How to Fill Out a Bank Check

The bank check, or personal check, is a form of payment that has been used for many years, long before the debit card or online bill payment. Know how to fill out a check before you open a checking account at a bank or a share account at a credit union. The check is printed on secured paper and is in a book form similar to a pad. You need to know how to fill in the check for it to be a viable payment.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Black or blue ink pen
• Checkbook

1. Open the checkbook to your first check. This may be a temporary checkbook that you have been given while you wait for the set you have ordered from the printers. If you have carbon copies in the checkbook, insert the plastic page between the carbon and your second check.

2. Fill in the date on the area in the top right-hand corner.

3. Write in the number for the amount of the payment. For example, write $152.45. You will do this in the small box under the date line.

4. Using clear cursive or printing, fill in the name of the person or business to whom you're writing the check. You will do this on the line that says, "Pay to the Order of."

5. In cursive or print, clearly write the wording for the dollar amount of the check. You will do this on the long, blank line that has the word "dollars" at the end of it. Any change will be written as a number over 100. For $152.45, you would write, "One hundred and fifty-two 45/100."

6. Look on the bottom left-hand corner of the check. You will see a blank line and the word "Memo." Use this space to write a brief note on what the payment is for. Write any loan or billing account numbers on the memo line as a record of payment.

7. Sign your name in cursive on the line at the bottom right-hand side of the check. Notice your legal name printed on the upper left-hand corner of the check. Your signature should be the same as your legal name. You will have been asked for your signature at the bank or credit union where the checking account is located. If any security question arises, the signature can be compared to verify that the signature on the check is yours. Tear your check out of the checkbook on the perforated line at the top.

8. Record the check you just wrote in the record-keeping pad in a separate section in your checkbook. Write down the check number, date, the amount the payment is for and to whom the check is made out. Subtract the amount of the check from your account total.

Tips & Warnings

• Fill out your own checks at all times, unless you have a medical situation such as a broken arm or other condition that keeps you from being able to write.

[nimixx]

on 8/5/2009 Hmmm... I was always taught never to use the word "and" in a number, except when a fraction follows. "One hundred and fifty-two 45/100" should be "One hundred fifty-two and 45/100"