Bank of America will cash a check if you have an account there, but the rules depend on whether the check is drawn on a Bank of America account and whether you're a customer

If you have a Bank of America checking or savings account, Bank of America will cash checks drawn on any bank at no charge. If you don't have an account, Bank of America will cash a check drawn on a Bank of America account, but you'll pay a fee — usually $6 to $15 depending on the check amount. Bank of America will not cash checks drawn on other banks if you're not a customer.

The check must be signed, have a legible routing number and account number, and be dated within 180 days. If the check is post-dated (dated in the future), Bank of America will refuse it. If the check is stale-dated (more than 180 days old), they will also refuse it, though the bank that issued the check may still honor it.

You'll need a valid government-issued photo ID to cash any check at Bank of America, whether you're a customer or not. If the check is made out to someone else, Bank of America will not cash it — the payee must be present with ID, or the check must be endorsed to you in writing by the payee.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank of America customers can cash any check at no charge, regardless of which bank issued it.
  • Non-customers can cash Bank of America checks only, and will pay a fee between $6 and $15.
  • The check must be signed, dated within 180 days, and not post-dated.
  • You must show a valid government-issued photo ID, and the check must be made out to you or properly endorsed to you.
  • If you need to cash a check from another bank and don't have an account, your own bank or credit union is usually cheaper than Bank of America's non-customer fee.

What happens when you walk in to cash a check as a Bank of America customer

Go to any Bank of America branch during business hours with the check and your ID. The teller will verify the check is signed and legible, confirm your account status, and process the cash or deposit. If you want cash, the teller will count it out to you. If you want to deposit it, it posts to your account immediately for Bank of America checks; checks from other banks may take one to two business days to clear.

If the check amount is very large — typically over $10,000 — Bank of America may place a hold on the funds or ask questions about the source of the check. This is standard practice under federal anti-money-laundering rules and does not mean anything is wrong with the check. The hold is usually lifted within a few business days once the check clears.

Non-customer check cashing at Bank of America

If you don't have a Bank of America account, you can cash a check drawn on Bank of America only. Bring the check, your valid government-issued photo ID, and be prepared to pay the fee. The fee structure varies: Bank of America typically charges $6 for checks under $100, $8 for checks $100 to $5,000, and $15 for checks over $5,000. These amounts can change, so ask the teller before you proceed.

The teller will verify the check is legitimate, confirm it's drawn on Bank of America, and process the cash. The entire transaction usually takes five to ten minutes. If the check is damaged, illegible, or missing a signature, the teller will refuse it.

Why your own bank or credit union is usually a better option

If you have a checking or savings account at any bank or credit union, that institution will cash checks for you at no charge, even if the check is drawn on a different bank. This is true whether you're cashing a check from a friend, a business, or another financial institution. Most banks and credit unions consider check cashing a service for their own customers.

If you don't have an account anywhere, a credit union in your area may offer check cashing to non-members at a lower fee than Bank of America charges. Some credit unions charge $1 to $3 per check or a small percentage of the check amount. Call ahead to ask about their non-member check cashing policy and fees.

What to do if the check is damaged, post-dated, or stale

A damaged check — one that's torn, water-damaged, or has ink that's faded or smudged — may be refused by the teller. If the routing number or account number is illegible, Bank of America cannot process it. Ask the person who wrote the check to issue a replacement.

A post-dated check is one dated in the future. Bank of America's systems will reject it at the teller window, and you should not attempt to deposit it early. Wait until the date on the check arrives, then deposit or cash it. Some banks will process a post-dated check early anyway, but Bank of America will not.

A stale-dated check is more than 180 days old. Bank of America will refuse it, though the bank that issued the check may still honor it if you contact them directly. If the check is important, ask the issuer to write you a new one dated within the current 180-day window.

Checks made out to someone else or requiring endorsement

If a check is made out to another person, Bank of America will not cash it for you. The payee — the person whose name is on the check — must be present with their own valid ID. Both of you will need to go to the branch together.

If the payee wants to give you the money instead, they can endorse the check to you by signing the back and writing "Pay to the order of [your name]" above their signature. You then sign below that. Bank of America will cash the endorsed check if you're a customer; if you're not a customer, Bank of America will refuse it because it's no longer a standard check format.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cash a check at a Bank of America ATM?

No. Bank of America ATMs do not cash checks. You must go to a branch during business hours and speak to a teller. Some ATMs allow you to deposit checks, but that is different from cashing them.

What if the check is written for more cash than I need?

You cannot ask the teller to give you back part of the check amount. If the check is for $500 and you only need $300, you have two options: deposit the full amount and withdraw what you need later, or ask the person who wrote the check to write you a new one for the correct amount.

Do I need to be a Bank of America customer to cash a check there?

Only if the check is drawn on Bank of America. If the check is from another bank, you must have a Bank of America account. If you don't have an account and the check is from another bank, your own bank or a local credit union is your best option.

How long does it take for a check to clear after I cash it?

If you cash a check drawn on Bank of America, the funds are available immediately. If you cash a check from another bank, it may take one to two business days to clear, though Bank of America may give you access to the funds sooner depending on the amount and your account history.

What if Bank of America suspects the check is fraudulent?

The teller may refuse to cash it and ask you to contact the person who wrote it. If you're a customer and the check is deposited to your account, Bank of America may place a hold on the funds while they verify it with the issuing bank. If the check turns out to be fraudulent, the funds will be removed from your account.