Abstract: A system and method for locating intelligence data like the courtesy or monetary amount on a document. The intelligence data is presented in the form of a matrix of binary data which corresponds to image data associated with a financial document like a check or deposit slip. From the matrix of binary data, an input character located on a predetermined side of the data is examined. If the input character is identified as a clue character, it means, generally, that a portion of the matrix of binary data which is associated with the clue character may be the binary data associated with the monetary amount. In the embodiment described, the clue characters are asterisks (*) and dollar signs ($) of different expected varieties. Having found the binary data associated with the monetary amount, it can be subjected to character recognition techniques to machine-read the monetary amount on the document.