How to Write a Check Correctly, Step by Step
Learn the correct way to write a check, ensuring accuracy and understanding every essential step for secure financial transactions.
Checks remain a relevant financial instrument for making payments or transferring funds. Understanding how to properly complete a check ensures secure and accurate transfers from your bank account to a recipient. This process is important for managing your finances.
Understanding Check Components
At the top left, your personal information, including your name and address, is pre-printed, identifying the account holder. Each check has a unique check number, found in the upper right corner and along the bottom. The date line, located in the upper right, is for the current date.
The “Pay to the order of” line in the center designates the recipient of the funds. To its right, a box with a dollar sign is for the numeric amount of the payment. Below the payee line, a line is reserved for writing out the payment amount in words, which serves as a safeguard against alterations.
Near the bottom left, a memo line allows for a brief description of the payment’s purpose, which is optional but helpful for record-keeping. The signature line in the bottom right corner authorizes the payment. Along the bottom of the check are also the routing number, identifying your bank, and your specific account number.
Step-by-Step Check Writing
Fill in the current date on the date line. You can write out the month or use its numerical equivalent, followed by the day and year. On the “Pay to the order of” line, clearly write the full name of the person or organization receiving the payment.
In the box to the right of the payee line, write the numerical amount of the payment. Ensure the numbers are written clearly and start close to the dollar sign to prevent anyone from adding extra digits. If the amount includes cents, always include them, even if it’s “.00,” such as “750.00” for seven hundred fifty dollars.
On the line below the payee’s name, spell out the payment amount in words, matching the numerical value. For amounts with cents, write the cents as a fraction over 100 (e.g., “forty-five and 50/100”). It is advisable to draw a line from the end of your written amount to the “dollars” pre-printed text to prevent alterations.
The memo line is an optional space to note the purpose of the payment, such as “Rent” or an account number. This assists in future record reconciliation. The final step involves signing your name on the signature line in the bottom right corner, as a check is not valid without your authorization. Always use a pen with blue or black ink for permanence and clarity.
After Writing Your Check
After completing and signing your check, record the transaction immediately in a check register or similar financial record. This record should include the check number, date, payee, and amount, providing a running balance of your account. Maintaining an up-to-date check register helps track expenditures, aids in reconciling your bank statements, and can help identify any unauthorized activity.
If you make a mistake while writing a check, void it to prevent misuse. Write “VOID” in large, clear letters across the entire face of the check using a blue or black pen, ensuring it covers the key areas like the date, payee, amount, and signature lines. Do not sign a check you intend to void.
Record the voided check’s number in your register as well. A voided check cannot be cashed or deposited, but it still contains sensitive account information. Therefore, proper disposal, such as shredding, is recommended. If a check has already been given to the payee and a mistake is discovered, contacting your bank for a stop payment order may be an option, though this typically incurs a fee.