How to Write Yourself a Check

The purpose of writing a check to yourself is to withdraw money from your account without using a check card or ATM card. The money is taken from your account and given to you at the time the check is presented.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. In order to write a check to yourself, you have to have an open checking account with a balance of at least the amount you are writing the check for. It is illegal to write a check on a closed account and for your own credit history, one should not write a check on an account without adequate funds to cover it. The bank will not cash your check when presented if there is not enough money in the account to cover it. So to avoid embarrassment, please make sure you have the money available before writing this check.

2. Begin by dating the portion of the check with today's date, or the date you are writing the check out. You cannot date a check for some time in the future and present it before that date to a bank. This is called post-dating and it will not be accepted.

3. Write out your name on the first line of the check. This is the "Pay To The Order Of," or "Pay To" line. Make sure you spell everything correctly and legibly so the teller at your bank can cash your check. The next step is to write the dollar amount in the box on the right side of your check. If you want $23, write 23.00 inside the box. On the line beneath where your name is written in, you have to write out the words for the amount of money your check is for. So, again, if you want $23, write out "Twenty-Three Dollars" on the line. If you are including change, then you would write Twenty-Three Dollars and 10/100. This means ten cents out of 100 cents, or a dollar.

4. On the bottom left of the check is a line that says For. In this area you can write what you are taking the cash out for. In this instance, there is nothing needed to write in, unless you wish to put "Self." On the bottom right area of your check is the signature panel. Please sign your normal signature here. This must be the same signature that you use for all of your checks, or the bank may not cash it. Before heading out to the bank, remember to record this in your checkbook register. Write in the check number on the left, "Cash in the Description" panel, and the amount in the left side of your "Payment Amount" panel as well.

5. Now you're off to the bank. Once there, you will need to sign the back of your check. On most consumer checks, there is a small signature line for you to place your name on. Now is the time to do so. Once you sign your check, present it to the teller along with your personal identification. In a matter of minutes, you should have your money.

Tips & Warnings

• Always remember to write down any transactions in your register in order to keep your account in the clear. There is nothing worse than forgetting to write down a transaction to find later that you are now in the hole and owe fees for overdraft. Please use your checking account wisely. If you lose a check, or your checkbook, contact your bank immediately to put a hold on the account.
• If you write a check to yourself with insufficient funds, you do so at your own risk.