When you receive a check but don’t have any way to deposit it, you have to go to the bank that issued the check if you want to cash it. However, it’s going to cost you.
What are the fees at the top banks?
MyBankTracker contacted the top 20 banks in the U.S. in order to determine their non-customer check-cashing fee policies, which we have compiled in the table below.
While some banks, like Capital One, Citibank, and SunTrust maintain a policy of providing this service for free, other banks are profiting by charging anywhere from a percentage of the check to a $10 fee.
Frustrated with your bank? Check out these new top banks that people are talking about:
Here are the fee policies of the top 20 U.S. banks (flat rates apply to business and personal checks unless otherwise specified) and how they have changed in recent years:
Cost of Cashing Checks for Non-Customers
| Bank | Non-Customer Check Cashing Fee |
|---|---|
| Bank of America | $8 per check for amounts greater than $50.00 |
| Chase | $8 |
| BB&T | Free under $50; Over $50 a fee of $8 |
| BMO Harris Bank | $10 ($50 is the minimum amount you can cash) |
| Capital One | Free |
| BBVA Compass | $10 |
| Citibank | Free for checks under $5,000 |
| Fifth Third Bank | 1% of the check amount ($4 minimum and $25 maximum) |
| HSBC Bank | Free for personal checks; $3 for business checks under $100 and $5 for business checks of $100 or more |
| KeyBank | 1.0% of the check amount ($3 minimum and $25 maximum) |
| M&T Bank | 2% of the check amount ($3 minimum) |
| PNC Bank | Free for checks $25 and under; 2% of the check amount for checks greater than $25 ($2 minimum) |
| Regions Bank | Free under $10, but above $10, 1% of the check amount ($2 minimum and $20 maximum) |
| Citizens-Bank | $7 |
| SunTrust | Free for checks $50 or under; $7 if greater than $50 |
| TD Bank | $10 |
| Union Bank | $10 fee for personal checks over $100; $10 for business checks over $25 |
| U.S. Bank | $5 |
| Wells Fargo | $7.50 |
Every bank requires that you have two forms of government-issued ID (i.e., driver’s license and U.S. passport) when you go into the branch to cash a check as a non-customer.
If you are trying to cash a check that is written to yourself and another person, remember that these rules that apply and it could cause more of a hassle to get your money.
Understanding how it works
Here’s a simple scenario to show you how to deal with cashing out a check as a non-customer:
- Let’s say you receive a Chase-issued check for $100.
- You personally bank at Bank of America, but for whatever reason, can’t make it to your bank’s branch. You also need the money as soon as possible, so you decide to go to Chase to cash it.
- When you arrive at Chase, you go to the counter and ask the teller to cash your check.
- The teller tells you that since you are not a Chase member, you will, unfortunately, have to pay a $6 fee for the cashing of your check.
Analyzing the data
Interestingly enough, compared to fees in 2013, some banks have increased their fees, while others have made their policy more affordable for everyday consumers to cash, such as in the case of personal checks.
Bank of America, Union Bank, and KeyBank are some of the big banks that have raised fees. Meanwhile, Fifth Third Bank and SunTrust have implemented lower fees for their check-cashing services.
What can you do if you don’t have a bank account?
You may be wondering why anyone would ever go to a different bank to cash a check when their own bank provides the service for free.
As we illustrated in the above scenario if you can’t get to your bank, going to the bank of the issued check is your second resort. Or perhaps you don’t have a bank account because of a bad banking history, which means you’re on ChexSystems.
Luckily, for people in this predicament, here are other ways to cash a check without a bank account.
Keep in mind it’s much more costly to cash checks without a bank account.
Tip: If you’re tired of paying these types of fees because you’re bankless, consider an online bank account. Here are the best online bank accounts to choose from. Also, here’s our list of the best second chance checking accounts.
Convenience stores and supermarkets
The nation’s largest retailer, Walmart, offers check-cashing services that cost $3 to cash checks of $1,000 or less or $6 for checks of over $1,000 to $5,000 (the maximum).
Also, some 7-Eleven locations have kiosks that will cash checks for a flat 0.99 percent fee.
These are just two popular examples of cash-checking alternatives — you’re local supermarket or convenience store may provide similar services.
Check-cashing stores
You may have noticed some local check-cashing stores.
They’ll cash your checks as you’d expect, but it may be more expensive that the other options — usually as a percentage fee or a percentage fee plus a flat fee.
Check Cashing Fees at Non-Banks and Stores
| Check-Cashing Store | Fees |
|---|---|
| ACE Cash Express | 2% to 6% of the check, depending on the type of check |
| Amscot | Up to 9.9% of the check, depending on the check ($3 minimum) |
| PLS | 2.01% of the check ($1 minimum) |
| Walmart | For checks up to $1,000: $3 For checks of greater than $1,000 up to $5,000: $6 |
Prepaid accounts
Prepaid card accounts act similar to checking accounts, including the ability to accept check deposits.
Depending on the prepaid account, you may be able to access an ATM to deposit a check. Fees may apply for using ATMs but, usually, it is free. The same goes for mobile check deposits.
Prepaid accounts are easier to obtain than checking accounts, so you can get one to cash checks on a regular basis without having to make the trip to the check-issuing bank and facing non-customer check deposit fees.
Different types of payable instruments take different times to clear when you deposit them. We performed an actual test to compare the deposit speeds of personal checks, cashier’s checks and money orders.
How to avoid frustrations if you’re looking into the fee policies of banks
If you decide to do your own investigating because you have a check issued by a bank that isn’t listed, we recommend calling the actual branch instead of the customer service number (though sometimes that’s difficult when bank branch numbers aren’t listed online).
Branch members are much more familiar with the policies of daily transactions that occur at their branch locations and as such, are better equipped to inform you about routine protocol.
Customer service representatives are likely to ask you to hold while they look up the answer in their database, which isn’t likely to be wrong, but may mean a longer wait time for you (though not drastically).
Also, call well ahead of the branch’s closing time, or you may be turned away.
Though many banks charge check cashing fees, depending on which bank you go to, you might be able to talk to someone and get the fee lowered or waived.
FAQs
How much does it cost to cash a check at Bank of America?
$8
Does Bank of America cash checks immediately?
Funds deposited before 9:00 p.m. ET on a business day will generally be available the next business day. Funds deposited before 8:00 p.m. PT on a business day will generally be available the next business day.
Can you cash a check at Bank of America without an account?
Go to the Check-Issuing Bank Still, you may have to pay for the privilege because you’re not a customer. Here are some examples: If you don’t have an account, Bank of America will charge an $8 fee to cash its own checks.
How long does it take to cash a check Bank of America?
How Long It Takes a Check to Clear at the Top 10 Banks
| Bank | Standard Deposit |
|---|---|
| Bank of America | Same day as long as it is before the cut-off time (posted at branch and ATMs). |
| Wells Fargo | Next business day. |
| Chase | Funds available after midnight if deposited before 8 P.M. local time. |
7 more rows?
How much does Bank of America charge to cash a check without an account?
15, if non-customers try to cash a personal check at the bank written by a BofA account holder, the check casher will have to pay an $8 fee. The fee applies to personal checks for $50 or more and matches an $8 fee that already applies to non-customers cashing BofA business checks. Why, you might ask?
Can a bank refuse to cash a check drawn on it?
Funds Availability Policies
Any bank can refuse to cash a check?even if that bank’s customer wrote the check and has sufficient funds. The bank may decide not to cash checks if something is suspicious, or if it chooses not to serve non-customers.
Will banks cash a check without an account?
No worries, you can still cash a check without a bank account and you can do this by cashing it at the issuing bank or a check cashing store. When most people receive a check, they deposit it in their bank account, cash it at their bank, or show their ID and cash it at the bank that issued the check.
Do banks verify checks before cashing?
Because paper checks have no actual monetary value themselves, banks have to verify whether the transaction can actually be completed or not.
How do I turn my check into cash?
Transform your cash into an easy-to-deposit check by buying a money order at a local retailer or a post office, then make it payable to yourself. If your online bank has an electronic scan feature, you can snap a photo and upload the money order to your account for deposit.
Can I verify a check instantly?
Banks should usually be able to verify a check for you within a few minutes over the phone. You might have to take the time to go to the branch in person, however, as some banks require this.
Can a check bounce if you cash it?
The process takes time, and a check still can bounce after you deposit it?even if your bank allows you to withdraw cash from that deposit.
How do banks verify checks?
Banks can verify checks by checking the funds of the account it was sent from. It’s worth noting that a bank will not verify your check before it processes it, meaning you may face fees for trying to cash a bad check. The bank checks if there are funds in the account, and if not, the check bounces.
How long does it take for a $30000 check to clear?
Most checks take two business days to clear. Checks may take longer to clear based on the amount of the check, your relationship with the bank, or if it’s not a regular deposit. A receipt from the teller or ATM tells you when the funds become available.
How can I cash a check without verification?
Another way to cash your check if you don’t have an ID is by signing the check over to someone else. This can be a family member or a friend that you trust. The check can be endorsed if you sign your name and then write ?Pay to the order of? on it, then write the full name of the person you trust with this.
What happens when you cash a check over $10 000?
Depositing a big amount of cash that is $10,000 or more means your bank or credit union will report it to the federal government. The $10,000 threshold was created as part of the Bank Secrecy Act, passed by Congress in 1970, and adjusted with the Patriot Act in 2002.
Bank of America Financial Center Services FAQs
Bank of America Financial Center Services FAQs Sign inLog inLocationsShow/Hide Menu related links Select Your StatePlease tell us where you bank so we can give you accurate rate and fee information for your location.Your Location: *Go and get state informationPrintShow all panels | Hide all panels How do I find the nearest Bank of America financial center and hours of operation? Use our locator tool or use the Locations function in our Mobile Banking app to find a convenient financial center near you. Can I schedule an appointment to meet with a bank representative at a financial center? What is the bank’s holiday schedule for 2022? Can I get cashier’s checks at a financial center? What alternatives does Bank of America offer to a cashier’s check? Does Bank of America offer notary services? Does Bank of America offer safe deposit boxes? If so, what are the fees? Can I redeem a Federal Savings Bond at a Bank of America financial center? Can I cash a check at a financial center if I don’t have a Bank of America account? What is the FDIC? What does the FDIC insure? Does Bank of America participate in the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee Program? How can I determine my current level of insurance coverage? Where can I get more information about FDIC insurance?
How to use Mobile Check Deposit for Fast & Simple Deposits
How to use Mobile Check Deposit for Fast & Simple DepositsGet it on the App StoreBefore you leave our site, we want you to know your app store has its own privacy practices and level of security which may be different from ours, so please review their policies.Or we can text a download link directly to your phonePhone Number In 999-999-9999 FormatPlease enter a valid 10-digit phone numberBy providing your mobile number you are consenting to receive a text message. Text message fees may apply from your carrier. Text messages may be transmitted automatically.Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.Get it on the App StoreBefore you leave our site, we want you to know your app store has its own privacy practices and level of security which may be different from ours, so please review their policies.Or we can send you a link by emailPlease enter a valid email addressApple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.Get it on Google PlayBefore you leave our site, we want you to know your app store has its own privacy practices and level of security which may be different from ours, so please review their policies.Or we can text a download link directly to your phonePhone Number In 999-999-9999 FormatPlease enter a phone numberBy providing your mobile number you are consenting to receive a text message. Text message fees may apply from your carrier. Text messages may be transmitted automatically.Android is a trademark of Google Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Get the mobile banking appBefore you leave our site, we want you to know your app store has its own privacy practices and level of security which may be different from ours, so please review their polices.Continue We’ve sent you a download linkWe sent an email with the download link to We sent a text message with the download link to We couldn’t send the linkWe’re sorry we weren’t able to send you the download link. Please try again, or use your mobile device to get the app from its app store.
Cashing a Large Check at Bank of America: Policy & Fees …
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Banks' greed on full display with check-cashing fee for non …
Banks’ greed on full display with check-cashing fee for non-customers – Los Angeles TimesWhen it comes to corporate greed, there are some fees charged by big companies that are so indefensible, so blatantly money-grubbing, they almost have to be savored like a fine wine. Otherwise, it’s just too painful to think these guys are routinely taking us to the cleaners.For instance, there’s the $1.75 that AT&T charges every month to not include your name and number in its automated phone directories. Frontier Communications, which purchased Verizon’s wirelines in California, charges a whopping $2.50 monthly for the same non-service.Then there’s the $25 fee most major airlines charge just to check a bag. Or the fee of up to $3.50 many banks charge if customers have the nerve to use another bank’s ATM — on top of whatever fee that other bank imposes.And so we come to the fee du jour: the squeeze that banks put on non-customers to cash a check drawn on one of the bank’s own accounts.Bank of America is notifying its checking-account customers that, beginning Aug. 15, if non-customers try to cash a personal check at the bank written by a BofA account holder, the check casher will have to pay an $8 fee.The fee applies to personal checks for $50 or more and matches an $8 fee that already applies to non-customers cashing BofA business checks.Why, you might ask?Betty Riess, a bank spokeswoman, explained to me that “our priority is to serve our customers with accounts, and this will reduce their wait time in the financial centers.”What she’s saying is that there are so many darn non-customers cluttering up branches that Bank of America had no choice but to act in the interests of honest-to-goodness customers.This, however, is completely untrue.BofA and other major banks currently are trying to figure out what to do with increasingly empty branches as their customers switch in droves to ATMs and online transactions.A senior BofA official was quoted in American Banker in March as saying that 65% of customer deposits were made at teller windows five years ago. But now, only 30% of deposits are made with tellers.Linda Sherry, director of national priorities for the advocacy group Consumer Action, said BofA and other banks are simply gouging people who may not have their own bank account.“Why should they prey on people who just want to cash a check drawn on a customer’s account?” she asked. “And how much can it actually cost to cash a check?”OK, I know what you’re thinking: You’re wondering why people don’t just get their own bank accounts and cash checks at their own bank.Maybe they live paycheck to paycheck and have no need of a bank account, especially if they face monthly fees for not maintaining a minimum balance. Maybe they’re undocumented immigrants.The point is they’re being discriminated against for no other reason than because the bank knows it can get away with it. What’s the non-customer’s alternative, after all — a predatory check-cashing service that charges a percentage of the check’s total amount?And let’s stress this point: It’s not as if banks have any reason to question if a check’s good. It’s the bank’s own account, written and signed by the bank’s own customer.Bank of America is keeping pace with Chase, which bumped up its own check-cashing fee for non-customers to $8 a couple of years ago. Wells Fargo is close behind with a $7.50 fee, which a spokesman told me “is intended to cover the costs of offering our convenient network of branches and bankers to non-customers.”When I first looked into these bogus fees about a dozen years ago, I noticed that in some cases they violated the…
Fees to Cash Checks for Non-Customers at the Top Banks
Fees to Cash Checks for Non-Customers at the Top Banks | MyBankTracker When you receive a check but don’t have any way to deposit it, you have to go to the bank that issued the check if you want to cash it. However, it’s going to cost you. What are the fees at the top banks? MyBankTracker contacted the top 20 banks in the U.S. in order to determine their non-customer check-cashing fee policies, which we have compiled in the table below. While some banks, like Capital One, Citibank, and SunTrust maintain a policy of providing this service for free, other banks are profiting by charging anywhere from a percentage of the check to a $10 fee. Frustrated with your bank? Check out these new top banks that people are talking about: Here are the fee policies of the top 20 U.S. banks (flat rates apply to business and personal checks unless otherwise specified) and how they have changed in recent years: Cost of Cashing Checks for Non-Customers Bank Non-Customer Check Cashing Fee Bank of America $8 per check for amounts greater than $50.00 Chase $8 BB&T Free under $50; Over $50 a fee of $8 BMO Harris Bank $10 ($50 is the minimum amount you can cash) Capital One Free BBVA Compass $10 Citibank Free for checks under $5,000 Fifth Third Bank 1% of the check amount ($4 minimum and $25 maximum) HSBC Bank Free for personal checks; $3 for business checks under $100 and $5 for business checks of $100 or more KeyBank 1.0% of the check amount ($3 minimum and $25 maximum) M&T Bank 2% of the check amount ($3 minimum) PNC Bank Free for checks $25 and under; 2% of the check amount for checks greater than $25 ($2 minimum) Regions Bank Free under $10, but above $10, 1% of the check amount ($2 minimum and $20 maximum) Citizens-Bank $7 SunTrust Free for checks $50 or under; $7 if greater than $50 TD Bank $10 Union Bank $10 fee for personal checks over $100; $10 for business checks over $25 U.S. Bank $5 Wells Fargo $7.50 Every bank requires that you have two forms of government-issued ID (i.e., driver’s license and U.S. passport) when you go into the branch to cash a check as a non-customer. If you are trying to cash a check that is written to yourself and another person, remember that these rules that apply and it could cause more of a hassle to get your money. Understanding how it works Here’s a simple scenario to show you how to deal with cashing out a check as a non-customer: Let’s say you receive a Chase-issued check for $100. You personally bank at Bank of America, but for whatever reason, can’t make it to your bank’s branch. You also need the money as soon as possible, so you decide to go to Chase to cash it. When you arrive at Chase, you go to the counter and ask the teller to cash your check. The teller tells you that since you are not a Chase member, you will, unfortunately, have to pay a $6 fee for the…