Yes, you can cash a check at your bank, but the process and what you'll need depends on whether you have an account there
If you have a checking or savings account at the bank, you can walk in with your check and cash it at the teller window without depositing it. You'll need to sign the back of the check and show a photo ID. The teller will verify the check and give you cash on the spot — usually within minutes. If the check is drawn on that same bank (meaning it's a check from another customer of that bank), the funds are typically available immediately.
If you don't have an account at that bank, most banks will still cash checks drawn on their own institution, but many charge a fee — typically $5 to $15 depending on the bank. Some banks refuse to cash checks for non-customers entirely. A few banks, like Bank of America and Wells Fargo, have policies that allow non-customers to cash checks, but you should call ahead to confirm the current fee and whether they'll accept the specific check you're holding.
If the check is drawn on a different bank than the one you're visiting, you generally cannot cash it there. You would need to deposit it into your own account or visit the bank that issued the check.
Key Takeaways
- Account holders can cash checks at their bank's teller window with a photo ID and no fee.
- Non-customers can sometimes cash checks at the issuing bank, but most charge a fee of $5 to $15.
- Checks drawn on a different bank than the one you're visiting cannot be cashed there; you must deposit them or visit the correct bank.
- Bring your photo ID and sign the back of the check before approaching the teller.
- Call your bank first if you're unsure whether they'll cash a check for you, especially if you're a non-customer.
What happens when you cash a check at the teller window
When you hand a check to the teller, they will examine it for the date, the amount written in numbers and words, and your signature on the back. They'll run the check through a scanner that reads the routing number and account number at the bottom. This tells them which bank the check is drawn on and whether the account has sufficient funds.
If everything checks out, the teller will count out your cash and record the transaction. The check is then sent through the bank's clearing system, which moves money from the account that issued the check to your bank. This usually takes one to two business days, even though you received cash immediately. The bank is essentially lending you the money until the check clears.
If the check bounces — meaning the account it's drawn on doesn't have enough money — your bank will deduct the cash they gave you from your account and may charge you a returned-check fee. This is why banks verify funds before handing over cash, though verification is not foolproof.
When you can't cash a check at your bank
If the check is post-dated (dated for a future date), most banks will not cash it, though they may allow you to deposit it. A post-dated check is technically not yet payable, and cashing it could violate the check writer's intent.
If the check is stale-dated (more than six months old), banks are not required to cash it and most will refuse. The check writer may have stopped payment or the account may have changed. You would need to contact the person or business that issued the check and ask for a new one.
If the check has been altered — if the amount has been changed, the name is crossed out, or there are visible corrections — the teller will likely refuse it. Altered checks are a fraud risk and the bank will not process them.
If your ID is expired or doesn't match the name on the check, the teller cannot cash it. Banks are required to verify identity before handling cash transactions.
Cashing a check without a bank account
If you don't have a bank account, you have several options. The fastest is to visit the bank that issued the check — the routing number on the bottom left of the check tells you which bank. Call first to confirm they cash checks for non-customers and what fee they charge. Bring your photo ID and the check.
Check-cashing stores and payday lenders will cash checks for a fee, usually 1 to 5 percent of the check amount. A $100 check might cost you $2 to $5 to cash. These businesses are faster than banks and don't require an account, but the fees add up if you cash checks regularly.
Some grocery stores and retailers like Walmart offer check-cashing services at customer service desks. Fees are typically lower than check-cashing stores — often $3 to $5 per check — and you may be able to cash the check as part of a purchase, which some people find more convenient.
If the check is from your employer, ask whether they offer direct deposit. This eliminates the need to cash checks at all and puts your pay directly into your account on payday.
What to do if the check amount is wrong or the check is damaged
If you notice the amount in words doesn't match the amount in numbers, don't cash it. Contact the person or business that issued the check and ask them to issue a new one. Banks will refuse checks with mismatched amounts because they cannot determine which amount is correct.
If the check is torn, creased, or has water damage but is still readable, most banks will still cash it. Bring it to the teller and let them decide. If the routing number, account number, or signature is illegible, the bank will refuse it.
If the check is missing a signature, it cannot be cashed. The signature is proof that the account holder authorized the payment. Ask the issuer to sign it before you try to cash it.
Depositing instead of cashing
If you want to keep the money in your account rather than take cash, you can deposit the check instead. Deposits can be made at the teller window, at an ATM (if your bank offers mobile deposit or ATM deposit), or through a mobile app if your bank supports mobile check deposit. Depositing is often faster than cashing because you don't have to wait for the teller to count cash.
When you deposit a check, the bank places a hold on the funds — usually one to two business days for checks drawn on the same bank, and up to five business days for checks from other banks. During the hold period, the money is in your account but you cannot withdraw it. Once the hold lifts, the funds are yours to use.
Depositing is also safer than cashing because you don't have to carry large amounts of cash, and there's a record of the transaction in your account history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash a check at an ATM?
Most ATMs do not cash checks. Some banks offer mobile check deposit through their app, which lets you photograph the check and deposit it remotely, but this is a deposit, not a cash-out. To cash a check, you must visit a teller or use a check-cashing service.
What if the check is made out to someone else?
You cannot cash a check made out to another person unless they sign the back and write "Pay to the order of [your name]" — this is called a third-party check. Many banks no longer accept third-party checks because of fraud risk. Ask the original payee to deposit it into their account and transfer you the money instead.
How long does it take to cash a check?
At a bank teller window, cashing takes five to ten minutes if you're account holder and the check is from that bank. If you're a non-customer or the check is from another bank, it may take longer because the teller needs to verify funds. Check-cashing stores are usually faster — two to five minutes.
Can my bank refuse to cash a check I wrote?
If you wrote a check and the account doesn't have enough funds, yes — the bank will refuse to cash it and it will bounce. If you stop payment on a check you issued, the bank will also refuse to cash it. You can call your bank to stop payment on a check, though there is usually a fee.
What if I lose the check before I cash it?
Contact the person or business that issued the check and ask them to cancel it and issue a replacement. They can stop payment through their bank. Do not try to cash a check you've lost — if someone else finds it, they could forge your signature and cash it.