System and method for verifying, setting, printing and guaranteeing checks at a remote location

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for verifying, settling, guaranteeing and printing checks at a remote location, preferably an electronic retailer's facilities, via a network, preferably the Internet. The preferred method for verifying, settling, guaranteeing and printing checks over a network at a remote location comprises the following steps. A client computer is connected to a merchant server at a location remote from the client computer. An order is transmitted from the client computer to the merchant server. Payment by check is selected. The client computer is connected to a check server. Customer data is input to the client computer. The customer data is transmitted from the client computer to the check server. The customer data is transmitted from the check server to a check verification server. The check verification server transmits an approval, preferably comprising the customer data and a guarantee of payment to a merchant, to the client computer and the check server. The merchant server confirms the client computer's order by electronic mail message to both the client computer and the check server. The approval from the check verification server is stored in a merchant file in the check server. The merchant file is downloaded from the check server to a check printing station at the location remote from the client computer. A secure printer, preferably a magnetic ink character recognition-enabled printer, connected to the check printing station prints a check. The merchant can then cash the check as a standard bank draft.