Sure you might be wondering where to cash a personal check near you right?
Payment platforms such as PayPal and Skrill, direct deposit and debit/credit cards may be popular payment methods, but checks are far from obsolete.
Yes numerous businesses, companies, organizations still make use of them.
Even though online money transfer apps such as Cash App, Venmo and PayPal have fast taken control of daily transactions, checks still exist somehow. You can still receive a check from a friend, family member or company for what so ever reason.
If you get hold of a personal check, you might be wondering how to cash it so you can get the money at your disposal.
In this article, I will tackle stores that cash personal checks, how to do without a bank account, places where you can cash a variety of different checks and more.
Before we get started, it is good you keep in mind that, to cash a check, no matter where you do it, you will need to have some proof of ID with you. This proof of ID can be your government issued identification card, a state driver's License or passport. Some locations might accept other forms of ID, so do well to check with the place before you show up at the location.
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Where to Cash a Paper Check For Free
Provided that you do not want to encounter any fee when cashing your check, then your best option remains your bank or credit union where you are a member of.
Your Local Bank or Credit Union
This is the most obvious option you have if you are member to any bank or credit Union.
If you already have a bank account, then taking it to your nearest bank is the first and best option you need to consider because it is often free to cash a check if you are an account holder there.
So in case there is one of your bank's branches near you, then you should consider going there.
Better still if you do not yet have a bank account, you should consider opening one since this also comes with several advantages.
How to Cash a Personal Check Without a Bank Account
You might have long been in search of how to cash a personal check without a bank account right? well here is your final bus stop to get options.
Looking for other places aside from banks to cash your check can be motivated by several reasons.
With respect to a survey from the FDIC, 6.5% of Americans were unbanked, meaning that they did not have a checking account or savings account, in the 2017.
Below are several ways via which you can cash your check even without a bank account.
1. The Bank That Issued The Check
If you are among the 6.5% of Americans that do not have a bank account, then one of the easiest ways to cash a personal check is to visit the bank that issued the check.
As compared to some other options, visiting the issuing bank can actually be a cheaper and quicker option. More to that, some banks have a higher cashing limit than several options on this list.
In most cases, you will find the name of the issuing bank on the bottom left corner of the check, above the memo line. If the name does not appear there then simply take time to scan it and you will find it somewhere on the check.
Once you know the bank that issued the check, all you need to do is visit a local branch of this bank.
You can navigate to the bank's website and you will probably see a branch locator tool and sure this will show you where you can find the nearest branch of that bank.
ALSO READ: How To Get Free Money On Cash App (13 Simple Ways)
2. Walmart
Walmart is not a bank but actually a well known retail shop in the United States. Walmart offers numerous services including check cashing.
Sure you might be asking yourself "does Walmart cash personal check?, well the simple answer is yes.
Walmart is not only one of the best places where one cash a money order since you can also cash your check there.
Though it is not free, this is actually a quick and easy way to obtain the cash.
This method is also convenient because there exist several Walmart locations.
For Check cashing, Walmart charges as seen below:
- A $4 fee for checks up to and including $1,000.
- For checks that are worth $1,000 and up to and including $5,000 the fee is $8.
You get the cash instantly, which is great.
Here’s the cashing limit:
- Two-Party Personal Checks are limited to $200
- All other checks are limited to $5,000 or $7,500 from January to April.
Here’s how to cash a check at Walmart:
- Visit your local Walmart store.
- Visit a customer service desk or Money Services center and cash your check.
- You’ll receive the money in cash or you can load it onto a Walmart MoneyCard (reload fee is waived).
- This is definitely one of the easiest ways to cash a personal check if you don’t have a bank account.
ALSO READ: Does Walmart Cash Checks? (Yes, Here's How)
3. Endorse the Check to a Friend
Endorsing your check to a close friend or family member who can cash it for free is still a good option to consider.
Endorsed checks are also referred to ask "third party checks" since there is now a third person that becomes involved.
In order to endorse a check, all you need to do is write on the top line, on the back of the check "pay to the order of [ enter Name]. The sign the check just below the endorsement.
You might likely need to accompany your friend or family member to the bank to verify your identity. Every bank has it own policy when it comes to cashing endorsed checks.
4. Stop and Shop
There are other stores besides Walmart that accept checks. Your neighborhood Stop and Shop might be able to help you with it.
Like several of the other establishments on our list, Stop & Shop takes a variety of checks, however some checks are not accepted, including postdated or predated checks, payroll checks that are handwritten or manually typed, and personal checks for two or more parties.
5. Kroger
Via Money Services, you can cash checks at some Kroger locations.
You can find money services in more than 2,000 Kroger and other Kroger brand stores.
Though Money Services says it does not accept personal checks (or started checks and third party checks), you are still able to cash a range of checks with this service.
Below are the various types of checks you can cash with this service.
- Income Tax Refund checks
- Payroll checks
- Government checks
- Insurance Settlement checks
- Checks for businesses
Here are the fees for cashing a check at Kroger:
Fees start at $3 with Shopper’s Card for checks up to $2,000.
Fees, with a Shopper’s Card, for checks between $2,000.01 and $5,000 are $5.50.
6. Ingo Money
In case you're wondering, "Where other than a bank can I cash a personal check?" you don't mind using an app for it, Ingo Money is a fantastic choice.
You can use it to cash almost every kind of check, including:
- Cash paychecks
- Business checks
- Personal checks
The best thing about this software is that you can use it to pay your credit card or load money onto an Amazon.com gift card. You can also receive money in minutes into your bank account, PayPal account, or prepaid card account.
The very thing you need to do is to download the App either for iOS or Android devices.
As soon as you have downloaded it, you will need to link the card or account where you want to send the money, may be PayPal account, debit card or even a prepaid card.
In order to cash a check, you have to take a picture of the front and back of the check and then submit it for review. As soon as it is being approved, you will get the money.
With Ingo money, it becomes so much easier to cash checks because you do not even need to leave the house.
ALSO READ: Wells Fargo Routing Number: A Comprehensive Guide
7. Netspend
For those that are used to Netspend, sure they know that Netspend offers their customers with a range of prepaid debit cards.
One of the best features of Netspend prepaid cards is the ability to cash checks.
With Netspend, you are able to cash checks right onto your card by simply making use of a feature known as Mobile Check Load. You can make use of this via the Netspend Mobile app.
Once you have already downloaded the app, simply upload photos of the check and then submit it for approval.
8. Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle offers a check cashing service.
You’ll need to have a Giant Eagle Advantage Card to cash a check though. The name on the check must match the name on the Giant Eagle Advantage Card account.
You can cash a personal check at the customer service desk with a valid Giant Eagle Advantage Card.
9. Winco Foods
Another grocery store that accepts checks for cash is WinCo Foods.
Checks for payroll up to $500 in value are subject to a $5 fee. A $10 fee applies to checks between $500 and $1,000 in value.
If you're not sure if WinCo will accept the kind of check you have, call your local store to find out. Some check types, such two-party checks, are not accepted.
ALSO READ: Can You Cash A Check At An ATM? (Yes, Here's How)
10. Green Dot
This is another app, from banking company Green Dot, which allows you to cash checks right from your phone.
You’ll need to have a prepaid card from Green Dot, which you can learn about here.
Can You Cash a Check With Insufficient Funds?
It might some weird to some but one of the biggest questions when it comes to check cashing seems to be whether or not you can cash a check that has no fund to cover.
The answer here is yes and no!
Obviously there is no way you can cash a check with no funds behind it. With that said, if you show up at a bank aside from the check writer's own bank, you may be able to cash it.
Why?
Because that bank won't know whether or not the person who wrote the check has enough funds to cover it. As soon as the check bounces, the bank often charges the originator bank which in turn charges the check writer with a penalty fee.
Final Thoughts: Where Can I Cash a Personal Check Near Me
There are several places where you can cash a check. So you not having a bank account or bank nearby should not be a reason valid enough to stop you from getting your money from a check.
Provided you do not have a bank account, then you need to consider opening one. If not, you will have to pay fees each time that you wat to cash a check. Places other than banks often tend to have restrictions on the value of checks they will cash, with many of them capping at $500 to $1,000. So you see several advantages comes with opening your bank account.
It is true that in this era of online money transfer apps and Financial institutions, checks can be sometimes annoying but there are still more places out there than you think where you can conveniently cash your check.