Where To Cash Checks Without a Bank Account

Your main options for cashing a check

You can cash a check at a bank, a check-cashing store, your employer, the check issuer's location, or sometimes a grocery store or pharmacy. The fastest and cheapest route depends on what type of check you have and whether you have a bank account. If the check is from your employer, your employer's payroll office or HR department can often cash it on the spot. If it's a personal check, a bank will cash it for free if you have an account there, but will charge a fee (usually $5 to $15) if you don't.

Check-cashing stores are open longer hours than banks and don't require an account, but they charge a percentage of the check amount — typically 1 to 3 percent, sometimes higher. A $500 check might cost $5 to $15 to cash. Some grocery stores and pharmacies with customer service desks will cash checks for free or a small fee if you shop there regularly, but policies vary widely by location and check type.

Key Takeaways

• Banks cash checks for free if you have an account, but charge $5 to $15 per check if you don't.
• Check-cashing stores don't require an account but charge 1 to 3 percent of the check amount, which adds up on larger checks.
• Your employer can often cash your paycheck when ready through payroll or HR, with no fee.
• Grocery stores and pharmacies sometimes cash checks for free or a small fee, but policies vary by location and check type.
• The check issuer's bank will cash a check drawn on their account even if you don't have an account there, usually for free.

Cashing a check at a bank

If you have a checking or savings account at a bank, you can walk in and cash a check for free. Bring your ID and the check. The teller will verify the check, confirm you have funds in your account to cover it (for personal checks), and hand you cash. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. Some banks allow you to cash checks at the ATM if you have a debit card, though this works only for certain types of checks.

If you don't have an account at that bank, they will still cash a check drawn on their own bank — meaning a check from someone whose account is at that bank. Walk in with your ID and the check. The bank will verify the funds in the account the check was drawn from and give you cash. There is no fee for this. If the check is drawn on a different bank, that bank may charge you $5 to $15 to cash it, or may refuse entirely.

Call ahead if you're cashing a large check (over $1,000) or an unusual type of check, because some banks require advance notice or have daily limits on how much cash they keep on hand.

Using a check-cashing store

Check-cashing stores are designed for people without bank accounts. They're usually open longer than banks — often until 7 or 8 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays — and they cash checks in 10 to 15 minutes. You need a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card). You do not need a bank account.

The cost is a percentage of the check amount. A typical rate is 1 to 3 percent, but some stores charge more, especially for personal checks or checks under $100. On a $500 paycheck, you might pay $5 to $15. On a $100 check, you might pay $3 to $5. Ask the store for their fee before you hand over the check. Some stores also charge a small fee just to walk in, which they may waive if you cash a check.

Check-cashing stores also offer other services like money orders, bill payment, and payday loans, but those are separate from check cashing and carry their own fees and terms.

Cashing a paycheck through your employer

If the check is from your employer, ask your payroll department or HR office if they can cash it for you. Many employers will cash paychecks for employees on the spot, with no fee. This is the fastest option — you walk in, hand over the check, and get cash in minutes. Some employers limit how often you can do this or have a maximum amount, so ask first.

If your employer uses direct deposit, you can also ask about setting that up instead. Direct deposit puts your paycheck straight into your bank account (or a prepaid card account) on payday, with no check involved. This eliminates the need to cash a check at all.

Cashing a check at the issuer's bank

If you know which bank the check was drawn from, you can go directly to any branch of that bank and cash it for free, even if you don't have an account there. Bring your government-issued photo ID and the check. The teller will verify the funds and give you cash. This works for personal checks, business checks, and payroll checks.

To find out which bank issued the check, look at the bottom left corner of the check. You'll see the bank's name and routing number. Search online for that bank's branch locations near you, or call their customer service line to confirm they'll cash it.

Cashing checks at grocery stores and pharmacies

Some grocery stores and pharmacies with customer service desks will cash checks, but policies vary widely. Walmart, Target, and many regional grocery chains offer check cashing at the customer service desk. Walgreens and CVS sometimes do as well, though not all locations participate. Call ahead to confirm your local store cashes checks.

Fees are usually lower than check-cashing stores — often free or $1 to $3 per check — but they may limit the amount or the type of check. Many will cash payroll checks and government checks but not personal checks. Some require you to have a loyalty card or to shop there regularly. Hours are usually longer than banks, often open until 9 or 10 p.m.

What to bring and what to expect

For any check-cashing location, bring a government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, or passport works everywhere. Some places also accept a military ID or tribal ID. Without an ID, no location will cash a check.

Bring the actual check itself — you cannot cash a photo or a copy. The check must be signed by the person or business that issued it. If the check is made out to you, your name must match your ID exactly. If the check is made out to someone else, most locations will not cash it, even if that person signs it over to you on the back (called a third-party check). A few check-cashing stores will cash third-party checks, but they charge extra and require both people to be present with ID.

The location will verify the check is real and that the account it's drawn from has enough money to cover it. This usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. If the check is large or unusual, it may take longer. Once verified, you get cash on the spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cash a check made out to someone else?

Most locations will not cash a check made out to another person, even if they sign it over to you on the back. A few check-cashing stores will do it if both of you are present with ID, but they charge an extra fee. Your safest option is to ask the person who issued the check to issue a new one in your name instead.

What if the check is post-dated or stale?

A post-dated check (dated in the future) cannot be cashed until that date arrives. A stale check (more than six months old) may be refused by some locations, though banks are not required to refuse it. If your check is either of these, contact the person who issued it and ask for a replacement check with the correct date.

Do I need a bank account to cash a check?

No. Check-cashing stores, your employer's payroll office, the issuer's bank, and some grocery stores will all cash checks without requiring an account. You will need a government-issued photo ID at any location.

How much does it cost to cash a check?

It depends on where you go. Banks cash checks for free if you have an account, or $5 to $15 if you don't. Check-cashing stores charge 1 to 3 percent of the check amount. Grocery stores and pharmacies usually charge $1 to $3 or nothing. Your employer usually charges nothing.

What if the check bounces after I cash it?

If the account the check was drawn from doesn't have enough money, the check bounces. The location that cashed it may ask you to return the cash or may pursue the matter with the issuer. To protect yourself, cash checks only from people or businesses you trust, and ask for a replacement if you're unsure the check is good.