When setting up your digital account opening experience with Glide, one important configuration decision is how your MICR number will be generated. This document outlines both options to help you determine which approach is the right fit for your financial institution.

There are two distinct options for how MICR numbers are generated during digital account opening. Each approach has meaningful trade-offs across reliability, debugging speed, and implementation effort.

Option 1: Glide Generates (Best Practice)

Glide generates the MICR number using your defined logic and sends it to your core at the time of account creation.

Considerations for Option 1

NACHA File Reliability

Glide has the MICR number ready at the exact moment it's needed for NACHA file generation. By owning the MICR generation, Glide eliminates timing delay risks entirely, meaning member accounts are funded on time, every time.

Faster Debugging

When issues arise with NACHA files, check ordering, or account funding, having the MICR logic in Glide means Glide owns diagnosis and resolution of any issues that could arise. No IT coordination required.

Dual-Source Conflict Risk

If other systems at your financial institution, such as your LOS, also generate MICRs through the core, there is a potential for conflicts between two sources of number generation. This is most relevant for financial institutions where Glide is not the only channel through which accounts are opened.

Complex Logic Requirements

This option requires your financial institution to provide Glide with your MICR generation logic during onboarding, including number format, length, and any check digit formula. If your MICR logic is particularly complex or uses a proprietary check digit formula, it may be difficult or in rare cases infeasible for Glide to replicate.

Option 2: Core Generates

Your core system generates the MICR number, and Glide calls your core to retrieve it upon account approval.

Considerations for Option 2

Single Source of Truth

Your core is the authoritative source of all MICR numbers. This eliminates any risk of dual-source conflicts — particularly valuable if multiple systems (Glide, your LOS, etc.) are opening accounts concurrently.

NACHA File Timing Risk

When Glide must wait for the core to generate and return a MICR number, delays can occur. If the core response is slow or fails, Glide cannot successfully send the NACHA file, delaying account funding and negatively impacting member experience. The same risk applies to Direct Deposit Switch.