the customer's checks are kept on record at the bank and the canceled checks are not returned to the customer.

When a checkwriter’s financial institution retains copies of posted checks rather than returning items to the checkwriter. Many financial institutions (30-40% by most accounts) safekeep checks for customers, including digitized images of cleared checks in monthly account statements in lieu of returning the actual paper. Customers can receive copies of the original copy if needed for dispute resolution, or other purposes; these copies are excepted in lieu of originals for most dispute resolution purposes.

The customer's financial institution keeps the customer's checks, not returning it in the customer's statement. The customer may receive an image of the check in the statement.