Nowadays, payment by check is becoming increasingly rare. Various developments have led to the appearance of new, more straightforward, and more convenient payment options.
However, it has many advantages. It allows you to make purchases without carrying your cash or, in some cases, avoid reaching your credit card payment limit. It also brings more security to transactions.
Today, many people ask themselves how to correctly fill out a cashier’s check, as they may not be valid in case of misuse or not be filled correctly. We will tell you how to fill your checks correctly or cash them with an online bank. It may seem that writing a check is too complicated, but following our advice, you’ll see that doing it is as easy as for degreed paper writers to create a unique quality paper.
Let’s discover the steps of writing a check correctly.
Fill in the payment amount in a proper way
The location of the amount in figures is at the top right of the check. If the numbers do not fill the box, you must fill in with a line and leave no space.
Placing the first number as far to the left is recommended to avoid being robbed so that no space is left. This way, it will not be possible for the person who will cash the amount to add one or more numbers.
The amount is also spelled out on the top of the check. It is essential to spell out even the pennies.
Thus, to pay by check, it is recommended to write the amount to be paid as it reads. So note the cents, spelled out after the currency unit used. Again, we recommend placing the first letter on the far left of the space. Then draw a horizontal line to fill in the remaining space on the right.
Write the name of the payee without mistakes
The name of the payee of the check is entered immediately below the amount space in words. It is located on the following line, preceding the preposition “to.” The check can be addressed to either an individual or a company. Before writing a check, finding out who the beneficiary is is advisable. If in doubt, do not fill in any fields on the check.
Fill in the exact location and date of issue of the check
This information is on the check’s right side, below the amount box. The location is preceded by “in.” It indicates the city in which the signer issues the cashier’s check.
The date is written further down on the right-hand side, following the word “on.” The date shown is when the transaction is completed, and the check is delivered to the recipient. By law, backdating or postdating a cashier’s check is prohibited.
Sign the check last
The signature of the payer is essential for the validity of the check. It proves his consent to write the check and to make the payment. It is applied on the lower right corner of the check. The signature must be identical to the one used when the account was opened to prevent possible rejections. The bank makes a comparison to verify the authenticity of the document. It will only validate the payment once it has been established that the two signatures are similar.
We advise you to sign your check only when detached from the booklet. Indeed, the pen applied for the signature can leave a raised mark on the rest of the sheets of the checkbook. This would make it easier to imitate in case of loss.
In addition, the signature should be the last step in writing a check once all other fields have been properly completed.
Track check payments
For a good follow-up of the issuance of your checks, it is crucial to fill in the check stubs with the following information:
- the date of issue;
- the amount;
- the beneficiary of each transaction.
Some banks also offer checks with carbon copies. These include a thin sheet of paper on which the contents of each check issued are traced. The tracking helps you remember all the transactions you make with your checkbook.
Note that for a bank check, the steps to fill it out are identical but usually taken care of by the bank in question.
Some additional tips for filling out and paying by check
Overwriting or crossing out a check can cause the bank to reject it. Using a ballpoint pen to ensure a clean and permanent fill is best. Writing in pencil can be erased and altered, so it is imperative to avoid this. Fill in all fields to ensure you pay the correct amount to the right person. All the information written on the check is essential, so it is wise to follow it to the letter for proper use.
How do I fill out and cash a check online?
It is possible to cash or deposit checks with all online banks. The procedure to cash a check with an online bank is similar to that of a traditional bank with physical branches.
The steps to follow:
- First, you must write your bank account number on the back of the check and sign.
- Then fill out the bank check remittance slip.
- Mail the signed check to be cashed to the address provided by your online bank.
Please note that the average time for cashing a check with an online bank is approximately 2 to 3 days. After that, the value date of the amount to be cashed by check is generally the date of receipt by your bank. Some online banks provide their customers with digital slips to shorten this period.
To summarize, you must be attentive to details to write a check. Following the steps mentioned in this article, after filling in everything correctly, your check will be harsh to fake but very easy to use and pay by.
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