How to Cash an Official Check

Cashier's checks, also referred to as official checks, are commonly defined as a guaranteed promise of compensation backed by a bank's funds. For individuals choosing to use a cashier's check, this particular method of payment offers an additional degree of security and stability that personal checks are not capable of providing. If you have received an official check, you can follow a series of simple steps in order to cash it and receive your funds. Getting started with your cashier's check is as simple as visiting the bank from which the check has originated.

When a bank guarantees a check with its own assets, the check that has been issued can be considered an ironclad guarantee of payment. In recent years, however, banks have been less willing to allow individuals to cash an official check if they do not currently have an account with the bank. With that in mind, you may need to consult with the bank that issued your official check in order to determine what your specific steps moving forward should be. Simply put, whether or not you can cash a check without a bank account is entirely at the discretion of the bank itself.

If you have been given the go-ahead to cash your official check, the next steps are relatively straightforward. In order to cash your official check, you will likely need to provide multiple forms of legal identification. This can include a driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, etc. Given the fact that banks have the legal right to refuse to honor a cashier's check in the event of dubious identity, it is in your best interest to bring the most valid identification you have.

Once your ID has been accepted, the issuing bank will cash the check and provide you with the appropriate funds. In the event that you have an account with the bank, you will likely have the opportunity to directly deposit your cashier's check proceeds here. If you do not, you can take the funds and deposit them wherever you deem necessary.

In some situations, a check-cashing service may offer to cash your official check. That being said, you will likely be required to pay hefty check-cashing fees which could significantly reduce your "take-home" pay from the check itself. This should always be an important consideration before choosing this specific option.