Your bank will cash checks drawn on its own accounts, but not all checks from other banks, and the rules depend on your account type and the check itself.
A check drawn on your own bank — one where the account holder banks there — will almost always be cashed or deposited same-day or next business day. A check drawn on a different bank is treated as a third-party item, and your bank decides whether to accept it based on risk, the check's age, the amount, and sometimes your account history. Some banks refuse third-party checks entirely. Others cash them but hold the funds longer while they verify the check clears the other bank.
The difference matters because a refused check leaves you without the money, and a held check means you cannot spend it when ready even though you handed over the physical item. Understanding what your bank will and will not do prevents you from counting on money that is not yet available.
Key Takeaways
- Checks drawn on your own bank are cashed or deposited when ready; checks from other banks are treated as third-party items and may be refused or held.
- Your bank can refuse any third-party check for any reason, and you have no right to demand they cash it.
- A hold on a third-party check can last 5 to 10 business days while the bank verifies funds exist at the other institution.
- Checks older than 6 months are considered stale and most banks will refuse them, though the check itself does not expire legally.
- Personal checks carry more risk than cashier's checks or money orders, so banks are more likely to refuse or hold them.
How your bank decides whether to cash a check from another bank
When you hand a teller a check drawn on Bank X but you have an account at Bank Y, the teller runs a risk calculation. The check is a promise that Bank X will pay Bank Y when Bank Y sends it through the clearing system. Until that happens, Bank Y has no may provide the money exists. Your bank decides whether the risk is worth taking based on several factors.
The amount matters. A $50 check is lower risk than a $5,000 check. The age of the check matters — a check dated today is lower risk than one dated three weeks ago. The type of check matters. A personal check is higher risk than a cashier's check, because a cashier's check is may provide by the bank that issued it. Your account history matters too. If you have been with the bank for years and have never bounced a check, they may be more willing to cash a third-party check than if you opened the account last month.
But none of this creates an obligation. Your bank can refuse to cash any check from another bank for any reason or no reason. They do not have to explain the decision. If they refuse, you can take the check to the bank it is drawn on and cash it there, or deposit it at another bank.
The difference between cashing and depositing a third-party check
When you ask a teller to cash a check, you want the money in your hand or in your account when ready, available to spend right now. When you deposit a check, you are putting it into your account, but your bank may not make the funds available when ready.
For a check drawn on your own bank, the difference is small — both happen same-day or next business day. For a check from another bank, the difference is significant. Your bank may cash a third-party check but place a hold on the funds, meaning the money sits in your account but you cannot withdraw it or spend it for several days. During that time, the check is traveling through the clearing system, and your bank is verifying that the account it is drawn on actually has the money.
A hold typically lasts 5 to 10 business days for a third-party check, though it can be longer if the check is large, from a bank far away, or from a bank your bank does not recognize. Some banks hold third-party checks for the full 10 business days as a standard practice, regardless of the amount.
Why banks refuse certain checks
Banks refuse checks for concrete reasons tied to fraud prevention and risk management. A check with a date more than 6 months in the past is considered stale, and most banks will refuse it. The check itself does not legally expire — the account holder can still honor it — but banks treat old checks as suspicious because they may indicate the check was lost and then found, or the account holder may have stopped payment on it.
A check with a date in the future is called a post-dated check. Many banks will refuse to cash or deposit a post-dated check, because the account it is drawn on may not have the funds yet. Some banks will accept it but hold it until the date on the check arrives.
A check with alterations — a crossed-out name, a number that has been changed, a signature that looks forged — will be refused. A check with a missing signature or a signature that does not match the name on the check will be refused. A check that is torn, water-damaged, or illegible will be refused. A check written for an amount that does not match the written-out words will be refused.
Banks also refuse checks from accounts they know are closed or frozen. If the account holder has reported the check as lost or stolen, the bank will refuse it. If there is a dispute over the check or a legal hold on the account, the bank will refuse it.
What happens when a check you deposited bounces
If you deposit a third-party check and your bank places a hold on it, the hold lasts until the check clears — meaning the other bank confirms the account has the funds and sends the money to your bank. If the account does not have the funds, the check bounces, and your bank reverses the deposit. The money comes back out of your account.
If you have already spent the money or transferred it, your account will go negative. Your bank will charge you a non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee, usually $25 to $35. The person who wrote the check may also face fees from their own bank for the bounced check. If you knowingly deposited a check you suspected would bounce, you could face fraud charges, though this is rare.
This is why banks hold third-party checks — they are protecting themselves and you from the risk that the money does not actually exist. Once the hold period ends and the check has cleared, the money is yours and cannot be taken back.
Checks that are easier to cash or deposit
A cashier's check is issued by a bank and may provide by that bank. The bank has already verified that the account holder has the funds and has set them aside. When you present a cashier's check, the risk to your bank is much lower, because the bank that issued it is on the hook, not an individual account holder. Most banks will cash or deposit a cashier's check same-day with no hold.
A money order works the same way — it is issued by a financial institution and may provide by that institution. Your bank will treat it like cash or a cashier's check.
A certified check is a personal check that the issuing bank has certified — meaning the bank has verified the account has the funds and has frozen that amount so it cannot be spent. Certified checks are lower risk than personal checks but higher risk than cashier's checks, because the account holder could still dispute the check or the bank could fail. Most banks will deposit a certified check with a shorter hold than a personal check, often 1 to 3 business days.
A personal check from someone you know, or a check from a local business, may be cashed or deposited with no hold if your bank trusts the source. A personal check from a stranger or from out of state is more likely to be held or refused.
How to find out your bank's specific policy
Every bank sets its own rules about which checks it will cash or deposit and how long it will hold them. Your bank's policy is in the account agreement you signed when you opened the account, usually in a section called "Funds Availability" or "Check Deposit Policy." You can ask to see this document at any branch, or search for it on your bank's website.
The policy will tell you how long your bank holds checks drawn on other banks, whether it accepts third-party checks at all, and whether it has special rules for large checks, old checks, or checks from certain regions. Some banks post this information on their website; others only provide it in writing at the branch.
If you are unsure whether a specific check will be accepted, call your bank's customer service line or ask a teller before you hand over the check. They can tell you whether your bank will cash it, whether it will be held, and for how long.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash a check at a bank where I do not have an account?
Some banks will cash checks for non-customers, but most charge a fee of $5 to $15. The bank that issued the check — the one printed on the check itself — will always cash it for free if you present it at a branch with a valid ID. If the check is drawn on a small credit union or a bank with few branches, you may have to go to the issuing bank to cash it without a fee.
What if the check is made out to someone else?
A check made out to another person is a third-party check, and most banks refuse them entirely. The safest route is to ask the person whose name is on the check to deposit it into their own account and then transfer you the money. If they want to sign the check over to you, ask your bank first whether they will accept it — many will not, because it increases fraud risk.
How long does a check take to clear?
A check drawn on your own bank typically clears same-day or next business day. A check from another bank usually clears within 5 to 10 business days, though it can take longer if the check is large or from a bank far away. Once the hold period ends, the money is yours and the check has officially cleared.
Can a bank refuse to cash a check drawn on itself?
A bank can refuse to cash a check drawn on its own account if the account is closed, frozen, or if there is a legal hold on it. If the account has insufficient funds, the bank will refuse and the check will bounce. But if the account is active and has the funds, the bank must honor the check.
What should I do if my bank refuses a check I need to cash?
Take the check to the bank it is drawn on — the name printed on the check. That bank will cash it for free if you have a valid ID. If you cannot get to that bank, ask the person who wrote the check to write you a cashier's check instead, which any bank will cash when ready.