Bank of America cashes checks for account holders and non-customers
Bank of America will cash a check for you whether or not you have an account there. Account holders can cash checks at any of the roughly 4,300 Bank of America branches nationwide, and the transaction is free. Non-customers can also cash checks at a Bank of America branch, but you will pay a fee — currently $6 for checks under $100 and $8 for checks $100 or more, though these amounts can vary by location.
The check must be drawn on a Bank of America account, or the bank may refuse it or charge you a higher fee. If the check is drawn on another bank, you have better options: deposit it into your own account (if you have one), use a check-cashing service, or ask the person who wrote the check to cash it at their own bank.
You will need a valid government-issued photo ID to cash any check at Bank of America, whether you are an account holder or not. The teller will verify the ID matches the payee name on the check.
Key Takeaways
- Bank of America account holders cash checks free at any branch; non-customers pay $6 to $8 depending on check amount.
- The check must be drawn on a Bank of America account for the best outcome; checks from other banks may be refused or cost more.
- You must bring a valid government-issued photo ID with your name matching the payee on the check.
- If you do not have an account at Bank of America, depositing the check into an account at your own bank is usually faster and cheaper than paying a non-customer fee.
What ID you need and what information the teller will ask for
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID. The name on your ID must match the name printed as the payee on the check. If your name does not match exactly (for example, if you go by a nickname or your legal name has changed), bring a second form of ID or a document showing the name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order.
The teller will ask you to sign the back of the check in front of them. This is called endorsing the check. They will also ask for your phone number and may ask what the check is for, though you are not required to answer that question. Some branches may ask for additional information if the check amount is very large or if there are other red flags, such as a post-dated check or one with alterations.
Checks drawn on other banks and what happens then
If the check is drawn on a different bank — for example, a Wells Fargo check or a check from a credit union — Bank of America may still cash it, but the fee will be higher than the standard non-customer rate, or the bank may refuse outright. The policy varies by branch and by the specific bank the check is drawn on.
Your best move is to deposit the check into your own bank account instead. If you have a Bank of America account, you can deposit it through the mobile app, at an ATM, or at a branch. If you bank elsewhere, deposit it there. This costs you nothing and the funds will clear within one to three business days, depending on your bank's policy. If you need cash immediately and do not have an account, a check-cashing service or the bank that issued the check (the one printed on the front) will cash it for you, usually for a lower fee than Bank of America charges non-customers.
How long it takes and when the funds are available
When you cash a check at a Bank of America branch, you receive the cash immediately — the teller counts it out and hands it to you. There is no waiting period. The bank has already verified the check and your ID, so the transaction is complete when you leave the counter.
This is different from depositing a check, where the funds may take one to three business days to clear. Cashing means you walk out with physical money, so there is no risk the check will bounce after you have already spent it — Bank of America has already taken that risk by giving you the cash.
Limits on how many checks you can cash
Bank of America does not publish a hard limit on the number of checks you can cash in a single day or over time. However, if you cash many checks in a short period — especially large checks or checks from multiple different sources — the bank may flag your account for suspicious activity and ask you questions about where the money is coming from. This is part of federal anti-money-laundering rules that all banks must follow.
If you are cashing checks as part of a business or regular income (for example, you are a contractor who receives checks from multiple clients), tell the teller this upfront. Providing context helps the bank understand the pattern and reduces the chance of delays or holds on your account.
What to do if the check is post-dated or damaged
A post-dated check is one dated for a future date — for example, a check dated next month. Bank of America may refuse to cash a post-dated check, or the teller may cash it anyway at their discretion. The safest approach is to ask the person who wrote the check to write you a new one with today's date, or wait until the date on the check arrives.
A damaged check — one that is torn, stained, or has writing over the amount or payee name — may be refused. If the damage is minor (a small tear in the corner that does not affect the routing number, account number, or amount), the teller may still cash it. If the damage is significant, ask the person who wrote the check to issue a replacement.
Alternatives if Bank of America is not convenient
If you do not have a Bank of America account and the non-customer fee is too high, or if the nearest branch is far away, you have other options. If the check is drawn on Bank of America, you can take it to any Bank of America branch — they are all connected to the same system. If the check is drawn on another bank, take it to a branch of that bank; most banks will cash checks drawn on their own accounts for free, even if you do not have an account there.
Check-cashing services and payday loan stores also cash checks, though their fees are often higher than bank fees and they may ask more questions. Walmart and some grocery stores offer check-cashing services at customer service desks, usually for $3 to $6 depending on the check amount. If you have a friend or family member with a bank account, you can also ask them to deposit the check into their account and give you the cash, though this requires trust and may not be practical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash a check at a Bank of America ATM?
No. Bank of America ATMs accept check deposits, but they do not dispense cash in exchange for a check. You must go to a branch and speak to a teller to cash a check.
What if the check has my name spelled wrong?
If the spelling is close (for example, "Jon" instead of "John"), the teller may cash it anyway with your ID as proof. If the spelling is very different or you are unsure, contact the person who wrote the check and ask them to issue a corrected one. Cashing a check with a significantly misspelled name can create problems later if the bank questions the transaction.
Can I cash a check if I do not have an ID?
No. Bank of America requires a valid government-issued photo ID to cash any check. If you do not have one, you cannot cash a check at the bank. You would need to ask someone else to cash it for you or deposit it into their account.
Will Bank of America cash a check if the account it is drawn on is closed?
Probably not. If the account is closed, the check is no good — the bank that issued it will reject it. The teller may catch this during verification, or the check may bounce after you have already received the cash. Ask the person who wrote the check to issue a new one from an active account.
How much cash can I withdraw after cashing a check?
There is no legal limit on how much cash you can withdraw or cash in checks at a bank. However, if you cash a very large check or withdraw a large amount of cash, the bank must report it to the IRS on a Currency Transaction Report (CTR). This is routine and not a sign of wrongdoing — it is a federal requirement for all cash transactions over $10,000.