What goes in each blank on a Chase check

A Chase check has seven blanks you need to fill in, and they appear in a specific order on the form. The blanks are: date, payee name, amount in numbers, amount in words, memo line, signature, and routing/account information (which Chase pre-prints). You fill them from top to bottom, left to right, using blue or black ink only. Chase will not process a check written in pencil or any other color.

The order matters because the bank's sorting machines read checks in a standard sequence. If you skip a line or write in the wrong place, the check may be rejected or delayed. Some blanks are optional—the memo line, for instance—but the others are required for the bank to cash or deposit the check.

Key Takeaways

  • Write the date in the top right corner in the format MM/DD/YYYY; post-dated checks (future dates) are legal but the bank will not process them until that date arrives.
  • Write the payee name on the "Pay to the Order of" line; this is the person or business receiving the money, and the check cannot be cashed by anyone else.
  • Write the dollar amount twice: once in the small box on the right in numerals (for example, $150.00), and once on the long line below in words (for example, One Hundred Fifty Dollars).
  • Sign the check in the bottom right corner with the same signature you registered with Chase; an unsigned check cannot be cashed.
  • The memo line is optional and appears below the payee line; use it to note what the payment is for, such as "Rent" or "Invoice #2024-001".

The date line: top right corner

Write the date in the format MM/DD/YYYY—for example, 01/15/2024 for January 15, 2024. This is the date you are writing the check, not the date you want it to be cashed. Chase processes checks on the date written, so if you write a future date, the bank will hold the check and not process it until that date arrives. This is called a post-dated check, and it is legal, but the recipient cannot deposit it early.

If you write today's date but the check does not reach the recipient for a week, that is fine—the date on the check is when you issued it, not when it arrives. Write the date clearly in the small box labeled with the month, day, and year. Do not abbreviate the year to two digits; Chase's processing system requires all four digits.

The payee line: "Pay to the Order of"

Write the name of the person or business that will receive the money on the line that says "Pay to the Order of." This is the only person or entity who can cash or deposit the check. If you write "John Smith," only John Smith can cash it—not his spouse, not his business partner, not anyone else. If you make a mistake, cross it out with a single line and write the correct name next to it, then initial the change.

Use the full legal name if you know it. For a business, write the business name as it appears on their invoices or official documents. If you are paying a sole proprietor who uses a business name, you can write either the person's name or the business name, but the business name is safer because it matches what they use to deposit checks. Leave no blank spaces in the middle of the name—write "JohnSmith" or "John Smith" but not "John Smith" with extra space, as this can create processing errors.

The amount boxes: numbers and words

Write the dollar amount in two places. On the right side of the check, in the small box, write the amount in numerals with a dollar sign and two decimal places—for example, $150.00 or $1,250.50. This is the amount the bank's machine will read first. On the long line below the payee line, write the same amount in words: "One Hundred Fifty Dollars" or "One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars and Fifty Cents." The words must match the numerals, or the bank may reject the check or contact you to confirm which amount is correct.

If the amounts do not match, the bank will typically honor the amount written in words, because that is considered the legal amount. For example, if you write $150.00 in the box but "One Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars" on the line, the check will be processed for $175.00. To avoid this, write both amounts carefully and double-check them before you sign. If you make a mistake, void the check and start over on a new one—do not cross out the amount and rewrite it, as this raises fraud concerns and the bank may refuse to process it.

The memo line: optional but useful

The memo line is a small blank below the payee name, usually labeled "Memo" or "For." This line is optional and does not affect whether the check is processed. Use it to note what the payment is for: "Rent," "Invoice #2024-001," "Car Payment," or "Tuition." This helps both you and the recipient keep track of what the money was for, and it appears on both your bank statement and theirs.

The memo line is not read by the bank's processing machines, so leaving it blank will not delay the check. However, filling it in is a good habit because it creates a record. If you are paying a business, they may ask you to include a reference number or invoice number on the memo line so they can match the payment to their records.

The signature line: bottom right

Sign the check in the bottom right corner with your legal signature—the same signature you provided to Chase when you opened the account. An unsigned check cannot be cashed, and if someone else signs it without your permission, that is fraud. Sign in blue or black ink only, and make sure the signature is legible enough that it matches your bank records. If your signature on the check looks drastically different from the one on file, the bank may reject it or contact you to verify.

Do not sign the check until you have filled in all the other blanks and you are certain the amounts are correct. Once you sign, the check is a legal instrument and cannot be altered without creating a new check. If you sign and then realize you made a mistake, write "VOID" across the front of the check in large letters and do not attempt to use it.

Pre-printed information you do not fill in

Chase pre-prints your routing number, account number, and check number on the bottom of every check. These appear in the MICR line—the row of numbers at the very bottom in a special magnetic ink that the bank's machines read. You do not fill these in; they are already there. The routing number identifies Chase and your branch, the account number identifies your specific account, and the check number is a sequential identifier for that particular check.

Your name and address are also pre-printed in the top left corner. If this information is incorrect, contact Chase to request a new set of checks with the correct details. Do not write over the pre-printed information or try to correct it by hand, as this may cause the check to be rejected during processing.

Common mistakes that delay or reject checks

The most frequent error is writing the amount in words that does not match the numerals. The second most common is signing the check in a way that does not match your registered signature—too different, too illegible, or in a different color ink. The third is leaving the payee line blank or writing it so unclearly that it cannot be read. Any of these will cause the bank to contact you or reject the check outright.

Writing in pencil, using a pen in red or green ink, or crossing out and rewriting amounts also triggers rejection. If you make a mistake, void the check and use a new one from your checkbook. Voiding is straightforward: write "VOID" in large letters across the front, and do not attempt to use it. Keep voided checks in your records so you can account for the check number if the bank asks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I write a check to myself?

Yes. Write your own name on the payee line and sign it as you normally would. You can then deposit it into another account at Chase or at a different bank. This is useful if you need to move money between accounts or withdraw cash without using an ATM.

What if I make a mistake after I sign the check?

Do not attempt to fix it. Write "VOID" across the front in large letters and set it aside. Use a new check from your checkbook. Crossing out or rewriting after you have signed creates the appearance of fraud and the bank will likely refuse to process it.

Can I use a check that is more than six months old?

Technically yes, but most banks will not process it. Chase and most other banks consider a check stale after six months and may refuse to cash it. If you need to pay someone with an old check, request a new one or use a different payment method.

Do I need to write anything on the back of the check?

Only if you are depositing it into your own account. Write "For Deposit Only" followed by your account number on the back. If you are giving the check to someone else to cash or deposit, do not write on the back unless they ask you to endorse it.

What if the payee name has special characters or is very long?

Write it as it appears on their official documents or invoices. If the name is longer than the line, write as much as you can fit clearly. The bank will process the check based on the account number and routing number, not just the name, so minor variations in spelling or abbreviation usually do not cause problems.