1. A database retrieval system comprising: a direct deposit account (“DDA”) history datastore; a receiver configured to receive a payment, said payment consisting of a paper check; a scanner configured to simultaneously: scan the check into a grayscale images; scan the check into a black and white image; a processor configured to electronically review each pixel on the black and white image alone and in combination with surrounding pixels to determine an arrangement of shaded pixels; when the arrangement of shaded pixels is determined to be above a predetermined threshold of similarity to a predefined set of characters, the processor, using optical character recognition software, is further configured to determine a subset of characters, said subset being based on the arrangement of shaded pixels, and store the subset of characters in a computer-readable memory; the processor further configured to crawl the DDA history datastore to determine information which corresponds to the determined subset characters stored in the memory; the processor further configured to retrieve the corresponding information; a graphical user interface (“GUI”) comprising: the black and white image which is toggalable between the grayscale image and the black and white image; the retrieved information which corresponds to the determined characters in the memory; an account number text entry field, which accepts user input corresponding to an account number; and an amount text entry field, which accepts user input corresponding to a dollar amount of the check.