Cash Cheque

The only types of checks we cannot cash are personal checks. Cash limits and the costs to you. As of 2018, we have a check cashing limit of $5,000, although we increase this limit to $7,500 from January to April of each year. Our check cashing fees are $4 for any checks up to $1,000. For checks between $1,001 and $5,000, the fee is $8. Write the Full Name of the payee as per the payee's bank records on the Pay line.; Cross out the Bearer word on the cheque and double cross on the top left corner of the cheque if it has to be paid only to the said payee.; Sign your cheque according to your signature as per bank's records. If any amendments are required, cancel with a horizontal line and sign your full signature beside it. There is a limit to the amount of time a federally regulated financial institution, such as a bank, can place a hold on money you deposit by cheque. Federally regulated financial institutions can hold the money you deposit by cheque for 4 to 8 days. The amount of time depends on the amount of the cheque and how it was deposited.

© Joe Raedle/Getty Images 4 Ways to cash a check without a checking account
  1. Your Local Bank or Credit Union. The best place to cash a check is your personal bank or credit.
  2. Just type in the face value of your cheque in the box to the right to find out how much cash you’ll get. Please note minimum Cheque Cashing Fee is £1.51 for cheques of £20 or less; or £2.51 for cheques of £50 or less. A 5.9% Cheque Cashing Fee applies to cheques over £50.

If you have a checking or savings account at a federally insured bank, you should have no trouble cashing a check there.

But for the millions of people without a bank account, check cashing is not as easy. Approximately 8.4 million U.S. households, comprising 14.1 million adults, don’t have a bank account, according to a 2017 survey from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

There are ways to cash a check without a bank account, but they cost more money, often require more time and involve more risk than check cashing at a bank where you have an account. Here are five options:

1. Check cashing at the issuing bank

Banks and credit unions are not required to cash checks for non-customers, but many banks will cash a check payable to a non-customer if the check is written by an account holder at that bank.

There are a few requirements though. For one, there must be enough money in the account the check is written against to cover the check. The payee will need to show identification, such as a driver’s license or military ID.

The payee also should expect to pay a fee. Check-cashing fees at traditional banks hover around $8. If you get paid 52 weeks a year, that’s $416 in check-cashing charges.

And there may be restrictions, such as limits on check amounts and refusal of two-party personal checks. Checks that are six months old or more might be declined.

2. Check cashing at a retailer

There are a number of big retail stores like Kmart, Walmart and grocery chains that offer check-cashing services.

The least expensive option is probably Kmart, if you can find one that hasn’t closed. The struggling retailer charges only $1 or less to cash checks, including two-party personal checks up to $500. The caveat is that you need to be a member of the store's 'Shop Your Way' program to use the service. Joining the program is free.

Walmart charges $4 to cash checks up to $1,000 and up to $8 for checks more than that amount. Walmart also cashes two-party personal checks, but it limits them to $200 and charges a $6 max fee.

Grocery chains often provide check-cashing services. Kroger, Publix, Giant Eagle, Albertsons and Ingles, to name a few, cash checks. Fees typically range from about $3 to $6.

Cash Cheque

3. Loading funds onto a prepaid debit card


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People who don't have bank accounts sometimes use prepaid cards to deposit checks and access their cash. Prepaid cards are similar to checking account debit cards. Your spending is limited by how much money you have loaded onto the card.

Prepaid cards have different options for check cashing. Some prepaid cards let you set up direct deposit so that checks are automatically loaded onto the card. Other cards come with an app that lets you snap a picture of your check to load it onto your card. Or, you might be able to deposit your check at an ATM to load the money onto the card.

Fees are a big drawback of prepaid cards. The Walmart MoneyCard charges $2.50 to withdraw money at an ATM (not including the fee the bank charges) or a bank teller window, and 50 cents to check your card balance at an ATM. There is a monthly fee of $5.94 unless you load $1,000 a month onto the card.

Reload fees can be steep. It can cost you up to $5.95 to add money to a Green Dot Prepaid Visa card. Green Dot also charges a $3 ATM fee. Sometimes, prepaid card fees are scaled according to how quickly you want your money, and you can get dinged for expedited availability.

4. Cashing your check at a check-cashing outlet

Check-cashing outlets are probably the most expensive places to cash checks. Some of them require customers to become “members” or to buy check-cashing ID cards before they will cash your checks. In addition to a membership fee, they might charge a first-time use fee.

Fees to cash a check can range from 1 percent to 12 percent of the face value of the check. That means you could pay from $10 to $120 to cash a $1,000 check. Some businesses charge a flat fee on top of the percentage.

The average face value of a check presented to a check-cashing outlet is $442.30, with the average fee to cash that check being $13.77, or about 3.1 percent, according to the FDIC. If that’s your paycheck and you cash it every week, you’ll pay $55.08 a month, or $661 a year, in check-cashing fees

Not only are check-cashing stores exorbitantly expensive, there is a risk of deceptive practices. The Better Business Bureau, for example, alerts consumers to a scam whereby customers of a check-cashing store are called by someone who claims to represent the business. The caller offers the customer a loan and requests payment to secure the loan. Of course, the loan is never received and the customer of the check-cashing store gets scammed out of some cash.

Check-cashing stores should be your last resort.

5. Sign your check over to someone you trust

Another way to cash a check if you don’t have a bank account is to sign the check over to someone you trust who does have a bank account and have that person cash the check at their bank.

Make sure the person you want to sign it over to is willing to cash the check, and that his or her bank will cash it. You should accompany your trusted friend to the bank in case the teller requires your ID or has questions about the check.

The person must have the proper identification and be prepared to have his or her check dinged by a check-cashing fee. There is also a personal and financial safety risk. Paper checks and cash can be lost or stolen.

Bottom line

Turning that paper check into cash in your hands is trickier if you don’t have a bank account. Unlike the consumer who has a bank account and direct deposit of their income, unbanked consumers almost have to plan ahead to cash their checks and access their money.

It’s fairly easy to find a bank or other business that will cash your check if you don’t have a bank account. But there will be fees and restrictions. And there are risks associated with carrying checks and cash.

The best way to cash checks is by opening a checking or savings account at a federally insured bank or credit union, then setting up direct deposit of your payroll check, tax refund, pension benefit and other income. Not only is it safer and easier, it will cost you less.

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Getting a check isn’t the most convenient way to get paid. Direct Deposits, PayPal and other sites like PayPal are much faster, right?

Yet many companies, organizations and individuals still choose to pay by check.

There are obviously many ways to cash a personal check near you, going to the bank for example. Getting down to the bank can be a pain, so if you’ve got a check you need to cash, you might be wondering if there’s a way you can do it online.

If you’ve ever wondered how to cash a check online, you’ll be glad to know that there are actually plenty of options available to you.

Can I Actually Cash a Check Online?

While cashing a check online is totally possible, it does differ slightly to when you cash a check in-person.

Cheques
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When you take a check into a physical location like a bank or check cashing store, you can get cash on the spot. So you literally “cash” the check.

On the other hand, when you come to cash a check online you’re not “cashing” it per se, you’re depositing it into your bank account.

This means if you’re looking for cash you can hold in your hand right now, then you’ll need to head into your bank or closest check cashing place.

However, if you are cool with having the funds deposited into your bank, then cash your check online instead.

It’s so convenient. You don’t have to head out anywhere. You can do it right from your computer or even your phone!

Amazing, right?

Where to Cash a Check Online Now

We all know that trying to actually get to the bank during open business hours is so hard – often by the time we’ve finished work the bank is closed. So you have to trudge on down there at the weekend and who wants to do that?

That’s why cashing a check online is such a good option.

Thankfully, there are lots of places where you can get a check cashed online. Some of these places also let you cash other forms of payments. You can even cash a money order. It’s pretty easy to do as well.

Here are the best places where you can deposit a check online.

1. PayPal

  • Fees: No, but there’s a ten day wait or you can pay a fee to get the money in minutes

Since most of us do have a PayPal account anyway, it’s definitely an option to consider.

PayPal has a Cash a Check service in the PayPal app. It allows you to cash checks and have them credited to your PayPal Cash Plus account. (If you don’t have a PayPal Cash Plus account already, you’ll be asked to set one up.)

It’s really easy to do as well.

  • Take a photo of the check you want to cash.
  • Send it to PayPal for review.
  • If it’s approved, you can get the money sent right to your PayPal account in minutes. However, if you want the money in minutes, you do need to pay a fee.
  • If you don’t need the cash right away, then you can choose to get your money in 10 days with no fee.

So it’s great that PayPal gives you a couple of options here.

  • Learn more about cashing a check with PayPal here.
  • Download PayPal for Android devices here.
  • Download PayPal for iOS devices here.

2. Ingo Money

  • Fees: No, but there’s a ten day wait or pay a fee to get your money in minutes

Next on the list we have Ingo Money.

With it you can cash paychecks, personal checks, business checks and more. The best part is that you can get your money in minutes.

It’s really easy to cash a check with Ingo Money.

  • Just open up the app.
  • Take a photo of the front and back of your check.
  • Choose when you want your money, and where you want your money to be deposited. You can get your check sent to your bank, prepaid card, or PayPal account.
  • Submit your check for review. The review process usually takes just a few minutes.

You can get the money in minutes, but you will be charged a fee.

Or you can choose to get the money in 10 days for free.

  • Download Ingo Money for Android devices here.
  • Download Ingo Money for iOS devices here.

3. Chase App

  • Fees: No

Chase has an app you can use to deposit checks. It’s super easy, working in much the same way as cashing one with PayPal or Ingo Money.

Basically, you take a photo of the check, follow the on-screen instructions, and have your check deposited into your account.

The service is called QuickDeposit and there are no fees for using it.

Deposits that are submitted before 11pm Eastern time on a business day are usually available by the next business day. Deposits that are submitted after 11pm or on a non-business day will be processed the next business day.

  • Download the Chase App for Android devices here.
  • Download the Chase App for iOS devices here.

4. NetSpend

  • Fees: No, with a 10 day wait or fees charged for expedited deposits.

Next on the list we have NetSpend. It’s an organization that offers a selection of prepaid debit cards.

And, of course, it provides check cashing.

NetSpend allows you to cash checks to your card using its Mobile Check Load feature.

All you need to do is get the app, take a photo, and follow the on-screen instructions – so again it works in much the same way as the apps above.

This is another one that allows you to cash a check for free if you’re willing to wait 10 days to get the money. Otherwise, you may be charged a fee.

Here’s where to get the app:

  • Download NetSpend for iOS devices here.
  • Download NetSpend for Android device here.

5. Bank of America App

  • Fees: No

You can use the Bank of America app to deposit checks, which is great.

Most of these apps work in a similar way. And this one is no different. You’ll need to take a photo of the check and follow the on-screen instructions in the app to get your money.

You can cash lots of different types of checks with the Bank of America app, including:

  • Personal checks
  • Business checks
  • Government/treasury checks
  • Cashier’s checks

Checks that are received by the cutoff time (9pm ET and 8 pm PT) on a business day are generally available in your account on the next business day.

There’s no fee charged by Bank of America to use the Mobile Check Deposit feature.

Learn more about cashing a check with the Bank of America app here.

Here’s where you can get the app:

  • Download the Bank of America app for Android devices here.
  • Download the Bank of America app for iOS devices here.

6. Chime App

  • Fees: No

Chime provides mobile check deposits to members who receive payroll direct deposits of more than $200 a month.

Mobile check depositing will be automatically enabled in your Chime app 30 days after you receive your payroll direct deposit.

  • Download Chime for Android devices here.
  • Download Chime for iOS devices here.

7. US Bank App

  • Fees: No

Next we have the US Bank app. With it, you can deposit checks 24/7. All you need to do is take a photo of your check and follow the instructions to get your cash.

If you make a deposit by 9 p.m. CT, the balance is usually posted to your account the following business day.

  • Download the US Bank app for Android devices here.
  • Download the US Bank app for iOS devices here.

8. Wells Fargo App

  • Fees: No

Wells Fargo is another bank that has an app you can use to deposit checks.

Again, you’ll just need to take a photo of the front and back of your check, and follow the instructions to cash it.

With the app, you can deposit personal, business, and most government checks.

Mobile deposited funds will become available on the day after the deposit credit date.

There are no fees for Wells Fargo Online and Wells Fargo Business Online customers to use the mobile deposit feature.

  • Download the Wells Fargo app for Android devices here.
  • Download the Wells Fargo app for iOS devices here.

9. Green Dot App

  • Fees: No

Next on the list we have the Green Dot App.

Green Dot is an app that’s designed to help you to manage any Green Dot debit card or bank account. And you can even cash a check with the app.

This one allows you to deposit lots of different checks, such as:

Meaning
  • Personal checks
  • Payroll checks
  • Insurance agency checks
  • Money orders
  • Cashier’s checks
  • Rebate checks
  • Stock dividend checks
  • Tax refunds
  • Federal, state and municipal government checks

And you can deposit checks right from your phone.

Just take a photo of the check and then follow the instructions in the app.

Mobile deposits can be in your account as fast as one business day, but some checks may take up to 5 business days.

There are no fees charged to deposit checks into your account.

  • Download Green Dot for iOS devices here.
  • Download Green Dot for Android devices here.

10. First Midwest Instant Check Cashing

  • Fees: No

With First Midwest Instant Check Cashing, you can deposit almost any type of check, such as:

  • Personal checks
  • Payroll checks
  • Business checks
  • Insurance agency checks
  • Cashier’s checks
  • Money orders
  • Two party checks
  • Traveler’s checks
  • Rebate checks
  • Stock dividend checks
  • Tax refund checks
  • Tax preparation firm checks
  • Government tax refund checks
  • Federal, state and municipal government checks

You can get instant access to your money, whether you have a First Midwest deposit account or not.

With the First Midwest app, you can deposit checks with your phone.

  • Download the First Midwest app for Android devices here.
  • Download the First Midwest app for iOS devices here.

11. GoBank

  • Fees: No

GoBank offers no overdraft fees on its accounts, making it a great option for many. It provides mobile check deposits through it’s app. So you can cash checks right from your phone, and all you need to do is take a few photos of the check.

In order to start using the mobile deposit feature, you need to activate your card and your account must be active with recent recurring payroll direct deposit activity for at least two months.

Once you’re eligible, you can start cashing checks through mobile deposits. The money could be in your account in as fast as one business day, but some checks may take up to 5 business days.

There are no fees charged to deposit checks into your account, which is awesome.

You can cash lots of different checks, such as:

  • Personal checks
  • Payroll checks
  • Insurance agency checks
  • Money orders
  • Cashier’s checks
  • Rebate checks
  • Stock dividend checks
  • Tax refunds
  • Federal, state and municipal government checks

Here’s where you can get the app:

  • Download the GoBank App for iOS devices here.
  • Download the GoBank app for Android devices here.

12. Santander Mobile Banking App

  • Fees: No

You can use the Santander Mobile Banking app to deposit checks.

All you need to do is take a few photos of the check and follow the instructions in the app.

Deposits received after the 10p.m. ET cut off time will be considered as received on the following business day. So do keep that in mind. Now, it’s totally free to use the Mobile Check Deposit feature.

  • Download the Santander app for Android devices here.
  • Download the Santander app for iOS devices here.

13. ACE Elite

  • Fees: No with a 10 day wait or pay a fee to get your money in minutes

The Ace Elite Prepaid app allows you to load checks right to your account. And like with many of the apps on this list, all you need to do is take some photos of the check.

You can have your money deposited within an hour, but you will be charged a fee. Or you can choose to wait 10 days and get your money for free.

  • Download the ACE Elite app for Android devices here.
  • Download the ACE Elite app for iOS devices here.

14. Brink’s Money Prepaid

  • Fees: Yes if you want your money in minutes

Finally, we have Brink’s Money Prepaid.

It’s another prepaid card account that comes along with a check cashing feature.

If you enroll in direct deposit, you can deposit checks without having to wait in line. You can cash paychecks, and benefit checks with it.

With the Brink’s Money Prepaid app, you can load checks right from your phone using mobile image capture.

Cheque

If you want your money fast, then you may be charged a fee for the transaction.

  • Download the Brink’s Money Prepaid app for Android devices here.
  • Download the Brink’s Money Prepaid app for iOS devices here.

It’s important to note that although many of the apps above don’t charge you a fee to deposit your check, there may still be wireless carrier fees charged by your service provider. So do make sure you check with your service provider to see if they do charge any wireless carrier fees.

Happy Getting Paid!

Nowadays, you don’t have to worry about getting to the bank (when it’s actually open!) and waiting in line to cash a check. No, now you can easily cash checks online and there are so many options for doing so!

Most banks now offer a check cashing service through their apps, so you can cash checks right from your phone.

Even if your bank didn’t appear on our list, it’s definitely worth checking if they have an app that you can use to deposit checks from your phone.

Cash Cheque Without Bank Account

And keep in mind that even if your bank doesn’t provide an online check cashing service, you can still use websites like PayPal and Ingo Money to deposit your checks.

Cash Cheque Near Me

Next time you’re wondering how to cash a check online, it’s good to know that you have plenty of great options out there, and many of them are totally free to use!