How to Void a Personal Check and What to Do With It

A voided check serves as a tool in managing personal finances by providing essential bank account information. By marking a check as “VOID,” it becomes unusable for payment, yet it retains the necessary routing and account numbers. This security measure facilitates various financial setups.

Reasons to Void a Check

Voiding a personal check becomes necessary in several common financial scenarios. A frequent reason is to establish direct deposit for paychecks, where employers require your bank’s routing and account numbers to electronically transfer funds into your account. Similarly, setting up automatic bill payments for utilities, loans, or other recurring expenses often requires a voided check to confirm banking details for automated withdrawals.

Additionally, you might need to void a check if an error occurs during the writing process, such as an incorrect amount or payee name. Voiding it ensures it cannot be accidentally or fraudulently used. This practice also applies when linking bank accounts to third-party financial services or applications that need to verify your account information securely.

How to Void a Check

The process of voiding a check ensures it is unusable for payment while its account information remains legible. Begin with a blank check that has not been filled out or signed. Use a pen with blue or black permanent ink, as these colors are clear and less susceptible to alteration.

Next, write “VOID” in large, clear capital letters across the front of the check. Write “VOID” across the entire check to cover the payee line, amount box, and signature line. Crucially, ensure the bank’s routing number and your account number, located at the bottom of the check, remain uncovered and readable. Writing “VOID” multiple times makes it more difficult to alter or misuse. After voiding the check, record the check number and date in your personal check register or financial log. This record-keeping helps maintain accurate financial documentation.

Handling a Voided Check

Once voided, a check’s handling depends on its intended purpose. Most commonly, it is submitted to an employer, a utility company, or a financial institution to set up services like direct deposit or automatic payments. The recipient uses the routing and account numbers on the voided check to ensure accurate electronic transfers.

Before submitting the voided check, make a copy, either physical or digital, for your records. This copy serves as proof of submission and retains the account details for your reference. If the voided check is not being submitted to a third party, or after it has served its purpose, secure disposal is important due to the sensitive financial information it contains. Shredding the check using a cross-cut shredder is the most secure method, as it renders the account and routing numbers unreadable. If a shredder is unavailable, tearing the check into many small pieces, particularly through the sensitive numbers, and disposing of them in separate locations can also mitigate risk.