How to Find and Redact Bank Routing Numbers in Scanned PDFs
Question details
The user needs to locate and redact nine-digit bank routing numbers (MICR format) in scanned PDFs, which standard OCR tools fail to identify as continuous strings.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Redacting sensitive financial information, such as bank routing numbers, from scanned PDF checks or financial documents.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF editor's redaction search misses the routing numbers because the OCR process splits the MICR characters into multiple disconnected text fragments.
Ensure you have the original scanned PDF file and a PDF editor equipped with OCR and redaction capabilities before attempting to secure financial data.
Manually Correct the OCR Text
Use the built-in OCR correction tool to manually link the fragmented MICR characters before applying redactions.
Standard OCR is primarily designed for standard fonts found in books and documents, so it often struggles with the specialized MICR fonts used on bank checks.
Open your scanned PDF in Acrobat and navigate to Tools > Scan & OCR > Recognize Text to process the document.
In the same Scan & OCR menu, select 'Correct Recognized Text' to begin reviewing the recognized text fragments.
Locate the fragmented routing numbers on the check and manually type the correct nine-digit string into the text correction box so it reads as a single block.
Run the Redaction search tool again. It will now easily find the corrected continuous number. Apply the redaction to securely mask the data.
Create a Custom Regex Redaction Pattern
Configure a custom redaction search pattern that accounts for whitespace between the individual digits caused by OCR splitting.
Easily OCR and Redact PDFs with WPS Office
WPS Office provides advanced OCR technology and comprehensive PDF editing tools, allowing you to seamlessly recognize scanned documents, fix text fragments, and securely redact sensitive financial information.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your scanned PDF document containing the bank routing numbers.
- 2. Run OCR: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab and select 'OCR' to extract text from the scanned document.
- 3. Review Extracted Text: Check the extracted text for any split routing numbers and correct them manually if needed.
- 4. Access Redaction Tool: Go to the 'Protect' tab and select 'Redact' from the available security options.
- 5. Apply Redaction: Highlight the bank routing numbers and apply the redaction to permanently secure the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does standard OCR struggle with bank check routing numbers?
Standard OCR is optimized for common book and document fonts. Bank routing numbers use specialized MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) fonts, which visually differ and often cause OCR engines to read them as fragmented characters rather than a single continuous string.
How can I permanently remove a routing number from a PDF?
To permanently remove sensitive information, you must use a dedicated Redaction tool found in advanced PDF editors. Simply drawing a black rectangle over the text does not delete the underlying data, which can still be copied or read by software.
Is there a way to automate finding fragmented nine-digit numbers in PDFs?
Yes. By using advanced search features in professional PDF editors, you can enter a Regular Expression (Regex) that looks for digits with optional spaces between them, compensating for OCR splitting errors.
