Bank checks do expire, but not in the way most people think
A bank check does not become invalid on a specific date printed on it. There is no expiration date on a check itself. However, banks will refuse to cash or deposit a check that is more than six months old, and some banks enforce this limit more strictly than others. The six-month window is a banking standard set by the Uniform Commercial Code, the set of rules that governs how checks work across the United States.
The practical effect is this: if you hold a check for longer than six months before trying to deposit or cash it, your bank may reject it. The person who wrote the check (the payer) can also put a stop payment on it after six months, which means the bank will not honor it even if you try to deposit it sooner. Once six months have passed, the check is considered stale-dated, and the bank has no obligation to process it.
Key Takeaways
- Banks will not process checks older than six months, though some banks may refuse them sooner.
- The six-month rule comes from the Uniform Commercial Code, a standard that applies across all U.S. banks.
- A check does not have an expiration date printed on it; you must track the date yourself or ask the payer.
- If a check is rejected as stale-dated, you will need to contact the payer and request a new check or payment method.
- Some banks may process checks slightly older than six months, but you should not rely on this and should deposit checks promptly.
Why the six-month rule exists
The six-month window protects both the payer and the bank. If a check sits uncashed for a long time, the payer's account balance may have changed, the account may have been closed, or the payer may have issued a stop payment. The bank does not want to process a check when it is unclear whether the funds are still available or whether the payer still intends for the check to be honored.
From the payer's perspective, a stale-dated check is a safeguard. If you write a check and the recipient never cashes it, you do not want that check hanging over your account indefinitely. After six months, you can assume the check will not be processed, and you can move forward knowing the transaction is closed.
What happens when you try to deposit a stale-dated check
When you attempt to deposit a check older than six months, one of three things will happen. Your bank may reject it outright at the teller window or through mobile deposit, telling you the check is too old. Your bank may accept it and send it through the clearing process, but the payer's bank will reject it and return it unpaid. Or, in rare cases, your bank may process it anyway if the payer's bank does not catch the age.
If your bank rejects the check or it comes back unpaid, you will see a deposit reversal in your account. If you were counting on that money, this can create a problem. You will need to contact the person who wrote the check and ask them to issue a new one or send the money through another method, such as a bank transfer or payment app.
How to know if a check is approaching the six-month mark
Checks do not display an expiration date, so you must track the date yourself. The date on the check is the date it was written, not the date it expires. Count forward six months from that date to find when the check will become stale-dated. If you receive a check and are not sure when you will deposit it, write the six-month deadline on the check itself or set a phone reminder.
If you are holding multiple checks, keep them in a place where you can see the dates. Checks that arrive in the mail can easily get lost in a pile of papers, and by the time you find them again, six months may have passed. Mobile banking apps often allow you to deposit checks by taking a photo, which means you can process them immediately rather than waiting for a trip to the bank.
What to do if you have an old check
If you discover that a check is older than six months, do not attempt to deposit it. Instead, contact the person who wrote the check and explain the situation. Ask them to write you a new check or to send the money through another method. Most people will be willing to do this, especially if the check was a payment for something they owe you.
If the check was a refund or a payment from a business, contact the business directly. Provide them with the check number, the amount, and the original date. They can issue a replacement check or process a refund through another channel. Keep records of your communication in case there is a dispute later.
Checks older than six months and stop payments
Once a check reaches six months old, the payer can place a stop payment on it without penalty. A stop payment is an instruction to the bank not to honor the check if it is presented for deposit or cashing. The payer typically pays a fee for this service, which ranges from $25 to $35 depending on the bank.
If you hold a check that is approaching six months old and you have not yet deposited it, the payer may have already stopped payment on it. This means even if you try to deposit it before the six-month mark, the bank will refuse it. If this happens, you will need to contact the payer and ask for payment through another method.
Mobile deposit and stale-dated checks
Mobile deposit allows you to photograph the front and back of a check and submit it through your bank's app, rather than visiting a branch. This is faster than in-person deposit, but it does not change the six-month rule. A check that is stale-dated cannot be deposited through mobile deposit any more than it can be deposited in person.
However, mobile deposit does make it easier to deposit checks promptly. If you receive a check, you can photograph it and submit it the same day, which eliminates the risk of forgetting about it and discovering six months later that it has expired. Many banks also allow you to deposit checks 24 hours a day through the app, so you do not have to wait for business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bank process a check that is seven months old?
No. Once a check reaches six months old, banks are not required to process it, and most will refuse. Some banks may process it anyway if the payer's bank does not catch the age, but you should not count on this. If a check is older than six months, contact the payer for a new one.
What if I deposited a check and it came back as stale-dated?
The deposit will be reversed, and the money will be removed from your account. Contact the person who wrote the check and ask for a replacement or payment through another method. If the reversal caused an overdraft, contact your bank to see if they will waive the overdraft fee given the circumstances.
Do checks expire if I never deposit them?
Yes. Whether you deposit a check or not, it becomes stale-dated after six months. The payer can also stop payment on it after six months. If you have a check you have not deposited, deposit it as soon as possible to avoid losing the money.
Can I ask the payer to write a new check instead of reissuing the old one?
Yes. If a check is stale-dated, the payer will need to write a new check or send the money through another method. There is no way to reactivate an old check; you must start the payment process over.
Do cashier's checks and money orders expire?
Cashier's checks and money orders have different rules than personal checks. Many states allow cashier's checks to be cashed indefinitely, though some states impose a time limit. Money orders typically expire after one to three years depending on the issuer. Check with your bank or the issuer if you are holding one of these payment types.