Redacting bank account numbers at the bottom of a check

[carissaboles]

When I redact numbers in my PDFs, I use the tool for SS numbers and CC numbers and usually it redacts the check account numbers as well.  However, not always.  Does anyone know how to redact a bank account number at the bottom of a check?

[kglad]

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

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[Tariq Ahmad Dar]

Hi @carissaboles,

Thank you for reaching out with your question.

Acrobat’s redaction tools (like “Sanitize” or “Find and Redact Patterns”) typically detect Social Security and credit card numbers based on known formats. However, bank account numbers at the bottom of checks can sometimes be missed, especially if:

• The check is scanned as an image, and the MICR line (those numbers at the bottom) isn’t recognized as actual text

• The font used, which may not be detected properly by Acrobat’s text recognition

To ensure these numbers are redacted: Suggested Workaround:

1. Use Edit > Redact > Mark for Redaction > Text & Images.

2. Manually highlight the bank account number at the bottom of the check.

3. Apply the redaction to ensure it’s fully removed.

You can also run OCR first (Scan & OCR > Recognize Text), especially if the check is scanned, to help Acrobat detect those numbers more reliably.

Let us know how it work at your end.

~Tariq