You can cash a check at your own bank for free, but other banks may charge you or refuse
If the check is drawn on your bank, you can walk in and cash it at any branch during business hours. If the check is drawn on a different bank, your options narrow. Some banks will cash it for a fee (usually $5 to $15). Many will not cash it at all, even if you have an account there. The bank that issued the check — called the drawee bank — will always cash it if you have an ID, but only at a branch of that bank.
The reason banks restrict check cashing is fraud. A check can be forged, altered, or written on an account with no money in it. Your own bank knows your account and signature. A stranger's bank does not, so they charge you or decline the risk.
Key Takeaways
- Your own bank cashes checks drawn on your account for free; checks drawn on other banks may cost $5 to $15 or be refused entirely.
- The bank that issued the check will cash it if you show a valid ID, but only at a branch of that bank.
- If you have a checking account at the bank that issued the check, you can deposit it to your account instead of cashing it, which is free and faster.
- Check-cashing stores, grocery stores, and Walmart offer alternatives when banks refuse, but they charge higher fees and may limit the amount.
- Mobile deposit through your bank's app lets you cash a check without visiting a branch, though funds may take one to three business days to clear.
Cashing a check at the bank that issued it
The drawee bank — the one printed on the check — must cash it if you present a valid government ID. This is true whether or not you have an account there. Walk into any branch, hand the teller the check and your ID, and you will receive cash. There is no fee for this service.
The teller will ask you to endorse the check (sign the back) and may ask what the check is for. They may also place a hold on the cash if the amount is very large or if the check looks unusual. Most checks clear the same day or the next business day, so you will usually get your money immediately.
Cashing a check at a bank other than the drawee
Banks that did not issue the check have no obligation to cash it. Some will, but they charge a fee — typically $5 to $15 depending on the bank and the check amount. Others refuse entirely, especially if you do not have an account there.
If you have a checking account at the bank, ask the teller whether they will cash it. Many banks will cash checks drawn on other banks for their own customers at no charge or a reduced fee. If you do not have an account, the bank will likely refuse or charge a higher fee. In either case, depositing the check to your account is usually free and faster than cashing it.
Depositing instead of cashing
If you have a checking account at any bank, you can deposit a check instead of cashing it. This is free and does not require you to visit a branch. Most banks offer mobile deposit through their app: you photograph the front and back of the check, enter the amount, and submit it. The funds usually appear in your account within one to three business days.
Depositing is safer than cashing because the money goes directly into your account and you have a record of it. If the check bounces (the account has no money), the bank will reverse the deposit and charge you a fee, but you will not have already spent the cash. Many employers and government agencies now send checks that are meant to be deposited, not cashed, so this method is becoming standard.
Check-cashing stores and retail alternatives
If banks refuse to cash your check, check-cashing stores, grocery stores, and Walmart offer the service. Fees are higher than banks charge — often $3 to $10 per check, or a percentage of the check amount (1% to 3%). Some stores limit the amount they will cash in a single transaction, typically $1,000 to $5,000.
These retailers are faster than banks and often have longer hours, including evenings and weekends. However, they do not verify the check as thoroughly as a bank does, so the risk of cashing a bad check falls on you. If the check bounces, the store will demand repayment and may pursue collection action.
What happens if the check bounces
If you cash a check and the account it was drawn on has no money, the check bounces. The bank that cashed it will reverse the transaction and deduct the amount from your account (or demand repayment if you cashed it without an account). You will also be charged a returned-check fee, usually $15 to $35.
The person who wrote the check may face overdraft fees and damage to their banking record. If they wrote the check knowing the account was empty, they may face legal consequences. If you deposited the check instead of cashing it, the same reversal happens, but you have a record of the transaction and proof that you did not spend the money.
Checks that banks may refuse to cash
Banks can refuse to cash a check for reasons beyond the drawee bank's policy. A check with a date more than six months in the past (called a stale check) may be refused. A check with obvious signs of alteration — crossed-out amounts, different ink, or erasures — will be refused. A check with a signature that does not match the ID you present will be refused.
If the amount is unusually large, the bank may place a hold and verify the check before cashing it. This can take several business days. If you need the money urgently, ask the teller how long the hold will last and whether you can withdraw a portion of the check amount immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash a check at a bank where I don't have an account?
Only at the bank that issued the check, and only with a valid ID. Other banks will refuse or charge a fee. Check-cashing stores and retailers like Walmart will cash it for a fee regardless of whether you have an account.
How long does it take to cash a check?
At the drawee bank, usually minutes to an hour. At your own bank, the same. If you deposit it through mobile app, the funds appear in one to three business days. Check-cashing stores are typically immediate, but fees are higher.
What if the check is post-dated?
A post-dated check (dated in the future) should not be cashed before that date. Banks are not required to honor it early, though some will. The safest approach is to wait until the date on the check or deposit it and let the bank handle the timing.
Can I cash a check made out to someone else?
No. A check is a legal instrument made payable to a specific person. If it is made out to someone else, that person must endorse it to you (sign the back and write "Pay to the order of [your name]"), and even then, many banks will refuse. The safest option is to have the original payee deposit it to their account and transfer you the money.
What if I lost the check or it was stolen?
Contact the person or organization that issued the check immediately and ask them to stop payment on it. They can issue a replacement check. If someone cashes a check made out to you without your signature, report it to your bank and the police as fraud.