How to Cash or Deposit a Check

One of the most important skills in life is knowing how to survive. Whether it be as a result of natural disaster or otherwise, without some basic knowledge and know-how you can’t hope for long term success.

Cash or deposit a check? There are many ways to do this. The “how to cash a large check without a bank account” will help you get the job done.

We’ve previously discussed how, in an age where checks are becoming less popular (though they are still needed sometimes), the younger generation often doesn’t know how to write them, and provided a simple lesson to fill in the knowledge gap.

But there’s also the other side of the issue to consider: what happens when you get a check?

Check cashing, like check writing, has become a forgotten life skill as a result of the rise of direct and digital payments. Even if you attempt to avoid getting checks, you will almost certainly receive them as a method of payment. For one thing, if you have an aunt called Gertrude who collects Precious Moments miniatures, you’ll almost certainly get a check for your $20 in Christmas money.

Today, we’ll show you step-by-step how to convert your check into cash.

First and foremost, you must have a bank account.

To find out how much a check is worth, you may perform one of two things: You may either cash it (convert it into cold, hard cash) or deposit it into a bank account.

If you don’t have a bank account, your only alternative is number one, which will cost you money.

When you cash a check, you hand it over to a bank or a retailer (see below) and they give you money. When a bank or business does this, they are taking a risk: they may give you cash for the amount of the check, but if the check turns out to be fraudulent when they attempt to clear it, they will lose the money they provided you.

If you’re cashing a check at a bank where you don’t have an account, they’ll charge you a service fee, which might vary from a flat price of $10 to a percentage fee of 1% of the check’s size. If you attempt to cash a check at a convenience shop or Walmart, the same thing will happen. In other words, if you don’t have a bank account, cashing a check will cost you money.

However, if you cash your check at a bank where you already have an account (and there is enough money in that account to cover the check’s amount), the bank will not charge you a fee.

You’ll also be able to deposit the check straight into your account (again, for free) rather than cashing it, which is the more common alternative. When you deposit a check, the bank will transfer the funds into your account after it clears, which normally takes a day or two. If you deposit it in a checking account, you may then use your debit card to withdraw funds (or you can withdraw it from an ATM, should you turn out to need actual cash).

Go to a bank today and establish a savings and/or checking account if you don’t already have one. It’s simple and takes about 20 minutes.

Let’s look at the several options for cashing or depositing a check:

How to Use a Bank Teller to Cash or Deposit a Check

Walking into a bank branch and cashing or depositing a check with a human teller is the old-school approach to deal with a check. It’s simple since you have someone to assist you with the procedure, and it’s the only method to obtain real cash for a check right away. However, traveling to the bank (even if you utilize the drive-thru) is difficult, particularly if you get trapped in line behind an elderly gentleman who is putting all of his loose change into his savings account.

If you’re merely cashing the check, all you have to do is present it with your picture ID (or, in certain cases, your debit card and PIN).

Follow these procedures if you’re depositing a check (or depositing a portion of one and obtaining the rest in cash):

1. Make a deposit on a deposit slip. They’re usually in the foyer of the bank or at the teller’s counter. Everywhere, they all seem to be the same. Here’s one from The Bank of Oklahoma, where I work:

Here’s how to fill out the deposit slip after you’ve received it:

Fill in the account number of the account where the cheque will be deposited.
Put the date in the calendar.
Make a note of your name and address.
Fill in the amount of each check you’re putting in the bank.
Fill in the amount of money you’d like to deposit and subtract it from the total to get the total deposit.
Sign the slip on the signature line if you’re getting cash.

2. Sign your check. On the endorsement line, turn your check over and sign. Do not sign your cheque until you are about to deposit it. If you sign it and then leave it sitting around for a while, you risk it being taken and cashed by a thief. So be careful and wait till the cheque is deposited to endorse it.

3. Present the teller with the check and deposit slip; if you’re requesting cash in addition to your deposit, the teller will most likely need your picture ID as well. You’re done after you’ve given them everything (and they’ve given you cash if you asked for it).

How to Use an ATM to Deposit a Check

You may deposit your check (and even cash) through an ATM if you want to avoid long lineups at the bank or if you need to deposit a check after the bank has closed. Because so few customers use ATM deposits, several banks have curtailed or eliminated the service. Call your bank to see whether ATM deposits are still available and, if so, which ones.

Here’s how to deposit your check into an ATM after you’ve discovered one:

1. Insert your ATM card into the machine and enter your PIN.

2. Rather of choosing WITHDRAWAL, choose DEPOSIT.

3. Obtain an envelope and complete the necessary information.

4. Sign the cheque and place it inside the envelope.

5. Place the envelope in the ATM’s deposit slot.

6. On the screen, choose complete transaction.

7. Take a walk or drive away. But not before a Slurpee, of course.

How to Use Your Phone to Deposit a Check

While depositing checks at an ATM is much more convenient than depositing checks with a teller, utilizing your smartphone to do it is even more convenient. Most banks now provide smartphone applications that enable you to deposit a check safely and simply from the convenience of your own home. There will be no more queues. There’s no need to drive around looking for an ATM.

Here’s how to deposit a check using your phone:

1. Sign your check.

2. Take a photo of the front and back of the check you’re depositing using the app. To deposit a check, follow the app’s instructions. Most places will need you to photograph both the front and back of your check.

3. After the check has cleared, shred it. The bank will send you an email or an app notice when the cheque you placed has cleared. Shred and toss the cheque after you get the notice.

The one disadvantage of mobile depositing is that banks often impose limitations on the amount you may deposit. So, if Daddy Warbucks sends you a $30,000 check, you’ll need to go to your local bank branch and deposit it with a teller.

Etiquette for Cashing Checks

Check cashing etiquette does exist, and the sole guideline is to cash the check as quickly as possible, particularly if it’s a personal check. This is why: Your Aunt Gertrude undoubtedly subtracted $20 from her check registry when she sent you that $20 birthday check. Aunt Gerty’s bank account will not balance if you wait a month to cash that cheque like the jerk you are. So, as soon as you receive that cheque, deposit it to assist an ever-loving spinster out.

Even if the cheque is from an anonymous company, cashing it as soon as possible is a good idea. Many organizations issue checks with 90-day expiry dates, which means that if you attempt to deposit a check four months after receiving it, you’ll be out of luck. Furthermore, some banks may not accept checks that are older than six months.

Make depositing checks as soon as you get them a habit. Do it right now!

What If You Don’t Have a Bank Account and Need Money Right Away?

Let’s pretend you don’t have a bank account, you’re in desperate need of cash, and you just got that $20 check from Aunt Gertrude. You can get your hands on that money by cashing the check, but it will cost you.

Simply take it to any bank and get it cashed. You’ll have to pay a charge, provide picture identification, and your fingerprint may be requested. They’ll also try to get you to create an account with them. You ought to.

Checks may also be cashed in food and convenience shops such as 7-Eleven and Walmart. They’ll ask for identification and levy a modest service fee (Walmart’s is $3 each check).

Don’t spend all of your Christmas cash on one item. Don’t forget to thank Aunt Gerty for her help.

Watch This Video-

The “how to deposit a check with iphone” is a guide on how to cash or deposit a check using an iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are 3 ways to deposit cash a check?

A: This is similar to the question What are 3 ways to deposit cash?

What is the best way to deposit a check?

A: In order to deposit a check, you will first have to get your bank statement and then bring it into any branch of the banking institution that issued the check.