1.   An administration official said the timing was important so that the Treasury could begin processing rebate checks.

2.   Big companies that process mortgage checks, stung by hedging losses last year, are turning to complicated derivatives contracts to guard against swings in interest rates.

3.   All sorts of foul-ups can occur, from computers being unable to process Medicare checks, to electrical systems shutting down.

4.   Chief Executive Norm Augustine delights in saying that half his revenue comes from non-military work, including computer graphics, high-tech highway tolls and processing state checks.

5.   Federal Reserve banks are the banks for other banks, processing checks and handling cash needs.

6.   It probably cost more to process the check.

7.   It processes checks written by consumers for goods and services.

8.   Most online banks use third-party check consolidators like Checkfree to process the checks from online accounts, send them along and disburse the money.

9.   Normally banks process checks by putting them through an optical scanner, which reads the account number.

10.   That ensures a steady stream of mortgage payments to the servicers, who make their money by collecting and processing mortgage checks.