The legal limit is usually five business days, but banks can hold checks longer in certain situations

Federal law sets a maximum hold time, but the actual number of days depends on the type of check and the bank's own policies. For most checks deposited at your own bank, the money must be available within one business day. For checks deposited at a different bank (through mobile deposit, ATM, or in person), the law allows up to five business days. Some checks — like large deposits, checks from new accounts, or checks from banks outside the U.S. — can be held longer.

The rule that governs this is called Regulation CC, a federal banking rule that took effect in 1988. It does not eliminate holds entirely; it just sets the outer limit. Your bank can hold money for shorter periods if it chooses, and many do. The hold exists because the bank needs time to confirm the check is real and that the account it is drawn from has enough money to cover it.

Key Takeaways

  • Checks deposited at your own bank must clear within one business day under federal law, while checks from other banks can be held up to five business days.
  • Banks can hold checks longer than the standard time if the check is large, you are a new account holder, or the check is drawn from a bank outside the United States.
  • A business day is Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays, so a check deposited on Friday may not clear until the following Wednesday.
  • Your bank must tell you in writing how long it holds checks when you open the account, and must disclose any exceptions to the standard hold period.
  • If a check bounces after the bank has made the money available to you, you remain responsible for returning those funds to your bank.

The standard hold periods under federal law

The law divides checks into two categories based on where they come from. A local check is one drawn on a bank in the same Federal Reserve region as your bank. A nonlocal check is drawn on a bank in a different region. For local checks deposited at your own bank, the bank must make the funds available by the next business day. For nonlocal checks, the bank has up to five business days.

These timelines start the day after you deposit the check, not the day you deposit it. If you deposit a check on a Monday, the one-business-day hold for a local check means the money is available on Tuesday. If you deposit a nonlocal check on a Monday, it can be held until the following Friday. If you deposit on a Friday, the clock does not start until Monday, so a five-day hold would not clear until the following Friday.

Federal holidays pause the clock. If a bank holiday falls during the hold period, that day does not count toward the total. This means a five-day hold that includes a federal holiday actually takes six calendar days.

When banks can hold checks longer than the standard time

Regulation CC allows banks to extend the hold beyond the standard periods in specific situations. The most common is a large deposit — typically over $5,000, though the exact threshold varies by bank. Banks can hold large checks for an additional reasonable period, often up to ten business days total, because the risk of the check bouncing increases with the amount.

New account holders face longer holds. If you opened your account less than 30 days ago, your bank can hold any check longer than the standard time. This is because new accounts have no history, so the bank has no way to judge whether you are trustworthy or whether the checks you deposit are legitimate.

Checks drawn on banks outside the United States can be held much longer — sometimes 20 business days or more. International checks take longer to clear because they must pass through multiple banking systems in different countries, and the bank cannot verify the funds as quickly.

If a check has been returned unpaid before, your bank can hold it longer the second time. The same applies if you have overdrawn your account recently or if the bank suspects fraud. Your bank must tell you in writing if it is using one of these exceptions, and must explain why.

What "business day" means and how to count it

A business day is any day the bank is open for business, which is typically Monday through Friday. Weekends and federal holidays do not count as business days. This is why a check deposited on Friday does not start its hold period until Monday — the weekend does not count.

Federal holidays that pause the clock include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If your bank observes additional holidays, those count too.

The hold period begins the day after you deposit the check, not on the day of deposit. So if you deposit a check on Monday morning, the one-business-day hold for a local check means the money is available on Tuesday. If you deposit on Friday, Monday is the first business day of the hold, so the money is available on Tuesday.

How to find out your bank's specific hold policy

Your bank must give you a written disclosure of its check-holding policy when you open your account. This document is called a funds availability policy or check-holding policy. It lists the standard hold times and any exceptions your bank uses. If you did not receive this when you opened your account, you can ask for it at any branch or read it from your bank's website.

The policy will tell you whether your bank holds local checks for one day or longer, how long nonlocal checks are held, and what the bank considers a large deposit. It will also explain what happens if you deposit a check at an ATM versus in person, and whether mobile deposits are held differently.

If your bank's policy differs from what Regulation CC allows, the stricter rule applies. For example, if your bank holds local checks for two business days instead of one, you must follow your bank's policy. Banks can be more generous than the law requires, but not less.

What happens if you withdraw money before the hold clears

If your bank makes funds available to you and you withdraw them, but the check bounces after that, you are responsible for returning the money to your bank. The bank can deduct the amount from your account, charge you an overdraft fee, or both. This is true even though the bank made the money available to you — the bank took a risk by doing so, and you bear the consequences if that risk does not pay off.

This is why some people wait longer than the hold period requires before spending deposited check money. If you wait an extra day or two beyond the hold, you reduce the chance of a surprise bounce. Your bank can tell you whether the check has actually cleared if you call or check your account online.

Holds on checks deposited by mobile app or ATM

Mobile check deposits and ATM deposits are often held longer than checks deposited in person. Federal law allows banks to hold mobile deposits for up to an additional business day beyond the standard hold. So a local check deposited through your bank's mobile app might be held for two business days instead of one.

ATM deposits vary by bank. Some banks hold ATM deposits the same as in-person deposits; others hold them longer. Your funds availability policy will specify the hold time for ATM deposits at your bank.

The reason for longer holds on mobile and ATM deposits is that the bank cannot verify the check in person. A teller can look at the check and confirm it appears genuine; an ATM or mobile app cannot. The longer hold gives the bank more time to verify the check through other means.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a bank hold a check indefinitely?

No. Federal law sets a maximum hold time, and your bank must make the funds available by that date. For most checks, the maximum is five business days. If your bank holds a check longer than allowed, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or your state's banking regulator.

Does the hold time start on the day I deposit the check or the day after?

The hold period starts the day after you deposit the check. If you deposit on Monday, the clock starts on Tuesday. Weekends and federal holidays do not count as business days, so the actual calendar time is usually longer than the number of business days.

Why does my bank hold checks longer than the law requires?

Banks can choose to hold checks longer than Regulation CC requires. They do this to reduce their risk, especially for new accounts or large deposits. Your bank's funds availability policy explains its specific hold times and the reasons for any holds longer than the federal minimum.

If the bank shows the money in my account, can I spend it?

The bank showing money in your account does not mean the check has cleared. The bank may have made the funds available to you before the check actually cleared. If you spend the money and the check bounces, you are responsible for repaying the bank, even though the money was shown in your account.

Are holds different for checks from other countries?

Yes. Checks drawn on banks outside the United States can be held much longer — sometimes 20 business days or more — because they must clear through international banking systems. Your bank's funds availability policy will specify the hold time for international checks.