The Check 21 law can be tricky to explain to customers, yet it’s important information. The Federal Reserve has designed an informational brochure titled “Consumer Guide to Check 21 and Substitute Checks” that is geared toward customers and explains the benefits of Check 21 and how the new law will affect how their checks are processed.

The brochure clarifies that Check 21 will speed up how quickly checks are processed, and that customers must have available funds in their checking account at the time their checks are written.