A stop payment tells your bank not to cash a check you wrote
A stop payment is an instruction you give your bank to refuse to pay a specific check when it arrives for cashing. Once you write and hand over a check, you no longer control whether the person deposits it — but you can tell your bank in advance to reject it anyway. Your bank will then return the check unpaid to whoever tried to cash it, and the money stays in your account.
This is useful when a check is lost, stolen, or sent to the wrong person. It is also useful if you change your mind about a purchase after writing the check but before the other person has deposited it. Stop payments are not free — your bank charges a fee, usually between $25 and $35 per check — so you should only use one when you really need to.
Key Takeaways
- A stop payment prevents your bank from cashing a specific check you wrote, but only if the check has not already been cashed.
- You must provide your bank with the check number, the amount, the date you wrote it, and the name of the person or business you wrote it to.
- Stop payments usually cost $25 to $35 per check and last for six months, after which you may need to renew the order.
- If the check has already been cashed before your stop payment takes effect, your bank cannot reverse the transaction and you will need to pursue the matter with the other party or through your bank's dispute process.
When you might need to stop a check
The most common reason to stop a check is that you mailed it and it never arrived. If weeks have passed and the recipient says they never got it, a stop payment prevents them from cashing it if it shows up later. Another common reason is that you wrote a check to the wrong person or business by mistake — for example, you meant to write it to "ABC Plumbing" but wrote it to "ABC Plumbing Supply" instead.
You might also stop a check if you and the other party agreed to cancel a transaction. For instance, you wrote a check for a repair job, but the contractor finished early and you both agreed to use a different payment method instead. In this case, a stop payment keeps the check from being cashed if the contractor forgets about the change or deposits it by accident.
A stop payment can also protect you if a check is stolen from your mailbox or from the recipient's mailbox. If you discover the theft before the check is cashed, stopping it prevents the thief from getting your money.
How to request a stop payment from your bank
Contact your bank as soon as you realize you need to stop a check. You can usually do this by phone, in person at a branch, or through your online banking portal — the fastest method depends on your bank, but phone is often quickest because you speak to someone when ready. Have the following information ready: the check number, the exact amount of the check, the date you wrote it, and the name of the person or business you wrote it to.
Your bank will ask you to confirm these details and may ask why you want to stop the check. They will then enter the stop payment order into their system. Some banks charge the fee when ready; others charge it when the check arrives and is rejected. Ask your bank about the fee and how long the stop payment lasts — most last for six months, after which you can renew it if needed.
If you are stopping a check because it was lost or stolen, your bank may also ask you to file a written statement or sign a form confirming that you did not authorize the payment. This protects you and the bank if the check does arrive and someone tries to cash it.
What happens after you request a stop payment
Once your bank has the stop payment order, they watch for that specific check. If it arrives at the bank for deposit or cashing, the teller or processing system will see the stop payment flag and refuse to process it. The check is then returned to whoever tried to cash it, marked as "stopped payment" or "payment stopped by drawer" (drawer is the banking term for the person who wrote the check).
The person who received the check will see that it was rejected and will know that you stopped it. They may contact you to ask why, or they may ask you to write a new check or use a different payment method. If you and the recipient had agreed to stop the check, this is straightforward. If you stopped it without their knowledge, be prepared to explain why.
If the check was lost or stolen, the person who finds it will not be able to cash it, and the check will eventually be returned to your bank or destroyed. Your money remains safe in your account.
What stop payments cannot do
A stop payment only works if the check has not already been cashed or deposited. If the recipient deposited the check before you requested the stop payment, your bank cannot reverse the transaction. The money has already left your account and been credited to the recipient's bank. In this case, you would need to contact the recipient directly and ask them to return the money, or you could dispute the transaction with your bank — though banks are generally reluctant to reverse a payment you authorized by writing the check in the first place.
Stop payments also do not work on cashier's checks or certified checks. These are checks that the bank itself guarantees, so the bank has already set aside the money. Once issued, they cannot be stopped. If you need to cancel a cashier's check, you must contact the bank that issued it and follow their cancellation process, which may involve fees and a waiting period.
The cost and time limits of a stop payment
Stop payment fees vary by bank. Most banks charge between $25 and $35 per check. Some banks charge less if you request the stop payment online rather than by phone, and some offer a small number of free stop payments per year as part of a premium checking account. Ask your bank about their specific fee before you request one.
A stop payment order typically lasts for six months from the date you request it. If the check has not arrived by then and you want to keep the stop payment in place, you can renew it — usually for another fee. After six months, if you have not renewed the order, your bank will stop watching for that check, and if it arrives late, they will cash it normally. For this reason, if you stopped a check because it was lost, keep track of when the six-month period ends and renew if you think the check might still show up.
Alternatives to stopping a check
If you have not yet written or mailed the check, the simplest alternative is to not write it at all. Use a different payment method — a bank transfer, a debit card, or a credit card — that gives you more control and protection. Many businesses now prefer electronic payments anyway because they are faster and more reliable than checks.
If you have already written the check but have not given it to anyone yet, you can straightforward destroy it and write a new one. There is no cost and no risk. Only use a stop payment if the check is already out of your hands and you cannot retrieve it.
If you are concerned that a check might be lost in the mail, you can ask the recipient to confirm when they receive it before they deposit it. This gives you a window of time to stop it if needed. Some people also use certified mail or hand-deliver important checks to avoid the risk of loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stop a check after it has been cashed?
No. Once a check has been cashed or deposited, the money has left your account and your bank cannot reverse it. You would need to contact the recipient and ask them to return the money, or dispute the transaction with your bank — though banks rarely reverse payments you authorized.
How long does it take for a stop payment to take effect?
Stop payments usually take effect when ready or within one business day, depending on your bank. However, if the check arrives at the bank before your stop payment is processed, it may be cashed before the order takes effect. This is why it is important to request a stop payment as soon as you realize you need one.
What information do I need to provide to stop a check?
You will need the check number, the amount, the date you wrote it, and the name of the person or business you wrote it to. Some banks may also ask for your account number and the reason for the stop payment.
Can I stop a check I wrote from someone else's account?
No. Only the person whose name is on the account can request a stop payment. If someone else wrote the check, they must contact their bank to stop it.
What happens if I stop a check and then the recipient contacts me?
Be honest about why you stopped it. If you made a mistake or changed your mind, you can offer to write a new check or use a different payment method. If you stopped it because the check was lost or stolen, explain that to the recipient so they understand it was not personal.