How to Cash a Check Quickly Online or In-Person

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Plus, precautions to take to protect your money
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In our digital world of direct deposits and money transfers via smartphone apps, old-fashioned paper checks (or cheques) are still issued for a variety of reasons. No matter what type of check it is, even the most tech-savvy individuals need to cash one from time to time. This article covers how to make sure a check is valid and how to cash it safely and inexpensively to help you get your money as quickly as possible whether you have a checking account or not. Plus, we spoke with credit adviser Derick Vogel to get his best tips for dealing with checks.

Cashing a Check: A Quick Guide

Go to a bank with the check, an I.D., and your bank card and speak to a teller. You may get cash right away or have to fill out a deposit slip first. Or, sign the back and insert the check into your bank’s ATM or upload a photo to their app or website to deposit it.

Section 1 of 5:

Cashing Your Check at an ATM

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  1. Typically, ATMs only accept cash and check deposits from customers. [1] However, some ATMs accept deposits from anyone, but it may take a little longer for your money to be available for withdrawal. In general, laws require them to make your funds available within 5 business days. [2] Most ATMs in the U.S. will accept checks drawn on a bank in the U.S. This includes:
    • Personal checks
    • Cashier’s check
    • Certified checks
    • U.S. government checks
  2. Endorsing your check means signing it on the back. Flip the check and look for 3 lines. Sign your name on one of these lines in blue or black ink to endorse the check. Cash or deposit the check immediately after you endorse it. Once you've signed the check, it becomes a “bearer instrument,” meaning anyone who finds it can cash it. [3]
    • The person whose name is listed as the payee on the front of the check is the person who should endorse it.
    • If more than one person is listed as a payee, both must endorse the check if the payees are listed as [Name] & [Name].
    • If 2 or more names are listed as [Name] or [Name], either person may endorse and cash the check.
    • These are general rules that may be different depending on the bank or other organization cashing your check.
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  3. Modern ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) make it easy to insert and deposit paper checks to your account . Depending on your bank, the funds may be available immediately, or you may need to wait up to three days for the cash to go through. But, if you already have sufficient funds in your account, you can just withdraw the amount you need in the meantime. [4] To deposit:
    • Insert your debit card.
    • Type in your PIN and press Enter.
    • Select “Deposit Check.’
    • Choose the account you want to deposit the check into.
    • Insert the check into the check deposit slot.
    • Confirm the amount on the check.
    • Use the ATM to withdraw the money you need.
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Section 2 of 5:

Depositing Your Check Electronically

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  1. Many banks now allow you to deposit checks into your account using a smartphone or the bank’s website. The process may vary between banks, but it usually involves visiting the website or downloading the bank’s app and using a scanner or your smartphone camera to upload an image or take a photo of your check. [5] TO deposit:
    • Make sure to follow all the directions on the website or in the app.
    • Endorse the check, then take clear, well-lit photographs of its front and back sides.
    • Keep the check until you receive confirmation that it has been deposited, then destroy it.
    • Once the check clears, though, you will have to leave the house to withdraw the money you deposited from an ATM or bank branch.
    • Vogel recommends keeping any check that you deposit through a mobile app until you can confirm it's in your account.
Section 3 of 5:

Cashing a Check at Your Bank

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  1. If you hold an open account of any type with a bank, they will cash a valid check for you. However, when you cash a check in person, Vogel says you need to show some type of valid photo I.D. Driver’s licenses and passports are usually the best choices. In some cases, military or school I.D.s may be accepted.
    • Many banks prefer that you have your bank debit card with you as well. If you do not have your debit card, you may be required to fill in additional forms to cash your check.
    • Contact the bank branch with any questions about their I.D. requirements. You won’t be required to show a photo I.D. if you cash the check at an ATM or via your smartphone.
  2. Cashing your check with a bank teller is the easiest method for getting the money you have earned quickly and safely. Show the teller your I.D. or hand them your debit card if requested. [6] If you don’t have your debit card, fill out a deposit slip with your name, account number, address, and the total of the check you’re depositing.
    • Never sign the back of the check before you arrive at the bank. Instead, Vogel recommends doing it in front of the teller as you cash it for ultimate security.
  3. Some banks may require you to deposit the check to your account rather than cash it. This is more likely if the check you are trying to cash is written on an account from another bank. [7]
    • If you need cash right away and already have sufficient funds in your bank account, you can deposit the check and then immediately make a withdrawal in the amount you need.
    • If the bank on which the check is drawn refuses to pay your bank—in other words, the check “bounces”—your bank will reimburse itself from your bank account.
    • Banks will also usually charge a fee ranging from $10-$35 USD for the trouble of dealing with a returned check.
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Section 4 of 5:

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  1. You can find the name of the bank by looking at the front of the check. Most banks will (and may be legally required to) cash checks that are drawn on accounts at their bank with sufficient funds. [8] The bank may, however, charge you a fee if you're not an account holder with them. [9]
    • You must cash the check in person with a bank teller (not at the ATM) if you are not an account holder there. You’ll probably need to show a valid photo I.D., so bring one along.
    • If the account the check is written on does not have sufficient funds to cover the check, the bank is not required to cash it. [10]
    • Some U.S. states have laws that require banks to cash checks drawn on their accounts without charging a fee. [11]
  2. 2
    Cash your check at a major retailer. Large grocery store chains and general merchandise retailers (like Walmart) often let you cash business or payroll checks for minimal fees—some, but not all, may also cash personal checks. This can cost less than doing the same thing at a bank you don't hold an account with or at a cash-checking service. [12]
    • Go to the store’s customer service desk with your check and a valid photo I.D.
    • Don't sign the back of your check until you are in front of the person who is cashing it for you.
    • Some retailers may require you to be a member of their rewards or loyalty program, but these are nearly always free and easy to join.
    • Retail stores may charge a small fee to cash a check for you. In many cases, the fee depends on the amount of the check.
    • For example, Walmart charges up to $4 USD for checks up to $1,000 USD and $8 USD for checks over $1,000 USD. [13]
  3. Many financial institutions now offer prepaid debit cards to people without bank accounts. If you have a prepaid card, you will usually be able to use your prepaid debit card at an ATM to deposit checks. You may be charged a fee to deposit and withdraw funds, depending on the card. [14]
    • For example, Visa has a reloadable “Payroll Card” that you can get through your employer. You can deposit checks and withdraw money at any ATM that accepts Visa debit cards. [15]
    • Many large banks also offer prepaid debit cards. Chase offers a prepaid card that allows you to deposit checks at any Chase ATM for a monthly fee of approximately $5 USD.
    • Prepaid cards are usually available through large financial institutions such as MasterCard and American Express.
  4. 4
    Sign the check over to someone you trust. By signing the back of your check over to someone you trust and know well, they can just as easily go into their own bank, cash it, and hand you the money. Of course, the stipulation here is that you should only ask someone you truly trust to do this for you. In most cases, it’s best to accompany them to the bank when they are cashing your check, though it is not necessary for you to be present. [16]
    • To endorse the check to another person, write “Pay to the order of _______” on the reverse side of the check.
    • Sign your name below. In some cases, you may also be required to initial near the written and numerical amounts on the front of the check.
    • Never ask someone you do not know very well to cash a check for you. Never cash a check for someone you do not know and trust extremely well.
    • Some banks don’t accept third-party checks due to the risk of fraud.
  5. You should only use this method when other options aren’t available to you. These firms charge the most money for cashing personal and payroll checks. On the upside, they’re often the quickest way to get most of your cash immediately. However, the commission that these check-cashing places take is hefty—often more than 10%—due to the extra risk they take by cashing nearly all checks brought to them. [17]
    • These places know that they are working with customers who need the money from the check ASAP and, therefore, can charge high fees.
    • If you don’t have a bank account and need cash immediately from a personal check, check-cashing services may be your only option.
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Section 5 of 5:

Cashing Checks Safely

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  1. If you end up with a bad check, you'll have a lot more trouble trying to retrieve money that’s rightfully yours. If you're asking for payment from someone you've never met before, it's better to ask for the amount of money in cash. But if you do have a check, make sure you have the following information:
    • The correct first and last name and address of the person giving you the check.
    • Contact information for the person who wrote you the check so you can reach them if you have trouble cashing it.
    • The name of a legitimate bank where the check is being drawn from.
    • Check with the issuing bank to confirm that the person writing the check has an account with funds available to cover it. Many banks will verify the account if you contact them.
  2. 2
    Make sure the check is properly written out to you. It is very important for your name to be written correctly on the check. Banks can deny payment if the name does not match that of the person attempting to cash it. Ask for the name on the check to be written to match the name on your valid photo I.D. (driver’s license, passport, etc.).
    • The person paying you should write a check with the amount written in numerals and script.
    • Different rules may apply if you own a small business. Instead of giving you the cash, they will deposit the money in the business bank account. [18]
  3. All of the information on the check needs to be complete and accurate. This includes the date, amount of payment, and signature. [19] If the information is invalid or missing, you probably won’t be able to cash it.
    • The date written on the check is the first date on which the funds may be withdrawn.
    • The numerical amount box is located below the date. It represents the exact amount to be paid.
    • Make certain that this is the correct amount you are owed and that it matches the written dollar amount located to the left of the box. [20]
    • For the check to be valid, it must contain the signature of the owner of the account from which the funds will be withdrawn. [21]
    Erin Lowry, Personal Finance Expert

    Before cashing any check, pause to inspect both sides for signs of fraud — uneven edges, smudged ink, mismatched fonts. Then, verify with the payer that the details match what they authorized. Though cashing checks can bring quick funds when needed, additional fees and lack of recourse for fakes expose you to loss. Consider safer options like linking accounts for electronic transfers, especially with new payees.

  4. 4
    Endorse the check right before you're ready to cash it. To endorse the check, you just have to flip it over and sign the line with the "x" to the left of it. Do this right before you go to the ATM or the bank so that your check cannot be cashed as easily if you lose it. [22]
    • If there is more than one payee — e.g., “Pay to the order of Jackson and Leanna Teller” — all payees must endorse the check in order to cash it.
    • However, a check can be deposited into a joint account with only one of the joint owners signing it.
    • Once the check is endorsed, unless there are written restrictions, the check becomes a "bearer" instrument that anyone (in theory) can cash.
  5. Some checks, like those that are paid by employers, have an expiration date on them. But even if they do not have an expiration date, banks are often not legally required to accept checks 6 months after their written date. So, you should cash them in a timely manner to make sure that you can get the money you deserve as quickly and easily as possible. [23]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can you go to any bank to cash a check?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    No, if you don't have an account with the bank and the person who wrote the check doesn't have an account there, they will often refuse to cash the check. You have a better chance if you're at the bank of the person who wrote the check, there's enough money in their account to cash the check, the check is not older than 6 months and the check is made out to you and you can show ID to prove it. Even if all of this is true, however, you still might be charged a fee if it's not your bank.
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  • Question
    What does Walmart charge to cash a check?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    $4 for checks up to $1,000 and $8 for checks from $1,001 to $5,000. For a two-party personal check, the limit is $200 and the max fee is $6.
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  • Question
    How long does a check take to clear once it's cashed?
    Community Answer
    Relatively small amounts (under $100 or $200 in the US) are usually available within a day. Larger checks can take a few days to clear. You can ask your bank for its specific policy, or check the deposit slip for an estimated time.
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      Tips

      • An "order" check is payable only to the person named on the check. You will need to present your I.D. to cash this type of check.
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      • Some checks may be made out to "_____ or bearer. " If the check has these words printed on it, anyone who has physical possession of the check may cash it.
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      • It's easy to open a checking account at your local bank, and not much initial capital is required to open an account —oftentimes, it only takes $50 USD or less. Thus, it is probably beneficial for you to open a checking account in the long run, even if you don't plan on consistently using your account.
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      Warnings

      • Be very careful when accepting ante- or post-dated checks since these may be given to you for fraudulent purposes.
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      • Be wary when cashing cashier's checks or bank checks (checks drawn on bank funds rather than that of an account holder). If the check is fake, you will be responsible for reimbursing your bank.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about cashing a check, check out our in-depth interview with Derick Vogel .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/deposit-cash-atm
      2. ↑ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/if-i-deposit-a-check-into-an-atm-are-the-funds-available-right-away-en-1087/
      3. ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/3/3-110
      4. ↑ https://training.hr.ufl.edu/instructionguides/deposits_implementation/making_atm_deposits_ig.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/how-to-make-mobile-check-deposits
      6. ↑ https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/how-to-cash-a-check-without-a-bank-account
      7. ↑ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-i-cash-a-check-at-any-bank-or-credit-union-en-931/
      8. ↑ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-i-cash-a-check-at-any-bank-or-credit-union-en-931/
      9. ↑ https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/how-to-cash-a-check-without-a-bank-account
      1. ↑ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-i-cash-a-check-at-any-bank-or-credit-union-en-931/
      2. ↑ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/i-received-a-check-and-tried-to-cash-it-at-the-bankcredit-union-that-holds-the-account-on-which-the-check-is-written-the-bankcredit-union-charged-me-a-fee-for-cashing-a-check-can-a-bankcredit-union-do-that-en-937/
      3. ↑ https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/how-to-cash-a-check-without-a-bank-account
      4. ↑ https://www.dealnews.com/features/walmart/cash-checks/
      5. ↑ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/prepaid-cards/understand-fees/
      6. ↑ https://usa.visa.com/pay-with-visa/find-card/get-prepaid-card
      7. ↑ https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/can-you-cash-check-without-bank-account-id-155116813.html
      8. ↑ https://www.bankrate.com/banking/checking/how-to-cash-a-check-without-a-bank-account/
      9. ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/how-to-write-a-check
      10. ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/how-to-write-a-check
      11. ↑ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/i-received-a-check-where-the-words-and-the-numbers-for-the-amount-are-different-is-this-check-valid-and-for-how-much-en-945/
      12. ↑ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/i-received-a-check-that-someone-forgot-to-sign-can-i-still-cash-it-en-943/
      13. ↑ https://www.bankrate.com/banking/checking/how-to-cash-a-check-without-a-bank-account/
      14. ↑ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-quickly-can-i-get-money-after-i-deposit-a-check-into-my-checking-account-what-is-a-deposit-hold-en-1023/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To cash a check, start by going to any branch of your bank with a valid photo I.D. and taking your check to the bank teller. Make sure to wait and sign the back of your check when you’re in front of the teller for security purposes. Alternatively, you can deposit your check at your bank’s ATM by inserting your debit card, typing in your PIN, and selecting “Deposit Check” on the screen. Then, insert the check into the deposit slot and confirm the amount on the check. For more tips, like how to cash a check without a bank account, read on!

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