Requesting new templates
If you have looked through the template library (using Tools-->Browse Template Library, be sure to check “Generic Banks as well!) but did not find an image matching your statement’s format, then a new template will have to be created and added to the library.
To do this you must provide a sample of the statements you wish to scan. The sample must consist of a searchable PDF of the statement sample and the matching .txt file. The PDF file is needed as reference to compare against in case there are OCR errors in the .txt file.
The statement sample should be representative of all of the types of transactions that format might contain. If the sample is too small then transactions may be missed. So if, for example, the sample contains no checks then the template won’t “know” how to extract them.
1. Provide at least a year’s worth of data, if possible. 100 pages of data will result in a much more robust template than 4 pages! Check your sample for all of the issues you normally would from the scanning checklist – missing pages, duplicates, etc. The more issues like these that are in your sample the longer it will take to get the template made!
2. The sample MUST contain the account number(s), statement ending date, and starting and ending balances.
3. The sample ideally should include all possible types of transactions – credits, debits, checks, and deposits.
4. The sample ideally should include all possible types of accounts – checking, savings, loans, etc.
5. Process the statements in OmniPage just as if you would for using BankScan. Use your judgement to appropriately zone in OmniPage; if unsure use an EntirePage zone. Save the .txt file as Text – Formatted and save a SEARCHABLE PDF named the SAME.
Note that OmniPage Ultimate has a very nice redaction feature should you wish to remove Personal Identifiable Information (PII). Watch the “Redaction Feature” training video at the www.bank-scan.com Training tab.
6. Redacting PII information in the sample is okay BUT PLEASE leave 3 or 4 digits in the account number(s). If there are multiple accounts there needs to be a way to tell them apart. If all of the account digits are scrubbed then the transaction data will be all jumbled together, making the template request take much longer to fulfill.
7. If there is a BankScan administrator at your agency/company, email your request to them or submit to their SharePoint site. Otherwise submit your request via your account at the www.bank-scan.com, “Request Template” tab, but FOLLOW YOUR ORGANIZATION’S POLICY.
8. When you submit the request include the FULL ACCURATE name of the financial institution. This is how it will be named in the template library.
Once the request is received a new template will be created for the new bank/format and uploaded. The PDF file will be used to make an image for the library. All PII will be redacted from this image. Once notified, update your template library in BankScan with “ToolsàCheck for Updates” (an Administrator may have to do this). Be sure to check the library for the new template and to see if any particular zone shape is recommended in OmniPage (look for a red outline on the image). The library will also tell you how to normally save the .txt file (Text – Formatted or Text with line breaks). In other words, follow the scanning checklist.