How to cash a check

How do you cash a check? For some people, that may sound like a ridiculous question, maybe even a stupid one. For others, though, it's perfectly sound. Teenagers and even some adults who have, for whatever reason, lived more sheltered lives or lives where they didn't have any financial responsibilities, may not know the answer to the query. Folks might just be surprised how many people in the world really don't know much about the basics of banking, including the seemingly simple process of getting a check cashed. This article will give the basics of how to go about cashing a check.

First of all, there are two main concepts of check cashing. One is where you are using your own check to give yourself cash. Now these days, most people use debit cards for that, or maybe even credit cards where they get cash advances. However, not everyone uses debit and/or credit cards. Many stay clear of the plastic and still prefer to use paper checks. Teenagers and young adults might have checking accounts long before they get their first debit or credit card to use for cash withdrawals. The second situation is when you're given or sent a check from another person or organization that you want to cash.

On the front of any check is the name of the bank that issued it. You may need to keep that financial institution in mind to cash your check. Also on the front is the date of the check, who it's issued to, the amount, and the signature of the sender. On the back side of the check is a box or line that is referred to as the endorsement area.

If you are cashing your own check, you can normally just write in either 'Cash' or your own name on the front side. If you're cashing a check made out to you from someone else, you have nothing else to do at this point except decide where to take your check.

You can cash a check at different places. A lot of people like to go to their local supermarket where they are known by the management. Normally, you'll need some kind of ID with a picture on it. It all depends on how well they know you. There are other places, like Walmart, that will cash checks for a small fee. There are even check-cashing businesses, though I'm leery of them. Personally, I'd recommend the grocery store or Walmart, if at all possible.

Another option is to go to your bank. If for some reason you don't have a bank of your own, or that bank is not a viable option, go to the bank the check was written from. The issuing bank's name is the one written on the front of the check. That may actually be the easiest way to cash a check, especially if it's a large amount or if written out of state.

Please note that for security reasons, it's not advisable to endorse the check, that is to sign the back of it in the endorsement area, until you get to the check-cashing place of your choice. It's much better to do this in front of the bank teller or cashier. If you endorse the check in advance and then lose it or it gets stolen, you're out of luck.

If going to a supermarket, it's a good idea to ask about their cash-checking policy before attempting to cash a check. Some places won't take a two-party check at all, where another person or business has sent you money. They might cash your own check, though. Others might accept business checks issued by organizations, but won't accept checks from individuals to another. In other words, they might not trust your friend's check to be valid while they will believe that your insurance company's check is legitimate.

Places like Walmart that charge fees for check cashing normally don't have such restrictions.

That's pretty much all there is to it. It's very important to remember to have proper ID with you when you go to cash a check and, again, not to endorse it until you get to the institution. When in doubt, the bank a check is issued from will always be able to cash a check. Your own bank is a logical second bet, though they might have limitations on what they'll do.