Technology makes Publix Plus cards obsolete

By J. NEALY-BROWN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 20, 2001

If you're used to emptying your wallet at the cash register and fanning out a deck of credit cards just to find the Publix check-cashing card, life at the grocery store might be easier from now on.

The Lakeland grocery chain no longer requires customers to show their Publix Plus card when writing checks. Any picture identification, such as a driver's license, will do. Publix is moving to a magnetic ink character recognition system. Checkout clerks will check your ID, then swipe your check through a machine that decodes the magnetic ink that holds information about your bank account and the check.

Publix officials say it will be faster for its check-writing customers. "It doesn't prevent fraud, but it helps," Publix spokesman Lee Brunson said.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright