What Information Is Printed on the Face of a Personal Check?

A personal check is a written order to pay money from your bank account to the person or company named on the check. There is specific information printed on the front of personal checks that provides information to the financial institution, as well the payee.

Identifying Information

Personal Information

On the upper left corner of the check is your personal information. This includes your name and address. It is generally recommended that you include your telephone number.

Blanks

On the upper right corner of a check is a line for the check date. Below your personal information is the “payee” line, which is used to indicate who is receiving the money. Below that line is a spot to specify the amount of money to be paid from your checking account. On the lower right corner of the check is a line for the account holder’s signature.

References

• DCU: Using a Checking Account
• National Credit Union Administration. "Understanding a Check and Balancing a Checkbook." Accessed June 4, 2020.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "I Received a Check Where the Words and the Numbers for the Amount Are Different." Accessed June 4, 2020.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Can a Bank or Credit Union Cash a Post-Dated Check Before the Date on the Check?" Accessed June 4, 2020.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "My Bank/Credit Union Cashed a Post-Dated Check Even Though I Told Them About the Post-Dated Check Before They Received It." Accessed June 4, 2020.
• Department of the Treasury. "U.S. Treasury Check Security Features." Accessed June 4, 2020.
• Federal Reserve Consumer Help. "Can a Bank Refuse to Cash My Check?" Accessed June 4, 2020.
• Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. "Check Fraud / Counterfeit Checks." Accessed June 4, 2020.
• American Bankers Association. "ABA Routing Number." Accessed June 4, 2020.

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