How to Place a Hold on a Checking Account
You can place a temporary hold on your checking account by contacting a customer service representative from your bank. A bank will also place a hold on a checking account when it's unsure that incoming checks and other payments to the account are legitimate. Some banks also place checking accounts on hold when they are 30 days old or less, putting all incoming checks on hold for up to 11 business days.
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Instructions
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Contact your bank's customer service department or visit one of their retail locations and ask the bank to place a temporary hold on your checking account. Request a hold if you have become a victim of identity theft or have had your checkbook stolen. This will prevent unauthorized withdrawals from your account. Most banks have established policies regarding dealing with identity theft. In most cases, your bank will change your checking account number, PIN and other information.
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Ask your bank about its policy regarding placing holds on your checking account. Inform the bank about any regular transactions that will be conducted through your checking account, particularly if the checks are for large amounts of money or are made from out of state. If you can, show the bank records going back at least six months to demonstrate the legitimacy of the transactions you make.
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Consider depositing money electronically through direct deposit or using electronic checks rather than paper checks to reduce the number of holds placed on your account. Paper checks can be placed on hold for up to seven business days or more depending on how far away the bank underwriting the check is from yours.
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Verify any large, out-of-state checks made out to your account by using a third-party verification service or contacting the bank underwriting the check. Provide the account and routing numbers of the check to verify that the account has sufficient funds to cover the check. Bring the receipt of the verification to your bank when you deposit the check. This will make it less likely that the bank will place a hold on the check due to suspicion regarding its authenticity.
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