Finance FAQs

How long are checks good for?

Panna Kemenes

20.04.21 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 3 minutes

Unfortunately, checks expire after a certain time. You need to know exactly how long your check will be good for if you don’t want it to be rejected by the bank.

So, how long is a check good for? The amount of time a check is good for will depend on various factors, the most important of which is the type of check you’re using.

As a general rule of thumb, you should always try to cash checks you receive as soon as possible to avoid any complications.

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📝 Table of contents
How long is a check good for? Different types of checks What happens if a check is never cashed? Ditch the checks and try Wise

How long is a check good for?

A check will typically be valid for around six months¹.

There are exceptions to this, but generally speaking, most checks will expire after six months have passed without endorsement.

You can read the full guide on how to endorse a check to find out more about endorsement.

Expiry of checks written by you

For checks that you have written out to others, you can expect the check to last for six months.

If the recipient does not cash the check or deposit it within six months after your endorsement, they might not be able to.

There’s still a possibility that the bank will process the payment anyway, so consider the money gone unless you hear otherwise.

How long is an uncashed check good for?

An uncashed check can be good for a very long time, but it will depend on the type of check and the bank involved.

The legal obligation of a bank is to cash a check that has been sent out within six months; beyond that, there is no reason for the bank to do so.

If you find yourself in this situation, the bank will be able to reach out to the payer and can tell you what needs to be done.

Can you cash a 2-year-old check?

Yes, you can cash a 2-year-old check in theory, but the bank won’t be legally obligated to process it for you.

If you have a 2-year-old check lying around, your best bet is to take up the matter with your bank, the payer, or perhaps even get the state involved.

Different types of checks

With each type of check payment, you can expect a different set of rules and expiry dates.

Personal checks

With the personal check, if the check hasn’t been cashed after 180 days or six months, it will be considered invalid.

US treasury checks

US Treasury checks² are valid for up to a year after they have been issued, and they are usually related to federal tax returns. They can be tricky to get hold of if you don’t cash them within a year.

Cashier’s checks

With cashier’s checks, it varies according to the banks, so there are no hard and fast rules. While many banks will print a deadline on the checks, others won’t.

Traveler’s checks

Traveler’s checks³ don’t have a defined expiry date, so the only condition for cashing them is that the bank is still around.

You can also choose to have your traveler’s checks exchanged for the local currency, although you may face a bad conversion rate when cashing in.

💡 To avoid bad conversion rates and hidden fees, you can try the Wise account next time you travel abroad.

You can also find more tips on travel money options in this guide to travel money.

Money orders

Domestic postal money orders⁴ will never expire or accrue interest.

With that being said, there’s a strong chance that you’ll be hit with a service charge if you don’t cash out the money order with a year or two. This charge will be taken from the original sum of money.

What happens if a check is never cashed?

In theory, checks never technically expire, since banks can cash them even after the typical six-month period.

While you will have a tough time cashing a check that has been sitting around for several years, it is still possible. Even after the expiry date determined by state law, banks can choose to cash checks, but it may take some time and effort.

After six months, the bank can also bounce the check which means that they will charge the payer a fee.

You also want to be careful if you do cash an old check. If the payer no longer has funds in the account it was sent from, it can trigger a NSF (non-sufficient funds) fee of $30 or more⁵.

Ditch the checks and try Wise

To avoid the hassle of check expiration and waiting for the recipient to cash it, you can use Wise - an easier way to send and receive money.

With Wise, transferring money is quick and easy. You can send, receive and track payments through the Wise app. That means no need for paper records or waiting around for check clearance.

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🤓 More useful articles you’ll love
How to Write a Check: Step-by-Step Guide, Tips and More! How to endorse a check: Full guide for when and how to endorse a check A complete guide to ACH, ABA, Wire, EFT, and checks in the US What is a voided check? When and how to void a check

Sources:

DC law library
US Treasury
American Express- Traveler’s checks
Western Union - Money orders
Statista - NSF fee

All sources checked 19 April 2021.

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