How to Become an Accredited Cheque Printer

The Cheque Printer Accreditation Scheme (CPAS) is open to security printers wishing to produce cheques that go through the GB cheque clearing system. Firms must meet the scheme’s membership criteria which are laid down by the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company (C&CCC):

• Certification to ISO27001 IEC27001-2005 (ISO27001). This is the only auditable international standard which defines the requirements for an Information Security Management System (ISMS). This certificate must be obtained prior to application to CPAS.
• Certification to C&CCC Standard 55 by a C&CCC approved Certification Body (CB).  Used in conjunction with ISO 27001, this Standard addresses the specific additional information security requirements of CPAS.

The certification process for Standard 55 involves the printer’s premises and production methods being inspected by one of the CBs listed in the Standard. During the inspection the printer must demonstrate at least one of the following cheque printing processes:

• Printing of the cheque security background.
• Full or part personalisation, which includes:

a.      Bank branch and customer account data.

b.      MICR code line.

• Printing of customer’s signatures, in conjunction with any part of the personalisation process.
• Infilling of beneficiary and amount details, in conjunction with any part of the personalisation process.

Accredited printers are required to produce cheques in accordance with C&CCC Standard 3.

Application for membership

Printing firms that want to apply for membership of CPAS can obtain further information and an application form by emailing cpashelpdesk@chequeandcredit.co.uk. The application form contains details of the membership fee.