Abstract: An issued check is verified in a computer-implemented positive-pay bank check processing system. A scanned check amount, a scanned bank account number, and a scanned check number are read from a scanned image of the issued check. A payee name field on the scanned image of the issued check is located, and a scanned payee name is read from the payee name field. Based on the bank account number and the check number, a record payee name or names are retrieved from an issued check file listing checks issued by a payer or owner of the checking account on which the issued check is drawn. A payee name field on the scanned image of the issued check is located, and a scanned payee name is separated from other information in payee name field, such as payee address. The scanned payee name is matched against a lexicon of record payee name variations based on the record payee name or names. Also, standard noise payee names are added to the lexicon to create a competition with the payee name from check issued file.