1. An apparatus for capturing data from checks and other financial and payment-related documents, the apparatus comprising: a compact, desktop document processor base unit including an input slot for receiving a check to be processed; a transport stage located within the base unit, the transport stage including a plurality of processing devices, the transport stage conveying documents past the plurality of processing devices and the processing devices performing operations on the documents; wherein the transport stage receives a document in the input slot, and routes the document past the plurality of processing devices; and wherein the plurality of processing devices includes a programmable endorser for printing an endorsement on a document as the document is processed, the programmable endorser including a plurality of character segments in the form of various shapes such that the endorsement is printed by building characters from the character segments.