Short answer: to cash a check, endorse it by signing the back, then take it with a government-issued photo ID to your own bank or credit union, or to the bank the check is drawn on (its name is printed on the front). No bank account? The issuing bank, large retailers and check-cashing stores will usually cash it for a fee. You can also deposit it by mobile app or ATM and withdraw the cash once it is available. Facts checked November 11, 2026.
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Where to cash a check
| Where | Who it suits | Cost | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own bank or credit union | Account holders | Usually free | The bank may hold part of a large check until it clears |
| The bank the check is drawn on | Anyone, with ID | Free to its own customers; non-customers may pay a fee | Some banks refuse non-customers or cap the amount |
| Deposit by mobile app or ATM, then withdraw | Account holders | Usually free | Cash is only available once the bank releases the funds |
| Large retailers and grocery stores | No bank account needed | A flat fee, often a few dollars | Usually payroll, government and tax refund checks only, with an amount limit |
| Check-cashing stores | No bank account needed | Often a percentage of the check | The most expensive option for large checks |
| Prepaid card or payment apps | App users | Free if you wait, a fee for instant funds | The app can reject the check |
If the check is made out to you and you have a bank account, your own bank is almost always the cheapest place. The bank the check is drawn on is the next best choice, because it can confirm right away that the money is in the writer’s account.
How to cash a check, step by step
- Check the front. Make sure your name is spelled right, the amounts in numbers and words match, the check is signed and it isn’t more than six months old; see how to read a check.
- Endorse the back. Sign your name in the “Endorse here” area exactly as it appears on the front. Sign at the counter if you can, so a lost check can’t be cashed by someone else. See how to endorse a check.
- Bring ID. A driver’s license, state ID or passport. Non-customers may be asked for a second ID or a thumbprint.
- Hand it to the teller (or the store’s service desk) and say you want cash rather than a deposit.
- Count the cash and keep the receipt before you leave the counter.
How to cash a check without a bank account
- Go to the bank on the check. Many banks cash checks drawn on their own accounts for non-customers with ID, sometimes for a fee.
- Use a large retailer. Many big-box and grocery stores cash payroll, government, tax refund and insurance checks for a small flat fee, up to a set amount. Personal checks are often not accepted.
- Use a check-cashing store. They take most checks but usually charge a percentage of the amount, so they cost the most.
- Load it to a prepaid card or app. Some prepaid debit cards and payment apps let you photograph a check and add the money to your balance.
- Sign it over. As a last resort, you can sign the check over to someone you trust who has a bank account, if their bank accepts third-party checks; many don’t.
If you cash checks often, opening a basic checking account usually costs less over a year than check-cashing fees.
Can you cash a check at an ATM?
Not directly. An ATM can take a check as a deposit into your own account, and you can then withdraw cash once the bank makes the funds available. Some banks release part of a check deposit at once, so you may be able to take out some cash the same day; the rest usually follows within one or two business days. Store ATMs and other banks’ ATMs generally can’t accept a check from a non-customer. Mobile deposit works the same way: see how to deposit a check.
Fees, ID and limits
- Fees: free at your own bank; a flat fee at the issuing bank for non-customers and at most retailers; a percentage of the check at most check-cashing stores. Ask before you hand over the check.
- ID: a current government-issued photo ID. The name must match the payee on the check.
- Limits: retailers and check-cashing stores cap the amount they will cash, and banks may only give you part of a large check in cash on the first day.
- Holds: under federal rules (Regulation CC), banks generally make the first part of a deposited check available by the next business day and most of the rest within two business days, but can hold large or unusual checks longer.
When a check can’t be cashed
- It is too old. Personal checks are generally good for six months; see how long a check is good for.
- It isn’t signed, or the amounts don’t match. Ask the writer for a new check.
- The account doesn’t have enough money. The bank will refuse it, and if you already deposited it, the deposit is reversed.
- It looks altered, or came from a stranger asking for money back. That is a common scam; wait for the check to clear fully before spending the money. See check fraud.
Where to order checks: prices
If you write checks yourself, here is what a box of plain blue personal checks costs on each printer’s own site today:
| Checks | Checks per box | 1 box | 2 boxes | 4 boxes | Duplicates (1 / 2 / 4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checks Unlimited Blue Classic | 80 | $23.49 | $38.99 | $72.29 | $29.49 / $48.99 / $90.49 |
| Checks Unlimited High Security Parchment | 80 | $28.49 | $49.59 | $87.69 | $34.49 / $59.79 / $106.19 |
| Carousel Checks basic blue (VAL-001) | 100 | $20.00 | $39.50 | $79.00 | $22.00 / $44.00 / $88.00 |
| Walmart Checks Blue Secure | 100 | $12.75 | $25.49 | $50.99 | $14.46 / $28.92 / $57.85 |
Prices checked November 11, 2026 on each seller’s own product page, before shipping and taxes. Checks Unlimited says its product prices include handling fees and sells 80 checks per box; Walmart Checks lists free standard shipping and 100 checks per pack; Carousel sells 100 checks per box. Prices change, so confirm them at checkout.
How to cash a check: frequently asked questions
Where can I cash a check for free?
At your own bank or credit union, or at the bank the check is drawn on if you are its customer. Depositing the check by mobile app or ATM and then withdrawing the cash is also usually free.
Can I cash a check without a bank account?
Yes. Take it with photo ID to the bank the check is drawn on, a large retailer that cashes checks, or a check-cashing store. Expect a fee, and an amount limit at stores.
Can you cash a check at an ATM?
You can deposit a check at your own bank’s ATM and then withdraw the cash once the funds are available. ATMs don’t cash checks for non-customers.
What do I need to cash a check?
The check, endorsed with your signature on the back, and a current government-issued photo ID in the same name as the payee.
Need checks to write? Checks Unlimited sells 80 checks from $23.49 a box.
Shop personal checks at Checks Unlimited →
Checks Unlimited prices checked November 11, 2026, before shipping. Affiliate link: GetBankChecks.com may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Related guides
- Where to order checks
- How to stop payment on a check
- How to endorse a check
- How to deposit a check
- How long is a check good for?
- How to read a check
- How to write a check
- Check fraud
- Cheapest checks 2026
Affiliate disclosure: GetBankChecks.com is an independent guide, not a check printer or a bank. Some links are affiliate links, and we earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices and designs change, so check them on the merchant’s site before you pay. This guide is general information, not legal or banking advice; your bank’s rules apply.