 99
PROPONENTE(S) NI	ENTRY INTO FORCE	ISSUE DATE
	02.01.03	31.12.02

ARTICLE 4

FORMAT

1. The following format is established: 85 x 150 mm

2. Tolerance

   a) A maximum tolerance of plus or minus 2 mm is allowed for the adopted format.

ARTICLE 5

CONFIGURATION

1 – Front

a) In accordance with legal provisions and to facilitate the convenient insertion of check details for processing, the configuration is determined as shown in the attached model.

2 – Back

b) The configuration specified in the attached model is determined to ensure protection of the “white zone”.

Reviewed/Approved	Revocation Data :

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Banco Central de S. T. P.	N A P PERMANENT APPLICATION STANDARD	CODE
		PS 99
PROPONENTE(S) NI	ENTRY INTO FORCE	ISSUE DATE
	02.01.03	31.12.02

ARTICLE 6

TEXT

1. The text and its respective layout on the check must fully comply with the spaces and their relative locations, as shown in the attached model.

ARTICLE 7

PRINTING

Front

1. Identification of the drawee institution and the customer

   a) For the identification of the drawee institution (institution name and branch) and the customer's account, the space marked as “free zone” in the attached model is reserved, with printing type being optional.

2. Other components

   a) The color and background pattern of the check are optional for each Credit Institution. b) A 16 mm strip is reserved on the lower margin of the check for the application of optical characters (OCR-B).

3. Back

   a) Printing must be carried out as indicated in the attached model, with color and pattern being optional for each Credit Institution.

Reviewed/Approved	Revocation Data :

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Banco Central de S. T. P.	N A P PERMANENT APPLICATION STANDARD	CODE
		PS 99
PROPONENTE(S) NI	ENTRY INTO FORCE	ISSUE DATE
	02.01.03	31.12.02

4. Identification of the manufacturing company

1. The name of the manufacturing company and the production date must be indicated, obligatorily and discreetly, on the check.

ARTICLE 8

OPTICAL LINE (MICR)

1. The components of this line appear in the order indicated in the attached model and have the following capacities:

No.	FIELD IDENTIFICATION	SPACES OR NON-SIGNIFICANT ZERO	NUMBER OF DIGITS	FIELD SEPARATORS	TOTAL CHARACTERS - SPACES
1	Interbank zone	1 space	4	1 symbol (<)	5
2	Account Number	1 space	7	1 symbol (+)	9
3	Check Number	1 space	10	1 symbol (>)	12
4	Amount	1 space	12	1 symbol (<)	14
5	Type	1 space	2	1 symbol (+)	4
Length 44		total	of the	optical line

2. Printing is performed using OCR-R characters at a density of 10 characters per inch, in accordance with ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) standards.

Reviewed/Approved	Revocation Data :

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Banco Central de S. T. P.	N A P PERMANENT APPLICATION STANDARD	CODE
		PS 99
PROPONENTE(S) NI	ENTRY INTO FORCE	ISSUE DATE
	02.01.03	31.12.02

ARTICLE 9

PAPER

1. The paper to be used must be manufactured from bleached chemical pulp and possess characteristics that allow good writing and printing, as well as optical character marking (OCR).

ARTICLE 10

SECURITY

1. The use of security paper capable of revealing the use of eradicating fluids is recommended.

2. In the case of non-sensitive paper, printing with special and appropriate inks is recommended, forming a background composed of letters, drawings, or continuous patterns. This printing must not prevent the ink used to fill out the check from penetrating it, making it impossible to make alterations that leave no traces.

ARTICLE 11

PRODUCTION AND QUALITY CONTROL

1. Production

Reviewed/Approved	Revocation Data :

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Banco Central de S. T. P.	N A P PERMANENT APPLICATION STANDARD	CODE
		PS 99
PROPONENTE(S) NI	ENTRY INTO FORCE	ISSUE DATE
	02.01.03	31.12.02

a) The printing companies selected by Credit Institutions for check production must, obligatorily, possess the technical and security conditions required under this Standard.

b) It is the responsibility of Credit Institutions to pre-evaluate their check suppliers' capacity to meet the specified requirements, and they are responsible for guaranteeing security levels and effective document processing in clearing.

2. Quality Control

a) The issuance of new checks by Credit Institutions is subject to prior submission to the Central Bank of São Tomé and Príncipe of final proof samples, accompanied by the desired specific characteristics.

b) The Central Bank of São Tomé and Príncipe will rule on the submitted model within 15 days following its receipt. Upon expiration of this period and in the absence of a response, the Credit Institution is authorized to commence check production.

c) Whenever justified, the Central Bank of São Tomé and Príncipe may conduct quality control checks on checks to ensure compliance with the provisions observed in their production.

d) Non-compliance with this Standard will subject issuing Credit Institutions to intervention by the Central Bank of São Tomé and Príncipe, which, regarding non-compliant checks, may determine the suspension of their delivery to customers and authorize receiving Credit Institutions to charge them with a rate defined in the price list.

São Tomé, on December 31, 2002

Reviewed/Approved	Revocation Data :

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12. CHECK MODEL

12.1 FRONT

[Image of the check model]

12.2 BACK

[Image of the back of the check]

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12. Check Model

12.1 Front

[Image of the check model with dimensions]

12.2 Back

[Image of the back of the check with dimensions]