How to Write a Check in the USA
Checks are one of many methods of payment accepted by individuals and businesses for payment. Years ago, they were the primary mode of payment, besides cash, but now other modes of payment like credit cards, debit cards and electronic transfer have joined checks as acceptable alternatives to cash payment. A check to gives the person to whom the check is written authorization to withdraw money from your checking account. When writing a check, remember that you must have enough money in your account to cover the check. Insufficient funds penalties vary from institution to institution.
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Instructions
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Write in the date on which you are writing the check in the upper right corner on the line labeled "Date." Include the month, day and year.
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Write the name or business that you are making the check out to on the "Pay to the Order of" line.
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Enter the dollar amount of the check in the box on the right side of the "Pay to the Order of" line. Use standard two-decimal point for cents format. For example, write 25.50 or 2,343.75.
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Write out the dollar amount and the fraction for the cents on the "Dollars" line. For example, write "Twenty five and 25/100" or "Two thousand, three hundred, forty three and 75/100."
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Write the purpose of the check or a bill's account number on the "Memo" line, if necessary or desired. For example, if you wrote a check to pay a phone bill, you may enter "utilities'' of the the phone bill account number.
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Sign your signature on the line in the lower right corner. The check is not valid until signed.
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