Methods and systems for storing data in memory arrays are described. In one implementation, input bits are encoded into an intermediate binary array having multiple sub-arrays iteratively appended row-wise to the intermediate binary array. First sub-array is generated based on the input bits such that each row of the first sub-array has a number of 1's equal to a fraction of number of columns in the first sub-array, and based on a column balance coding such that the columns of the first sub-array have an equal number of 1's. At least one subsequent sub-array is generated based on a set of bits obtained from balancing termination indices for a previous sub-array and from diagonal bits of the intermediate binary array that are a part of the previous appended sub-array. The intermediate binary array is transformed to an encoded bit pattern. The encoded bit pattern is stored in the memory array.