The story
1915–1959
Deluxe Corporation was founded in 1915 as Deluxe Check Printers by William Roy (W.R.) Hotchkiss after obtaining a $300 personal loan. Hotchkiss patented several printing innovations, including the Hotchkiss Imprinting Press (1925) and the Hotchkiss Lithograph Press (1928), as well as the first personal flat-pocket checkbook and holder. For much of its early history, Deluxe operations focused exclusively on check printing, with business services added later.
1960–1989
In 1965, Deluxe became a publicly traded company and adopted magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) technology for check printing. By the 1980s, competition in the check printing industry increased, and demand for printed checks began to slow. In 1988, the company simplified the name to Deluxe Corporation.
1990–2010
The adoption of electronic payment systems in the 1990s reduced demand for printed checks, prompting Deluxe to diversify. The company began selling business forms, promotional products, and payroll services, and in the late 1990s and early 2000s acquired firms to expand transaction processing and software capabilities.
In 2004, Deluxe acquired New England Business Services (NEBS), a small business products provider. In 2008, Deluxe announced a strategic shift from primarily print products to a broader business services portfolio. Acquisitions during this period included Hostopia (web hosting), Logo Mojo (logo design), PartnerUp (market intelligence), and MerchEngines (search engine marketing).
2010–2015
Deluxe continued to diversify by acquiring many companies in areas including marketing, payroll, and digital services. Purchases included online printing service PsPrint, marketing firm OrangeSoda, email marketing platform VerticalResponse (2014), and transaction processor Wausau Financial Services (2014). The company also began offering electronic check (eCheck) solutions.
In 2015, Deluxe launched Small Business Revolution, a reality television series distributed on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, highlighting small business stories.
2015–2020
During this period, Deluxe sought to balance its declining print business with growth in digital services. In December 2016, the company acquired First Manhattan Consulting Group—better known as FMCG Direct—for approximately $200 million. FMCG Direct offered data-driven marketing analytics and insights for financial institutions. The deal enhanced Deluxe's data-driven marketing services and was integrated into its Financial Services segment.
In 2019, the company secured a contract with Synchrony Financial, providing opportunities to sell lockbox processing, data-driven marketing, and treasury management services. In 2020, CEO Barry McCarthy implemented a new organizational structure and management team, including the company's first chief revenue officer. The Small Business Revolution series gained recognition in 2021, including a Daytime Emmy Award nomination.
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While the company has accelerated its expansion into payments and data services under CEO Barry McCarthy, Deluxe's check printing business remains a significant revenue source and one of the largest in the U.S. market.
2021–2026
The company announced it would open a FinTech and Customer Innovation Center in Sandy Springs, Georgia, focusing on payment and cloud services.
In April 2021, Deluxe acquired First American Payment Systems, a payment processing company, for $960 million, its largest acquisition at that time, doubling the revenue of its payments segment.
Under McCarthy's leadership, Deluxe payments and data revenue grew significantly, from about 17% of total revenue in 2020 to more than 40% in 2025, while print continued to contribute roughly $700 million annually. The company's "North Star" strategic initiative, launched in 2023, aimed to focus resources on high-growth segments, improve cash flow, and reduce debt.
In August 2025, Deluxe acquired CheckMatch from J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys unit to expand its Deluxe Payment Network, which digitizes paper check delivery and integrates lockbox services. McCarthy has stated that the Deluxe strategy is to continue growing in payments and data while maintaining its check printing operations as a profitable legacy business. Deluxe agreed to acquire Celero Commerce, for $625 million, announcing the deal in June 2026.
From Wikipedia’s article on Deluxe Corporation, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.7