You can cash a cheque at the bank that issued it, at a cheque-cashing service, or sometimes at the store where you shop
The fastest option is to go to the bank printed on the cheque itself — the issuer's bank — and ask to cash it at the teller window. You will need a government-issued photo ID. Most banks cash cheques for non-customers at no charge, though some charge a small fee (usually $5 to $10). This takes minutes.
If you cannot reach that bank, a cheque-cashing service or money mart will cash it for you, but they charge a percentage of the cheque amount — typically 1% to 5%, depending on the cheque size and the service. Some grocery stores and pharmacies also cash cheques for customers, sometimes free or for a flat fee. Call ahead to confirm they offer this and what ID they need.
The cheque must be signed by the person who wrote it, made out to you by name, and not post-dated (dated in the future). If any of those are wrong, the bank or service will refuse it.
Key Takeaways
- The issuer's bank (the name printed on the cheque) will cash it for you with a photo ID, usually for free or a small fee, and this is the fastest route.
- Cheque-cashing services charge 1% to 5% of the cheque amount but are open longer hours than banks and do not require you to have an account.
- Some grocery stores and pharmacies cash cheques for customers; call first to confirm they offer it and what they charge.
- The cheque must be signed, made out to you by name, and dated today or earlier — post-dated cheques cannot be cashed until that date arrives.
- Bring a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or provincial ID card) to any location where you cash the cheque.
Cashing at the issuer's bank
Walk into any branch of the bank whose name appears on the cheque. Tell the teller you want to cash a cheque and do not have an account there. Hand over the cheque and your photo ID. The teller will check that the cheque is signed, that your name matches the ID, and that the account it is drawn on has funds. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
Most banks do this for free. Some charge $5 to $15 for non-customers, but they will tell you the fee before they process it. Ask if you are unsure. If the cheque is large (over $1,000 or $2,000, depending on the bank), they may put a hold on it and give you the cash in a few days instead of immediately — this is normal and protects them against fraud.
If the cheque is from a bank that has no branch near you, you can still try calling a branch and asking whether they will cash it by mail or through a partner bank. Some will; most will not. Your next option is a cheque-cashing service.
Using a cheque-cashing service or money mart
Cheque-cashing services are storefronts that cash cheques for anyone with ID, no account needed. They charge a fee based on the cheque amount — usually 1% to 5%. On a $500 cheque, that is $5 to $25. On a $100 cheque, it might be $3 to $5. Ask the fee before you hand over the cheque.
These services are open longer than banks (often until 9 p.m. or later, and on weekends) and process cheques faster. They also accept post-dated cheques, which banks will not cash until the date on the cheque arrives. Bring your photo ID and the signed cheque.
To find one near you, search online for "cheque cashing near me" or "money mart". Compare fees at a few locations — they vary. Some services also offer other financial services like bill payment or money transfers, but you are only using them to cash the cheque.
Cashing at a grocery store or pharmacy
Many grocery stores and pharmacies (Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Costco, and others) cash cheques for customers. The fee is usually lower than a dedicated cheque-cashing service — sometimes free, sometimes $2 to $5. Call the store first to confirm they offer cheque cashing and what they charge.
You will need your photo ID and a customer loyalty card or membership (if the store requires one). The process is the same as at a bank: hand over the signed cheque and your ID, and the cashier will process it. It takes a few minutes. Some stores have limits on cheque size — ask when you call.
What can go wrong and how to fix it
A cheque will be refused if it is not signed, if your name does not match the ID you show, if it is post-dated (dated in the future), or if the account it is drawn on has no funds. If the cheque is unsigned or post-dated, contact the person who wrote it and ask them to sign it or rewrite it with today's date. If the account has no funds, the cheque will bounce and you will not get the money — contact the person who wrote it to ask them to deposit funds or write you a new cheque.
If the cheque is made out to someone else (not you), you cannot cash it. The person it is made out to must either cash it themselves or sign the back and write "Pay to the order of [your name]" — this is called a third-party cheque, and many banks and services refuse them. Ask the issuer to write a new cheque in your name instead.
If you lose the cheque or it is stolen, contact the person who wrote it immediately and ask them to stop payment on it and issue a replacement. They can do this through their bank, usually for a $15 to $30 fee. This prevents someone else from cashing it.
Comparing your options by cost and speed
| Option | Cost | Speed | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer's bank | Free or $5–$15 | 5–10 minutes | Bank hours (usually 9 a.m.–5 p.m.) |
| Cheque-cashing service | 1–5% of cheque amount | 5–10 minutes | Often 9 a.m.–9 p.m., some 24 hours |
| Grocery store or pharmacy | Free or $2–$5 | 5–10 minutes | Store hours (often 7 a.m.–11 p.m.) |
If the cheque is small and you are near the issuer's bank, go there — it is free and fast. If you need to cash it outside bank hours or the bank is far away, a grocery store is usually cheaper than a cheque-cashing service. Use a cheque-cashing service only if the other two are not available.
The choice depends on what matters most to you: saving money, saving time, or convenience of location and hours. For most people, the issuer's bank is the best first choice because it costs nothing and takes only a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash a cheque that is post-dated?
Banks and most cheque-cashing services will not cash a post-dated cheque until the date on it arrives. Some cheque-cashing services will cash it early for a higher fee. If you need the money now, contact the person who wrote it and ask them to rewrite it with today's date instead.
What if I do not have a photo ID?
Most banks and cheque-cashing services require government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or provincial ID card). If you do not have one, you can obtain a provincial photo ID card from your provincial government office — it costs $20 to $50 and takes a few weeks. Until then, ask the person who wrote the cheque to cash it themselves and give you the cash, or to deposit it into your account if you open one.
Will a bank cash a cheque if the account has no money?
No. The bank will refuse the cheque if the account it is drawn on does not have enough funds. This is called a bounced cheque. Contact the person who wrote it and ask them to deposit funds or write you a new cheque. Do not try to cash it again — it will bounce again.
Can someone else cash a cheque made out to me?
Only if you sign the back of the cheque and write "Pay to the order of [their name]". This is a third-party cheque, and many banks refuse them. It is safer to cash it yourself or ask the person who wrote it to write a new cheque in the other person's name.
How much does it cost to cash a cheque at a bank if I do not have an account?
Most banks cash cheques for non-customers for free. Some charge $5 to $15. Call the bank before you go, or ask the teller when you arrive — they will tell you the fee before they process the cheque.