Personal checks are typically good for 6 months (180 days), but business checks, government checks, U.S. Treasury checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, and traveler’s checks are different. Unclaimed Property is anything negotiable that has monetary value. First, decide whether to cash your check at a local store or use a phone app. If you cash your check at a store, bring an official ID to verify your identity. For check-cashing apps, you can sign the back of the check and follow the app’s instructions to take pictures of your check.
Other Check Cashing Places That Don’t Require ID
In such cases, the recipient will need to explore alternative payment methods or seek legal advice to resolve the issue. Your checks provide instructions to the bank not to cash the check after 180 days. Eight months later, you realize that the vendor has still not cashed the check.
How to Cash a Check Quickly Online or In-Person
The check’s validity also depends on the account holder’s account status, available funds, and any stop payment orders that may have been issued. While check cashing and payday loan stores offer an alternative way to cash checks, they typically charge high fees that can add up quickly. Unless you’re in a bind, it’s best to avoid these types of establishments altogether. Opt to cash your check at your bank or another eligible financial institution. If you have a bank account, your bank may offer ATM or mobile check deposits, which allows you to get the funds into your account without having to show your ID.
PayPal
- An alternative option for cashing your check without an ID or a bank account would be to use a prepaid card.
- Some banks may allow you to cash a check at an ATM, but it’s not a common practice.
- Once your check is approved, you can write “VOID” across the front.
- Unless you’re cashing it online or through an ATM, you will need a valid ID to cash a check at a bank, credit union or check-cashing store.
- These organizations may have conditions different from standard banking timelines.
For instance, you can use online mobile depositing or deposit the check at an ATM. Typically, you will need an account in order to do this, as you’ll most likely have to deposit the check rather than cash it. If these aren’t options for you, you can sign the check over to a friend or relative and have them cash it for you. As the CFPB notes, most banks will cash checks issued by their customers.
What happens if you don’t cash a check in 90 days?
- However, financial providers charge service fees for those older than one to three years.
- A photo ID makes it easier, but there are options if you don’t have one.
- 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.
- Typically you’ll need an accepted form of ID to cash a check, like a driver’s license or government ID.
Business checks, including payroll and vendor payments, usually remain valid for six months, unless marked as valid for up to one year. Some businesses may print “VOID after 90 days” on their checks to encourage prompt cashing, but banks often still honor them for up to 180 days. If somebody worries that a check got lost, they may decide to stop payment—an order not to pay a check that has been issued, but not cashed—on that check. The bank will then reject your deposit, and it’ll bounce back to your bank unpaid.
Checking account vs. savings account
” followed by the name of the person you want to give permission to. You can easily cash a two-party check with one signature if the “Pay to the Order of” line on the front of the check uses the word OR between the names of the two parties. But if this same lines uses the word AND between the names of the two parties, then both parties will have to sign the two-party check in order to cash it.
Pay to the Order Of
You might also notice check cashing stores other than retailers and grocery stores. Check cashing stores are usually also a part of payday loan shops. This is an option if you need to cash your check but you don’t have a bank account, or if your bank is closed but you need cash now. Check cashing stores usually charge the highest fees for this service. If you don’t have a bank account, you can still use a mobile check cashing app. Keep in mind that this method will have a waiting period of up to 10 days before you can access the funds, or you can pay a fee for early access.
While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. If you’ve been given a check, it’s best to cash or deposit it as soon as feasible. If you don’t cash a personal check within 90 days, it typically becomes stale, and most banks will refuse to accept it. The case might differ for business, government, or cashier’s checks, but it’s a good idea to cash them within the specified time frame to avoid potential issues. Most checks are no longer valid after a six-month period and are usually considered stale after three years. This means they may be declined by banks or other financial institutions.
Next time you’ve got a check in your hands, you’ll need to know how and where to cash it. If you don’t have a photo ID, there are still a couple things you can do. If you have a joint account with a parent or guardian, you can ask them to help you. If you don’t, you’ll need to get the help of a trusted adult, whether they’re a parent, guardian or someone else.
The teller won’t necessarily reject your check if it doesn’t have your full legal name. For example, it’s acceptable if the check says John Doe but your driver’s license says Jonathan. One of the few gas station chains that cashes checks is 7-Eleven. You must download the Transact by 7-Eleven app, which lets you cash a check by taking a picture of it with your phone. You will have the most success at travel centers (truck stops) when driving along the interstate.
Take Your Cash or Make Your Deposit
After that, they may expire or be replaced with permanent checks. Other options, like bank transfers or platforms such as Remitly, also offer quicker, expiration-free transactions. After receiving a check, confirm the expiration terms with the issuer, especially if it’s from private businesses or government agencies. These organizations may have conditions different from standard banking timelines. Keep records of any conversation about replacements, extensions, or uncashed checks, as the documentation could help resolve future disputes. Use cashing an old check digital tools or money apps to log check numbers, issue dates, and amounts for easier tracking.
