`THUMBS UP': THUMBPRINT CHECK SYSTEM EFFECTIVELY CUTS FRAUD

Bank and law enforcement officials and members of the Missouri Bankers Association give "thumbs up" to a new check-passing identification method.

The Thumbprint Signature Program, which was introduced in Missouri in January, serves as a deterrent to fraud, said Carol Barnett of the Missouri Bankers Association.

"With this new program we hope to make it much more difficult for the bad guys to cash checks," said Steve Ketelson, president of South East Missouri Bank, which recently adopted Thumbprint Signature.

South East is one of more than 100 banks participating in the program in Missouri.

Union Planters Bank, headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., uses the program in a number of Southeast Missouri communities, including Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Jackson, Ste. Genevieve, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston.

"It's a good program," said Kent Puchbauer, executive vice president of retail banking for Union Planters here. "We don't like to inconvenience anyone, but we feel this program is a good one."

Puchbauer said most response to the program was positive. A few people have objected to the program, but most say they like the idea, he said.

"It's a tremendous program," said Cpl. Kevin Orr, crime prevention officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department. "I think it's a good deterrent to check fraud."

Orr said the department recently made a forgery case using the thumbprint program. "The imprint gives a good, workable print to use," he said.

The program is an inkless thumbprint signature program. It is used when non-customers of a bank request check-cashing services.

The inkless pad is quick and clean, yet the results provide positive identification, say officials.

People in Cape Girardeau have accepted the fact that the program provides added protection, said Tina Ballance, marketing director for South East Missouri Bank.

"We haven't had many complaints about the program," said Ballance. "People have been very cooperative."

The program was introduced as a pilot project in two states -- Nevada and Arizona -- during the early 1990s, said Barnett.

"It was successful in those states," said Barnett. "It started spreading."

The Texas Banking Association devised a log for the program to promote it to the public. From Texas it really caught on, said Barnett.

As many as 30 states are using the program, said Barnett.

Check fraud costs banks and customers millions of dollars every year.

The Thumbprint Signature Program has worked in other states, some of which have reported check-fraud reductions of from 42 to 75 percent.