How do I cash a check?

Question

I received a check that was made out to me, but I have no idea where I go to cash it. The bank on the check isn't in my area; I always thought you had to cash it at the bank that's on the check. I know this sounds silly, but my job wires my "checks" to my bank account. I'm from the direct deposit generation and this is the first time I've seen a check since economics class in high school 3 years ago!

I do have a bank account, I have my license and school ID.

Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

You will have to take it to your bank, endorse it by signing the back, and add it to your account. If it is a personal check, it can take up to 10 days to clear and actually be deposited in to your account.

Answer 2

Whether you got a check for your birthday or it's your first paycheck at a new job, you're about to be in the money. First, however, you have to cash your check. It's not hard provided you have a picture I.D. and possibly a bank account to help you out, particularily if it's a personal check.

Find a place that will cash a check. If it's a paycheck or a business check, you can go to any of the many places that offer a check cashing service. Grocery stores will often take those types of checks as well. Many of those places, however, will not take a personal check. If you have a personal check you need cashed, call around before you leave home to make sure that the place you intend to go to takes personal checks.



Step 2Go to the place you intend to cash your check. Right before you turn over your check to be cashed, turn the check over to the back. There will be a line across the back of the check. Sign on that line. By doing this, you are acknowledging that you are the person the check is written out to.



Step 3Hand over the check and your driver's license or picture I.D. to the person cashing your check. The person is trying to verify that the person the check is written to and you are the same person. They may also ask you for other information including your social security number or phone number. Those are all the steps you have to take with most checks provided you have a picture I.D. and that it is a business check. If you don't have a picture I.D. or the check is personal and the regular check cashing place won't cash it, you may still have options.



Step 4Call the check cashing place and ask what you can bring in instead of an I.D. They may be willing to take such identifiers as a social security card or utility bill.



Step 5Cash a personal check at the bank the check was drawn from. Since the person belongs to that bank, they will usually not refuse the check. If that bank is not in your area, you should be able to cash it at your bank. As a last resort, if youcannot figure out another way to cash your check, get a family member to help out and go to their bank. The bank might allow you to sign the check over to that person and they can cash it for you

Answer 3

The short answer is most of the time they don't. A check cashing business is essentially making very high risk short term loans. It may not seem like much but if you charge someone 2.5% to cash a check, some charge more, and the check clears in two days that's an effective yearly rate of over 8000%. They can afford some losses. In the case you mentioned I believe if the lady recieved her cash from the check cashing place and then the check was denied she owes the check cashing place, especially if she also cashed the second check. The person presenting the check is ultimately responsable for the checks value. She would have a case against the insurance company for any fees she had to pay for the returned check but she owes the check cashing place for the money they didn't receive. They will go to court and they will get a judgement. and if someone decides that she knew the check was going to have a stop payment on it she could go to jail.

Answer 4

Assuming you were expecting to receive this check and know the person who wrote it to you, just take it to your bank. You would need to have at least as much in your account as the check is written for. Bring your ID with you. Also, you could just deposit it at an ATM and take out whatever cash you want.



If you were not expecting this check, be very careful what you do with it. If you cash a check that is no good, whoever gave you the cash will be looking for you and could press criminal charges.

Answer 5

Go to the bank where your account is and you will be able to deposit or cash it depending on how much you have in your account.



You will always be able to cash a check at your own bank regardless of what make it is drawn on (the bank on the check). When you do not have a local bank is when you have to go to the bank it was drawn on.



Hope that helps for now and in the future. Soon we will all be able to scan in our checks like my bank lets me. :-)

Answer 6

Take the check to your own bank. Make sure there's more money in your account than the check is for. Your bank will cash it. The bank will hold the amount of money from your account until the check goes through. If it doesn't, they'll bounce it back and treat the money they gave you as if you cashed one of your own checks. But if it goes through fine, they'll release the money they held in your own account and you'll have access to it again.

Answer 7

you can cash it your own bank if you have money in your account. otherwise you have to pay a fee and cash it at a check cashing place like payday loans places. or just deposit in your account and wait for it to clear. ask your bank to verify funds and not put a hold on it also sometimes works.

Answer 8

you don't have to cash it at the bank on the check.

go to your bank, and tell them you want to cash it. just endorse the back. They'll probably make you show ID. It's easy.

Answer 9

Sign (endorse) the back of the check. Go to bank, fill out deposit check, then you can withdraw it. Ask the teller at the bank exactly what to do. Don't be embarrassed.

Answer 10

Turn the check over.



For Deposit Only

Bank Name

Bank account number

Your signature.



Deposit it. My ATM doesn't even need a deposit slip. If your ATM needs one, go during banking hours--they'll have a 'counter slip' that you can use.

Answer 11

You go to your bank and cash it

Answer 12

First, time to join the real world. Then, endorse it, take it to your bank, and cash it.

Answer 13

If you weren't expecting the check, then it's a scam. If however you were expecting it, just deposit into your bank account.

Answer 14

Your first answer is a good one