Also, there are some banks offering account promotions that can help you get started with your new checking account. If you receive a check over 180 days old, most banks might refuse to deposit or cash it. Some business checks also have “Valid for 90 Days” noted, meaning they won’t be honored after 90 days. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site.
When you find an old check, it’s always wise to call the bank and find out its current status before attempting to cash or deposit checks into your account. Consider setting up direct deposit into a checking account or savings account for recurring payments like wages. A personal check is usually considered to be stale dated after six months. Past this period, banks can decide whether or not to cash or deposit the check.
It might be a good idea to err on the side of caution, as a bank might deem the check “stale” or “voided” after the 90-day mark. A check is generally good for up to six months, or 180 days. If you’ve been receiving your payroll check as a paper check, consider switching to direct deposit so the funds are automatically sent to your savings or checking account. There are many free checking accounts and online checking accounts that are also available for direct deposit.
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If a traveler’s check turns up, as long as the issuing bank or credit card network is still in existence, you can use it. The expiration date on a state or local government check depends on the jurisdiction. That said, they are usually good anywhere from six months to a year from the issue date.
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- Other types of checks, like cashier’s checks, money orders and traveler’s checks, have varying policies on when they expire.
- If the landscaper doesn’t deposit the check until September, the homeowner may not have been budgeting for that $1,000 payment eight months later.
- He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Texas A&M University.
- It’s important to understand the validity period of personal checks to ensure you can cash or deposit them on time.
- If your check is dated, that means it’s past the date it can be cashed.
Each bank will handle cashing an expired check according to its own policies. Be aware that the issuing bank is not under obligation to cash a check for a noncustomer, regardless of expiration. Traveler’s checks are often signed for yourself or someone else so that they may use them while they are traveling. Therefore, as long as the person that issued them is still in business, then you may still cash in these checks. Unless the check you have is a certified one or a government-issued one, the wise move would be to cash that check within six months of the day it was signed. If those six months pass, you may request for the check to be reissued.
Do Checks Expire? How Long Are They Good For?
Check your bank’s mobile app to see if mobile check deposits are available for your account. Not long ago, writing personal checks was one of the most common ways of providing payment to another person or to an organization—especially for large sums. The good news is, if a government check expires, just like a U.S. Treasury check, you can contact the government agency that issued the check to see if you can get it reissued. To figure out the exact federal agency you need to contact to get a check replaced, you can reach out to a representative at the Bureau of Fiscal Service.
When Do Checks Expire?
If a check is never cashed, it becomes stale dated after six months. At this time, most banks will consider the check to be void. However, certain banks may still be willing to cash or deposit a check if it is within a reasonable time from the point that it was issued. However, checks older than six months are usually how long is a personal check good for considered to be void by banks.
Doing so prevents confusion at the bank and lets the check writer know that you’re ready to collect your money. Keep in mind that this process is far from guaranteed, and it can be a headache for both you and the individual or organization that issued the check. In some cases, you may have received a personal check payment from a payor whom you are later unable to contact or who is unwilling to provide you with a new check. This could result in you becoming unable to recoup the payment that would have been honored before the check expired. If you find an old check, you may be tempted to try to cash it.
- Companies, banks and government entities must turn the money for unredeemed checks over to their state’s unclaimed money department after a period determined by the state.
- Personal checks and company-printed checks share the same expiration rules, regardless of any printed statements on the check suggesting shorter expiration periods.
- Banks may choose to honor expired checks at their discretion, but it’s best to deposit or cash them promptly to avoid complications.
Many checks, including personal checks, have a 6-month expiration date. Other types of checks can take longer to expire or may not expire at all. They are under no legal obligation to cash a check older than six months. So it’s a matter of discretion and their good faith whether they cash it or not. The person who wrote the check in your name isn’t really leaving that amount on their account after a period of six months. In this situation, the best thing you can do is go to a bank and present your problem.
However, they do become stale dated after six months of being issued in most jurisdictions. While stale dated does not immediately result in a check being void, most banks and financial institutions will choose not to cash or deposit checks after this point. Unless writing on the check states otherwise, business checks, including paychecks, follow the same rules that apply to personal checks. However, many businesses include a statement on the check specifying that it is redeemable for a specific number of days after issuance.
If you want to cash a check a few months after receiving it, consider giving the check writer or issuer a courtesy call. Let the person or entity know you plan to deposit the check, so they can make sure their account has the funds. Therefore, if you receive a personal check, it’s advisable to deposit or cash it as soon as feasible to ensure it remains valid. Cashier’s checks may or may not have set expiration dates, and money orders depend on the policies of the issuer. Traveler’s checks, though, do not expire as long as the issuing bank remains in operation. U.S. treasury checks may include sums of money representing income tax refunds or any other amounts of money coming from the government.
If you don’t cash in the check for a long time, the payee might think that you lost it – so, to protect the money, they will cancel the check. Once that happens, the bank may reject your claim and the check will bounce back. The GlobalBanks editorial team comprises a group of subject-matter experts from across the banking world, including former bankers, analysts, investors, and entrepreneurs.
Some cashier’s checks have no specific expiration date and should theoretically be valid for as long as the issuing bank is operating. At the same time, some may become stale after 60 to 180 days. U.S. Treasury checks are paper checks issued by federal government agencies. Some of the most common reasons for receiving a Treasury check include tax refunds, stimulus payments, or social security benefits. A business day for a bank is typically the hours during which the bank is open for processing transactions.
Check Cashing After Six Months
It’s essential to be aware of the specific rules governing the type of check you have to ensure it remains valid for use. Treasury checks, which remain valid for one year, and traveler’s checks and domestic U.S. To avoid complications, it’s advisable to promptly deposit checks when received and to contact the issuer if you encounter an old, uncashed check. It is always a good idea to cash checks and balance personal finances promptly and regularly.
While a calendar day ends at midnight, business days have cutoff times for processing transactions. Depositing an expired check can result in the check being rejected, potential overdraft fees, or bounced checks if the issuer’s account lacks funds. Banks may choose to honor expired checks at their discretion, but it’s best to deposit or cash them promptly to avoid complications. Many banks will honor a check after six months unless they have reason to be suspicious of the transaction.