Definition of Electronic Check Presentment (ECP)

in check clearing, electronic transmission of the check writer's account number and other payment data directly to the paying bank. Electronic check presentment does not eliminate use of paper checks, but it does allow for a more efficient and less costly method for clearing checks. The Check Clearing for the 21st Century (or Check 21) Act permits banks to send a digital image of a paper check instead of the actual check and thus eliminates much of the labor-intensive costs associated with clearing the billions of checks Americans write every year.