UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

DELUXE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (651) 483-7111

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  ü   Yes _____ No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ü

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
 ü   Yes _____ No

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant is $2,421,007,795 based on the last sales price of the registrant’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2002. The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock as of March 24, 2003, was 57,306,029.

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Portions of our annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, are incorporated by reference in Parts I and II.

Portions of our definitive proxy statement to be filed within 120 days after our fiscal year-end are incorporated by reference in Part III.

PART I

Overview
        Deluxe Corporation is the largest provider of checks in the United States, both in terms of revenue and number of checks produced. We design, manufacture and distribute a comprehensive line of printed checks. In addition to checks, we also offer checkbook covers, business forms, address labels, self-inking stamps, fraud prevention services and customer retention programs. Our checks and business forms are compatible with nearly all of today’s off-the-shelf accounting software packages. We provide check printing services for approximately 10,000 financial institution clients nationwide, including banks, credit unions and financial services companies. We also market products directly to consumers and small businesses through the Internet and direct response marketing.

        Our company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota in 1920. From 1920 until 1988, our company was named Deluxe Check Printers, Incorporated. Our principal executive offices are located at 3680 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, Minnesota 55126-2966, telephone (651) 483-7111.

Industry Background/Outlook
        Payment systems and methods have been changing in the United States as banking and other industries have introduced alternatives to the traditional paper check. Alternatives include automated teller machines, credit cards, debit cards and electronic payment systems, such as electronic bill presentment and payment. Although payment method choices have increased, the August 2002 Federal Reserve Bank Payment Study indicates that checks remain consumers’ most preferred method of non-cash payment, with more than 42 billion checks being written each year.

        According to our estimates, the total number of checks written by individuals and small businesses, the primary purchasers of checks, continued to decline slightly in 2002. We believe that the number of checks written by individuals will continue to decline due to the increasing use of alternative payment methods. Although we believe that the number of checks being written by small businesses has not yet begun to decline, the total number of personal, business and government checks written in the United States has been in decline since the mid-1990s. We believe the decline in personal, business and government checks is due to the increasing use of alternative payment methods, the increasing use of direct deposits for payroll and government transfer payments and the changing payment practices at large businesses and government agencies. Another planned Federal Reserve update in two to four years will provide more insight into check volumes and the trend of total checks written.

        The  most common method by which consumers order checks is through financial institutions. We believe such orders comprised approximately 80% of all check sales to individuals and small businesses in 2002. Orders originating in this manner are sourced through financial institutions such as banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. Competitive pressures have reduced margins on check orders obtained through financial institutions in recent years due to consolidation in the financial institution industry and due to the profit pressures being faced by the industry as it contends with low interest rates and a slow economy. Merged financial institution entities seek not only the most favorable prices formerly offered to the predecessor institutions but also additional discounts due to the greater volume represented by the combined company. Additionally, financial institution mergers and acquisitions can impact the

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duration of our contracts. While the average length of our contracts with financial institution clients is still between three and five years, the term can be affected when contracts have to be renegotiated due to the consolidation of financial institutions. Another relatively recent trend in the area of contract structure is that many financial institutions, primarily the larger regional and mega banks, are requesting product discounts in the form of cash incentives payable at the beginning of their contracts. These up-front payments impact check producers’ cash flows in the short-term.

        The direct-to-consumer method of ordering checks emerged in the mid-1980s as a result of consumer desire for lower-priced alternatives and increased design selection. We believe that direct sales represented approximately 20% of all checks sold to individuals and small businesses in 2002. Direct-to-consumer checks are marketed to individuals and small businesses primarily through freestanding inserts in newspapers, in-package advertising, statement stuffers, co-op advertising and the Internet.

Business Segments
        We operate three business segments: Financial Services, Direct Checks and Business Services. A brief description of each segment is presented below. Financial information regarding the segments appears under the caption “Note 16. Business segment information” on page 55 of the 2002 Annual Report and is incorporated by reference.

Financial Services
        Financial Services is the nation’s leading supplier of checks, related products and check merchandising services to financial institutions. Additionally, we offer enhanced services to our financial institution clients, such as customized reporting, file management, expedited account conversion support and fraud prevention. Customers typically submit their check orders to their financial institution, which forwards those orders to us. We then process the orders and ship them directly to the customers. Financial Services produces a wide range of check designs, with many customers preferring one of the dozens of licensed designs we offer, including Disney®, Warner Brothers®, NASCAR™, Harley Davidson®, Coca-Cola® and Laura Ashley®.

        Our relationships with specific financial institutions are usually formalized through supply contracts averaging three to five years in duration. We are committed to our financial institution relationships and seek to strengthen and expand them by emphasizing the breadth and value of our checks and related products and services.

        Financial Services launched a comprehensive new program — DeluxeSelect^SM — during 2002. DeluxeSelect provides financial institution customers more information regarding checks and check-related products as they interact directly with our professional sales associates, our voice response system or order their checks via the Internet. We can actively promote product upgrades during both the new account opening and check re-ordering processes by engaging customers through our call centers, advanced Internet ordering capabilities and point-of-sale marketing support at financial institution branch offices. The benefits of this program include: 1) increases in accuracy and financial institution customer satisfaction from selecting a check style that reflects their personal interests or style; 2) increased revenue and enhanced profitability for our financial institution clients as they realize the value of our merchandising and check ordering process; 3) more fulfilled Deluxe employees as they are given the opportunity to move away from being order-takers to working in a more robust sales and service environment where they leverage the strengths of our check merchandising strategies to increase customer satisfaction on behalf of our financial institution clients; and 4) lower costs for financial institution platform operations because our team performs this work on their behalf. In 2002, we presented this new program to 225 financial institution clients. As of December 31, 2002, a large majority of these clients had elected to participate in DeluxeSelect. The impact of DeluxeSelect on revenue will depend to a large extent upon the speed at which our clients can integrate the program with their technology.

        In addition to investments in revenue-generating programs, we continue to invest in areas of the business where we can reduce costs and increase productivity. Our conversion to a cellular manufacturing

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environment in our check printing facilities is one example. Within the cellular manufacturing environment, a group of employees works together to produce products, rather than those same employees working on individual tasks in a linear fashion. Because employees assume more ownership of the end product, we have seen an improvement in quality and service levels and a reduction in cost per unit. Our conversion to cellular manufacturing began in 2000, and the process is expected to be completed in our Financial Services check printing facilities in early 2004.

Direct Checks
        Direct Checks is the nation’s leading direct-to-consumer check supplier, selling under the Checks Unlimited® and Designer® Checks brands. Through these two brands, Direct Checks sells personal and business checks, as well as related products, using the Internet and direct response marketing.

        Although we have been selling products directly to consumers since our first catalog was produced in 1918, we increased our direct-to-consumer focus in the 1980s in response to changes in the industry. We use a variety of direct marketing techniques to acquire new customers, including freestanding inserts in newspapers, in-package advertising, statement stuffers and co-op advertising. We also use e-commerce strategies to direct traffic to our websites. We continue to emphasize telephone and Internet contacts because they provide a more efficient way of selling products than through the mail. As a result, Direct Checks received over 20 percent of its order volume through the Internet in 2002 via three websites: www.checksunlimited.com, www.designerchecks.com and www.checks.com.

        There has been an overall softening in direct mail industry response rates causing some of the cooperative mailers and other businesses we have relied upon to distribute direct mail advertisements to reduce their circulation. This has made it challenging, and more costly, to acquire suitable advertising media for our traditional means of new customer acquisition. We are exploring new opportunities such as the Internet and other partners to replace traditional media sources.

Business Services
        Business Services is a leading supplier of checks, forms and related products to small businesses and home offices through financial institution referrals and via direct mail and the Internet. We offer software-compatible laser checks and forms, manual business checks and forms, business cards, stationery and accessories and currently have a database of approximately 1.8 million customers.

        Business Services also works with financial institutions to help them better meet the needs of their small business customers. Through a successful business referral program, our financial institution clients refer new small business customers by calling us directly at the time of new account opening. Once contacted by the small business customer, our call center associate spends time learning about their business and accounting requirements and helps them order software compatible checks, forms and other related products. This personal approach, coupled with an integrated direct marketing strategy offered to existing customers, results in satisfied customers for both the financial institution and for Deluxe.

        During 2002, Business Services was chosen to be the new exclusive supplier of checks and forms for Microsoft® Money and Microsoft Business Solutions. This alliance gives small and mid-sized business customers that use these Microsoft products access to the various products offered by Business Services.

        As part of our growth and e-commerce retailing strategies, we have offered customers access to our small business website, www.deluxeforms.com. Orders from customers obtained via this website represented more than six percent of total orders for Business Services in 2002. This additional order capture medium allows customers to access our full range of products and services and provides them greater convenience when placing orders. We believe this will increase customer satisfaction and encourage repeat sales.

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Business Strategy
        In January 2000, our board of directors determined that it was in our shareholders’ best interest for us to focus primarily on paper payment systems and approved a plan to spin off our electronic payment solutions, professional services and government services business units into a separate, independent, publicly-traded company called eFunds Corporation. In June 2000, eFunds completed an initial public offering of 12.1% of its common stock. We then distributed the remaining 87.9% of eFunds to our shareholders in December 2000. With this reorganization, our business became more focused and efficient.

        All of our employees are guided by five key business objectives: revenue growth; customer loyalty; talent and diversity in our workforce; cost management; and transformation. The key strategies to accomplish these objectives include strengthening our leading position in the markets in which we compete and expanding into closely related products and services which leverage our core competencies and key assets.

Competition
        The payments industry is highly competitive. We face considerable competition from at least six other check printers and expect competition to intensify as the check printing portion of the industry continues to mature and decline. We also face competition from alternative payment systems, including automated teller machines, credit cards, debit cards and electronic payment systems, such as electronic bill presentment and payment. As we expand our e-commerce presence, we face competition from check printing software vendors and from Internet-based sellers of checks and related products.

        In the check printing business, the principal factors on which we compete are product and service breadth, price, convenience, quality and program management. From time to time, some of our check printing competitors have reduced the prices of their products in an attempt to gain greater volume. The corresponding pricing pressure placed on us has resulted in reduced profit margins and some loss of business due to our refusal to meet competitor pricing that fell below our profitability targets. Similar pressures in the future could result in additional margin compression. Additionally, in recent years some larger regional and mega banks have received product discounts in the form of cash incentives payable at

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the beginning of their contracts. These up-front payments impact our cash flows in the short-term and also result in additional pricing pressure.

Raw Materials and Supplies
        The primary raw materials used in producing our products are paper, ink and cartons, which we purchase from various sources. We believe that supplies of our materials are sufficient to meet our operating needs for the foreseeable future. In addition, we also utilize a paper printing plate material that is available from only a limited number of sources. We believe we have a reliable source of supply for this material and that we maintain an inventory sufficient to avoid any production disruptions in the event of an interruption of its supply.

Government Regulation
        We are subject to regulations implementing the privacy requirements of the federal financial modernization law known as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“the Act”). The Act requires each regulated entity to develop and implement policies to protect the security and confidentiality of consumers’ nonpublic personal information and to disclose these policies to consumers before a customer relationship is established and annually thereafter.

        The regulations require some of our businesses to provide a notice to consumer customers to allow them the opportunity to remove their nonpublic personal information from our files before we share their information with certain third parties. The regulations, including the above provision, may limit our ability to use our direct-to-consumer data in our businesses. However, the regulations do allow us to transfer consumer information to process a transaction that a consumer requests, as well as to protect the confidentiality of a consumer’s records or to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud, unauthorized transactions, claims or other liabilities. We are also allowed to transfer consumer information for required institutional risk control and for resolving customer disputes or inquiries. We may also contribute consumer information to a consumer-reporting agency pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Our financial institution clients request various contractual provisions in our agreements that are intended to comply with their obligations under the Act.

        Congress and many states are considering more stringent laws or regulations that, among other things, restrict the purchase, sale or sharing of nonpublic personal information about consumers. For example, legislation has been introduced in Congress to further restrict the sharing of consumer information by financial institutions, as well as to require that a consumer opt-in prior to a financial institution’s use of his or her data in its marketing programs.

        Laws and regulations may be adopted in the future with respect to the Internet, e-commerce or marketing practices generally relating to consumer privacy. Such laws or regulations may impede the growth of the Internet and/or use of other sales or marketing vehicles. As an example, new privacy laws could decrease traffic to our websites and decrease the demand for our products and services. Additionally, the applicability to the Internet of existing laws governing property ownership, taxation, libel and personal privacy is uncertain and may remain uncertain for a considerable length of time.

Intellectual Property
        We rely on a combination of trademark and copyright laws, trade secret protection and confidentiality and license agreements to protect our trademarks, software and know-how. However, intellectual property laws afford limited protection. Third parties may infringe or misappropriate our intellectual property or otherwise independently develop substantially equivalent products or services. In addition, designs licensed from third parties account for an increasing portion of our revenues. Typically, such license agreements are effective for a two- to three-year period. There can be no guarantee that such licenses will be renewed or will continue to be available on terms that would allow us to continue to be profitable with those products.

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Employees
        As of December 31, 2002, we had 6,195 full- and part-time employees employed within the United States. Of the total number of employees, 2,553 were engaged in production, 2,749 were engaged in customer and technical support services, 507 were engaged in sales and marketing and 386 were engaged in administrative and other functions. None of our employees are represented by labor unions, and we consider our employee relations to be good.

Availability of Commission Filings
        We make available through our website, www.Deluxe.com, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K as soon as reasonably practicable after these items are electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Executive Officers of the Registrant
        Our executive officers are elected by the board of directors each year. The current term of office of each executive officer will expire at the annual meeting of the board of directors that will be held prior to the regular shareholders meeting on April 29, 2003. The executive officers and their positions are as follows:

        Lawrence J. Mosner has served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Deluxe since December 2000. Prior to this position, Mr. Mosner served as vice chairman, a position he assumed in August 1999. Before being named as vice chairman, Mr. Mosner served as executive vice president of Deluxe. In that position, Mr. Mosner had overall responsibility for all of our day-to-day operations from July 1997 until April 1999, at which point he was designated to lead our initiative to restructure various businesses along business unit lines and otherwise evaluate strategic alternatives for enhancing shareholder value.

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        Ronald E. Eilers has served as president and chief operating officer of Deluxe since December 2000. From August 1997 to December 2000, Mr. Eilers was a senior vice president of Deluxe and managed our Paper Payment Systems business.

        Stephen J. Berry was named a senior vice president of Deluxe in December 2000 and has served as president of our Direct Checks segment since May 1999. From August 1997 to April 1999, Mr. Berry was director of marketing for Direct Checks.

        Guy C. Feltz was named a senior vice president of Deluxe in December 2000 and has served as president of our Financial Services segment since July 2000. He was also a vice president of Deluxe from July to December 2000. From August 1999 to July 2000, Mr. Feltz served as senior vice president of sales and marketing for our financial institution check printing business. From June 1998 to July 1999, Mr. Feltz was the president and chief executive officer of our government services business, which was part of Deluxe’s former subsidiary, eFunds Corporation. From May 1996 to May 1998, he served as president of Deluxe-HCL, an international joint venture of Deluxe, which was also part of our former eFunds subsidiary.

        Anthony C. Scarfone joined us in September 2000 as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary and became an executive officer of Deluxe in December 2000. Prior to joining Deluxe, Mr. Scarfone served as vice president, general counsel and secretary of Dahlberg, Inc., a worldwide manufacturer, distributor and retailer of electronic hearing devices, a position he held from November 1993 to November 1999.

        Warner F. Schlais has served as senior vice president and chief information officer since November 1999 and became an executive officer of Deluxe in December 2000. From December 1997 to November 1999, Mr. Schlais was vice president and chief information officer.

        Richard L. Schulte was named a senior vice president of Deluxe in December 2000 and has served as president of our Business Services segment since July 2000. From May 1999 to July 2000, Mr. Schulte was our senior vice president of supply chain and operations. From 1995 to May 1999, he was president and general manager of Current, Inc. (now Direct Checks), our direct mail check business.

        Douglas J. Treff joined us in October 2000 as senior vice president and chief financial officer and became an executive officer of Deluxe in December 2000. From February 1993 until Mr. Treff joined us, he served as vice president, finance, of Wilsons the Leather Experts, Inc. (Wilsons), a leather specialty apparel retailer. He was also appointed chief financial officer of Wilsons in May 1996.

        Stuart Alexander was named an executive officer of Deluxe in January 2003. He has served as vice president, investor relations and public affairs since May 1988.

        Katherine L. Miller was named chief accounting officer of Deluxe in January 2003 and has served as vice president and controller since January 2001. Ms. Miller joined us in February 1999 and held several finance director positions prior to assuming her vice president and controller responsibilities. Prior to joining Deluxe, Ms. Miller served in various financial management positions for Northwest Airlines, Inc. from September 1995 to February 1999.

        Armstead Ward joined us in January 2003 as senior vice president, human resources and also was named an executive officer of Deluxe that month. Prior to joining us, Mr. Ward served as vice president of global human resources and diversity for The St. Paul Companies from February 2001 to December 2002. From January 1998 to January 2001, Mr. Ward served as senior vice president, human resources for the branded foods division of Sara Lee Corporation.

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        We conduct our operations in 21 principal facilities, 18 of which are used for printing and/or call center operations. These facilities are located in 15 states and total approximately 2,195,000 square feet. Our headquarters occupies a 158,000 square-foot building in Shoreview, Minnesota. We believe that our current facilities are adequate to meet our anticipated space requirements. We believe that additional space will be available at a reasonable cost to meet our future needs. The following table provides a description of our principal facilities:

        Other than routine litigation incidental to our business, there are no material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or to which any of our property is subject.

        Not applicable.

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PART II

        Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DLX. During the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, we declared dividends of $0.37 per share during each quarterly period. At this time, we expect no change in the dividend amount or frequency of payment. As of December 31, 2002, the number of shareholders of record was 10,359. The table below shows the per share price ranges of our common stock for the past two fiscal years as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange.

        The information appearing under the caption “Five Year Summary” on pages 32 through 33 of the 2002 Annual Report is incorporated by reference.

        The information appearing under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” on pages 17 through 30 of the 2002 Annual Report is incorporated by reference.

        The information appearing under the caption “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” on page 30 of the 2002 Annual Report is incorporated by reference.

        The financial statements, notes and independent auditors’ reports on pages 34 through 57 of the 2002 Annual Report and the information appearing under the caption “Summarized Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)” on page 58 of the 2002 Annual Report are incorporated by reference.

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Not applicable.

PART III

        Corresponding sections of our definitive proxy statement, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after our fiscal year-end, are incorporated by reference.

        The following table provides information concerning all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2002:

Reflects our 1984, 1994 and 1996 stock incentive plans, our 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, As Amended and our Amended and Restated 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Reflects options outstanding under our 1998 DeluxeShares plan. Under this plan, options were awarded to substantially all employees (excluding foreign employees and employees of businesses held for sale), allowing them, subject to certain conditions, to purchase 100 shares of common stock at a converted exercise price of $25.20 per share. The options became exercisable on January 30, 2001 and expired on January 30, 2003.

        The information appearing under the caption “Controls and Procedures” on page 30 of the 2002 Annual Report is incorporated by reference.

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PART IV

    (a)        The following financial statements, schedules and reports of independent accountants and consents are filed with or incorporated by reference in this report:

        Schedules other than those listed above are not required or are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes.

(b)     Reports on Form 8-K

        A report on Form 8-K was filed on December 5, 2002, relating to our agreement to sell $300,000,000 of 5.00% Senior Notes due in 2012 to be issued under our previously filed Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-62041).

(c)     The following exhibits are filed as part of or are incorporated in this report by reference:

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_________________

*Incorporated by reference

**Denotes compensatory plan or management contract

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        Note to recipients of Form 10-K: Copies of exhibits will be furnished upon written request and payment of reasonable expenses in furnishing such copies.

SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Shoreview, State of Minnesota.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 26, 2003.

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CERTIFICATIONS

I, Lawrence J. Mosner, Chief Executive Officer of Deluxe Corporation, certify that:

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I, Douglas J. Treff, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Deluxe Corporation, certify that:

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statements Nos. 2-96963, 33-53585, 333-03265, 333-48967, 333-95739, 333-52452, 333-52454 and 333-89532 on Form S-8 of our report dated January 25, 2001, incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Deluxe Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2002.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 26, 2003

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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in each Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 2-96963, 33-53585, 333-03265, 333-48967, 333-95739, 333-52452, 333-52454 and 333-89532) of Deluxe Corporation of our report dated January 24, 2003 relating to the consolidated financial statements, which appears in the Annual Report to Shareholders, which is incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 26, 2003

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EXHIBIT INDEX

        The following exhibits are filed as part of this report: