A check is good for six months from the date written on it, after which your bank can refuse to cash it
The six-month window is the standard across U.S. banks, though the Uniform Commercial Code—the set of rules that governs how checks work—does not technically set an expiration date. What it does say is that a bank has no obligation to cash a check more than six months old. After that point, the check is considered stale, and the bank can choose to honor it or reject it.
In practice, most banks will refuse a check older than six months. Some will cash it anyway if the account holder approves, but you cannot count on that. The six-month rule applies whether you are the person who wrote the check or the person trying to cash it. If you received a check dated more than six months ago, your bank may turn it away at the teller window or through mobile deposit.
The date on the check is what matters, not the date you received it or the date you try to cash it. A check dated January 15 expires on July 15, regardless of when it lands in your hands.
Key Takeaways
- Banks can refuse to cash any check older than six months from the date written on it, though some may cash it with account holder permission.
- The six-month window is measured from the date printed on the check itself, not from when you received it or when you attempt to deposit it.
- If a check is stale, your bank will likely reject it through mobile deposit or at the teller window without explanation beyond "check is too old."
- Checks that are post-dated (dated in the future) cannot be cashed until that date arrives, even if you try to deposit them earlier.
What happens when you try to cash a stale check
If you attempt to deposit a check older than six months, the bank's processing system will flag it during the deposit step. At an ATM or through mobile deposit, the transaction will be rejected automatically. At a teller window, the teller may run it through the check reader, which will identify the age, and they will tell you the bank cannot process it.
The check does not bounce in the traditional sense—there is no fee to the person who wrote it, and no notification sent to them. The check straightforward does not move. If you need the money, you have to contact the person who wrote the check and ask them to write a new one.
Some banks have discretion to cash a stale check if the account holder (the person who wrote it) calls and authorizes it. This is not common, and it is not may provide. The safest assumption is that once a check hits six months old, it will not be accepted.
Why banks enforce the six-month rule
The six-month window exists because of how check clearing works. When you deposit a check, the bank that holds your account (the depositing bank) sends it to the bank that holds the check writer's account (the paying bank). The paying bank verifies that the account has enough money and that the check has not been reported lost or stolen. This process can take several business days.
After six months, the paying bank assumes the check was either lost, forgotten, or intentionally abandoned. Holding onto a check for that long suggests something went wrong. The rule protects both banks from processing very old checks that may have been issued in error or under circumstances that have changed.
It also protects the check writer. If a check sits for years before being cashed, the writer may have already adjusted their finances around that money. The six-month cutoff prevents surprises.
Post-dated checks and the timing issue
A post-dated check is one dated in the future—for example, a check dated March 15 that you receive on March 1. Banks are not supposed to cash post-dated checks before the date on them, though enforcement varies. Some banks will reject a post-dated check if you try to deposit it early. Others will process it anyway.
If you write a post-dated check, do not assume the bank will hold it until that date. The safest approach is to tell the person receiving it when you expect them to deposit it, and assume they might deposit it early. Post-dating a check is not a reliable way to delay a payment.
The six-month rule still applies to post-dated checks. If you write a check dated six months from today, it will be stale six months after that date, not six months from when you wrote it.
What to do if you have an old check
If you are holding a check that is close to six months old or older, contact the person who wrote it and ask for a replacement. Explain that the check is stale and your bank will not accept it. Most people will reissue the check without issue.
If the check writer is unreachable or unwilling to reissue it, you have limited options. You could try depositing it anyway and see if your specific bank will process it, but this is not reliable. Some banks may cash it as a courtesy; most will not.
If the check is a refund or a payment you are owed, contact the issuer (the company or person who sent it) and ask them to issue a new check or process a wire transfer or ACH payment instead. These methods do not have expiration dates and are more reliable than checks.
Checks written to a business versus an individual
The six-month rule applies to all checks, but enforcement can differ depending on who the check is written to. A check made out to a business may be processed more quickly and deposited sooner than a personal check. A check made out to an individual might sit longer before being deposited.
Regardless of who the payee is, once the check reaches six months old, the bank can refuse it. The payee's identity does not change the expiration window.
If you are a business owner and you receive a check, deposit it as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the closer you get to the six-month mark. If a customer or vendor sends you a check dated more than six months ago, ask them to reissue it when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bank cash a check that is older than six months?
A bank can refuse any check older than six months, and most do. Some banks may cash it if the account holder authorizes it, but this is not standard practice. If you need to cash an old check, contact the person who wrote it and ask for a replacement.
Does a check expire if it is not deposited?
Yes. Whether you deposit a check when ready or hold it for months, the six-month clock starts from the date written on the check. If you do not deposit it within six months of that date, your bank will likely reject it.
What if I wrote a check and the person never cashed it?
Once the check reaches six months old, the recipient's bank will refuse to cash it. If they contact you asking for a replacement, you can write a new check. The original check will not clear, so the money stays in your account.
Do checks expire differently at different banks?
The six-month standard is consistent across U.S. banks because it is set by the Uniform Commercial Code. However, individual banks may have slightly different policies about whether they will cash a check as a courtesy after six months. Call your bank if you have a specific old check you want to deposit.
Can I deposit a post-dated check before the date on it?
Banks are not supposed to process post-dated checks before the date written on them, but some do anyway. Do not rely on a post-dated check to delay a payment. If you need to delay a payment, use a different method or contact the recipient to arrange a later deposit date.