How to Cash a Check Without a Bank Account - NerdWallet (2024)

A bank account can be an important component of your financial toolkit, but there are ways to work around having one for certain tasks. If you’re currently unbanked and need to cash a check, here are some options.

4 ways to cash a check without a bank account

1. The bank where the check was issued. The bank listed on the check you received should be able to cash the check for you for either a flat fee or a percentage of the check amount. Keep in mind, however, that the bank is not obligated to cash checks for noncustomers.

2. A major retailer. Some retailers, such as Walmart or grocery stores, allow consumers in most states to cash a check for a relatively small fee.

3. Deposit onto a prepaid debit card. Some prepaid card services, like Transact by 7-Eleven or Netspend by Visa, allow customers to load checks to fund their cards via their mobile devices.

4. A payday or title lender. If you go with this option for cashing a check, keep in mind that you will likely end up losing a significant percentage of your check in exchange for cash at a payday or title lender.

How to cash a large check without a bank account

Depending on where you go, you may be able to cash relatively large checks easily. Walmart, for example, allows you to cash up to $5,000 for nonpersonal checks such as a government check, cashier’s check or payroll check (and the limit is increased to $7,500 for January through April). Two-party personal checks, however, have a limit of $200.

If you want to cash a larger personal check than that, you may have to speak to the bank that issued the check to see what’s possible. Keep in mind that you may be charged a fee to cash the check.

Additional considerations for cashing a check

You will likely need a form of official identification. If you want to cash your check at a retailer, payday lender or the bank that issued your check, you will probably need to bring a some form of government-issued ID, such as a passport, driver’s license, green card, military ID, state-issued ID or tribal ID.

Two-party personal checks may be more difficult to cash. If you’re looking to cash a check that you received from another individual — as opposed to a government check, cashier’s check or payroll check — you are more likely to face limits on the amount you can cash.

How to open a bank account to cash a check

Using your own bank is usually the easiest, lowest-cost way of cashing a check or depositing a check into your own account. Here’s what to do if you want to open a bank account.

If you’re new to banking: Opening a bank account is usually a straightforward process. You typically just need some form of government-issued identification and your basic personal information such as your birthdate, Social Security number and contact information. If you’re under the age of 18, you will need a parent or legal guardian to co-own the account. If you want to open a joint account, you will need the other applicant’s information as well.

If you have a ChexSystems record: ChexSystems is a consumer reporting agency that tracks blemishes on your banking history — such as overdraft fees that haven’t been paid — and banks will sometimes check your ChexSystems record when you try to open a new account. If you’re having trouble opening a bank account because you’ve been reported to ChexSystems, there are steps you can take to improve your record. While you’re working on clearing your ChexSystems report, consider opening a second-chance checking account, which some banks across the country offer as a way for customers to rebuild their banking.