How To Cash a Check Without a Bank Account
Written by
Taylor DeJesus
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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According to the latest figures from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., almost 6 million U.S. households were “unbanked” as of 2023. That means that no one in the household has a checking or savings account at a bank or credit union.
However, the millions of Americans without a bank account sometimes still need access to banking services, such as check cashing. If you’re wondering where you can cash a check without a bank account or ID, keep reading to learn how and where. Some methods even let you cash a check without an ID at all.
Can You Cash a Check Without a Bank Account?
There are multiple ways to cash a check even if you don’t have a bank account:
| How To Cash a Check Without a Bank Account |
|---|
| Bring it to the bank that issued it |
| Go to a retail store that cashes checks |
| Visit a check-cashing store |
| Deposit it to a prepaid debit card |
| Sign it over to someone with a bank account |
| Deposit it to a mobile payment app |
| Open a checking account |
4 Top Ways To Cash a Check Without a Bank Account or ID
Here’s a more detailed overview of some of the top ways to cash a check without a bank account, and in some cases an ID:
Visit the Issuing Bank
You can try to go to the bank that issued the check and see if they will cash it for you since it was written by an account holder at that bank. However, some banks may not cash a check if you don’t have an account. They may also charge a fee, and they will require identification to cash it.
Use Check-Cashing Services
Though they are in the business of cashing checks, check-cashing stores may have the highest fees. Still, it’s an option worth considering. Amscot, for example, will cash almost all kinds of checks with no limits. However, according to Amscot’s posted rates, it charges a minimum of $3 for all checks and fees of 9.9% on personal checks and money orders.
The benefits of check-cashing stores include fast processing time — you can get the cash almost instantly. Some stores may also be open late or on weekends.
In addition, some retailers offer check-cashing services for a small fee. Walmart, for example, will cash payroll, government, tax refund, cashier’s, insurance settlement and 401(k) checks at most stores and two-party personal checks at select stores for a maximum fee of $4 for checks up to $1,000. The cashing limit at Walmart is $5,000 — or $7,500 from January to April (tax season) — and you’ll pay a fee of up to $8. You can get cash or load a Walmart MoneyCard for convenience — all you need is a valid ID card.
Other retailers will have varying policies. For example, some may only cash personal checks, while others may only cash paychecks or checks from a government entity. When using paycheck-cashing services, you may need to register with the store of your choice, which takes a little more time.
Some retailers, however, may only offer check-cashing services at certain locations, if at all. Most stores will have their policies online so that you can check them before making the trip.
Prepaid Debit Cards
Another option is to get a prepaid debit card. Some prepaid cards will allow you to deposit checks through mobile deposit. You might need to download an app and deposit your check by endorsing it and taking photos to upload. However, free processing may take up to 10 days. To get your money sooner, you may need to pay relatively high fees.
If you are trying to cash paychecks, some prepaid cards allow you to set up direct deposit by using the routing number for your card. Therefore, you can skip the check-cashing process altogether.
Sign Over the Check to Someone You Trust
If all else fails, you can consider signing the check over to a trusted individual who has a bank account and have them cash it for you. You might want to go with them if they have questions about the check or require your identification.
Here’s an example of how a check typically looks:
Your name should appear on the payee line, and the person who wrote the check will sign the signature line. To sign the check over to someone else, you’ll need to sign the back of the check, on the line that says “Endorse Check Here.“
What If You Don’t Have ID but Need To Cash a Check?
If you don’t have an ID but still have a bank account, here are a few other ways to get your check cashed:
Use a Secondary Form of ID
If you simply forgot your ID or don’t have access to it, you may be able to cash a check at your bank by providing a secondary form of ID — such as a utility bill or bank debit card.
Use Your Bank ATM or Mobile App
You don’t need to present your ID to deposit a check at your bank’s ATM or mobile app. For an ATM deposit, you just need your debit card and the endorsed check to make a deposit. Be aware of non-network ATMs and the fees that may be charged before making a deposit at an ATM. For your bank’s mobile app, you just need to endorse the check and take a photo of the front and back of the check to make a deposit.
Deposit It to a Mobile Payment App
Several mobile apps let you deposit checks into your account by mobile or direct deposit and then use your account balance to send money and make purchases — without a prepaid card. For example, PayPal users with a PayPal Balance account can mobile-deposit checks and then draw against their balance to pay for purchases and send money.
Fees and Risks To Consider When Cashing a Check
While there are several options for cashing a check without a checking account or ID, there are a few things you should consider:
You May Have To Pay a Fee
Depending on where you cash your check, you may need to pay a fee. Check-cashing stores have the highest fees and should be avoided if possible.
Prepaid cards are reloadable, so once you buy the card, you can deposit checks repeatedly without additional fees. But some prepaid cards do charge reloading fees and may charge fees for services such as check deposits.
Endorsing Your Check to Someone Else Puts Your Money at Risk
If you endorse the check to someone else for them to cash, there is a risk that they end up taking the money. You truly need to trust the person you endorse the check to. And never allow a stranger to cash a check for you or risk losing your money.
You Will Likely Need Some Form of Identification
Typically, if you are cashing your check at the issuing bank, a retailer or other stores, you will have to provide some form of identification.
Why You Should Consider Opening a Bank Account
Despite valid reasons for not opening a bank account — difficulty being approved because of past banking history, or concern over account minimums and fees, for example — the truth is that just about everyone age 18 or older can and should have one, regardless of banking history. Capital One stopped using ChexSystems to screen new customers a decade ago, and its checking account has no fees or minimums. SoFi also doesn’t use ChexSystems. It combines its interest-bearing checking account with a high-yield savings account. There are no fees or minimums.
Opening an account online only takes a few minutes. Deposit your check into the new account and withdraw the money after it clears.
Who knows — opening an account to deposit checks might lead to other positive financial habits. You could even wind up socking away money in a savings account or CD.
FAQ
- Where can I cash a check without a bank account?
- You can cash a check by bringing it to the bank that issued it, going to a retail store that cashes checks, visiting a check-cashing store, depositing it to a prepaid debit card or even using a mobile payment app
- Do I need ID to cash a check?
- You may be able to cash a check without an ID using your bank's ATM (and a debit card), your bank's mobile app to make a mobile check deposit or a mobile payment app such as PayPal.
- How much does it cost to cash a check without a bank account?
- Several check-cashing services charge fees, which can range from a few dollars up to nearly 10% of the total transaction. Some mobile payment apps don't charge a fee to cash a check but may charge a fee to withdraw the funds.
- What types of checks are easier to cash without an account?
- While personal checks are more difficult to cash without a bank account, other types of checks, such as government-issued checks (like a tax refund), payroll checks (from your job), cashier's checks and insurance settlement checks, can be much easier to cash as they are more trusted by financial institutions.
- Can I cash a check using someone else's bank account?
- You can endorse a check out to someone else and have them cash it at their bank. This is risky, though, as they can easily cash the check and take the money. You may need to present your ID to their bank to confirm your endorsement of the check.
