Balancing image cash letters (“ICLs”) and ICL items during electronic check processing includes determining whether each item has been presented to a receiving institution for payment. A tracking module can track an incoming ICL/item's processing status using records comprising information regarding the ICL/item's status for electronic check processing events. The tracking module can present the ICL/item's processing status in one or more reports. The tracking module can balance an ICL by comparing an incoming ICL value amount with an outgoing ICL value amount. The incoming ICL value amount comprises the total value of the items in the incoming ICL. The outgoing ICL value amount comprises the total value of the items in the incoming ICL that have been presented to a receiving institution via one or more outgoing ICLs. If the amounts match, then the incoming ICL is balanced. If not, then the ICL is not balanced.