I assume you are thinking about checks deposited, not checks written...
There has been an unjustifiable amount of "regulatory inflation" in the amount of activity banks are expected to collect at account inception in the name of AML. This information might be very helpful in projecting the need for different products or services; e.g. account analysis, remote deposit capture, etc. but as a facilitator of money laundering? Naaahhhh.
You heard it because somebody said it, not because it was right.