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Whether it’s a returned security deposit or a birthday gift from your grandparents, checks aren’t totally obsolete yet. While checks are useful for transferring large sums of money between people, they’re often slower to deposit than other transfer methods, like a wire transfer or a Zelle payment.
How long it takes for a check to clear depends on the check’s amount, how it’s deposited and your specific bank or credit union’s policies.
How long it takes for a check to clear
Usually, it takes about two business days for a check to clear. That can vary from check to check, though.
It’s important to review your financial institution’s deposit agreement, which will specify how long they typically hold checks for. Banks may withhold check deposits for several days to ensure that the funds are available and the check doesn’t bounce before you spend that money. If you spend the funds and then the check bounces, you could incur a fee.
There are a few factors that might cause a check to clear faster than two days. Banks are generally required by law to make the first $225 of a check deposit available by the next business day. For example, if the check is deposited on a weekend, it’s considered to be deposited on Monday, so the first $225 of the check will be available on Tuesday.
The $225 rule does not apply to accounts within the first 30 days of opening, however.
Some checks are designed to clear faster than a standard check, and these will become available in full by the next business day. These checks include:
- Checks issued by the government
- Certified checks
- Cashier’s checks
- Checks from the same financial institution
Depositing a check at a bank
Depositing a check at a bank or credit union branch is often the quickest way to have access to those funds. As long as the check is deposited before the institution’s specified cut-off time, it should be available within a day or two. While the cut-off time for a branch deposit can vary, it can’t be earlier than 2 p.m., by law.
Mobile check deposit
Mobile check deposit, which allows you to deposit a check by taking photos of it through your bank’s mobile app, typically takes the same amount of time as an in-person deposit, though it may take a bit longer to process in some cases.
Mobile check deposits come with cut-off times, too. At Bank of America, for example, a mobile check must be deposited by 9 p.m. ET (for Eastern and Central time zones) or 8 p.m. PT (for Mountain and Pacific time zones) for it to clear by the next business day.
Reasons your check deposit might be delayed
If a check is taking longer to clear than your bank’s typical processing time, it’s probably because the bank placed an extended hold on it. The bank will likely notify you of any holds on the deposit receipt (if the check is deposited at a branch) or the deposit confirmation screen (if the check is deposited through an app). The institution may also notify you by text notification, email or mail if a hold comes up after the time of deposit.
Some reasons a financial institution may extend a check’s hold include:
- There’s reasonable cause to believe the funds are uncollectible (such as suspected fraud).
- The check has been redeposited.
- The check amount exceeds $5,525. (Note: Only the amount that’s over $5,525 can be held for longer.)
- The receiving account is new or has been repeatedly overdrawn.
- The check is from an international bank.
In these cases, the financial institution may hold the check for up to a week, after which the funds will clear or the check will bounce.
Other ways to send money to someone
There are a few alternatives for sending money that are quicker than depositing a check.
- Wire transfer: If a domestic wire transfer is initiated before the institution’s cut-off time, then the funds are typically available in the recipient’s account within the same day. Wire transfers typically come with high fees, though. A domestic outgoing wire transfer fee averages about $26, according to Bankrate’s research.
- Money order: Though similar in appearance to a check, money orders are paid upfront and are guaranteed not to bounce due to insufficient funds. Since the money order is prepaid, there’s no waiting period for funds to clear, and the recipient can often access the funds immediately upon cashing it.
- Zelle: Over 1,700 financial institutions offer Zelle through their mobile apps or online banking system. It’s a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment service that allows you to digitally send and receive money, typically within minutes.
- Other P2P services: If you or the other person involved in the transfer can’t access Zelle through your bank, consider using a third-party P2P payment app, such as Venmo or PayPal. These services may offer an instant transfer option for a small fee.
Bottom line
In most cases, a check should clear within one or two business days. There are a few cases in which a check might be held for longer, such as if it’s a large deposit amount or an international check.
Make sure to review your bank’s policies for what to expect in terms of check hold times. It’s important that the check clears before those funds are spent so you don’t incur any fees.
FAQs
Bottom line. In most cases, a check should clear within one or two business days. There are a few cases in which a check might be held for longer, such as if it's a large deposit amount or an international check. Make sure to review your bank's policies for what to expect in terms of check hold times.
How long does it take to make sure a check clears? ›
Here's how long it generally takes for a check to clear: Usually within two business days for personal checks but up to seven for some accounts. Usually one business day for government and cashier's checks and checks from the same bank that holds your account.
How much of a check clears immediately? ›
Generally, a bank must make the first $225 from the deposit available—for either cash withdrawal or check writing purposes—at the start of the next business day after the banking day that the deposit is made. The rest of the deposit should generally be available on the second business day.
How can I make my check clear faster? ›
The fastest way to have access to check funds is to deposit the check in person at a bank or credit union branch. That ensures the deposit is made before the bank's cutoff time, which speeds up the process. Mobile check deposits and those made at ATMs after hours typically take longer to clear.
Why do checks take 3 days to clear? ›
This normally happens when the bank needs to take extra steps verifying the transaction. Common causes of delay include: Depositing a large amount (more than $5,525 (PDF)) in checks in a single day. Making check deposits into accounts that are less than 30 days old.
What kind of check clears immediately? ›
However, the person requesting the cashier's check must first provide the bank with enough money to cover the check's value. Cashier's checks offer payees the benefit of being paid reliably and immediately. This is why they are often used in major transactions, like purchasing a vehicle or home.
Can a check clear during the day? ›
Generally, when depositing government checks, cashier's checks, certified checks, and official checks, the funds must be available the next business day. This is also true for in-house checks (also called "on-us checks"), meaning you're cashing a check at the same bank that issued the check.
What app will cash a check immediately? ›
The top instant check cashing apps without verification include Ingo Money, Brink's Money, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Chime, and Flare Account. These apps allow you to quickly cash checks by taking photos with your phone for deposit into bank accounts or prepaid cards.
How do banks clear checks? ›
The check will move from the deposit bank to the drawing bank as part of the check clearing process. The process starts when a check is deposited to a bank. The bank will then set about contacting the drawing bank. The check is cleared when the depositing bank has received the check and funds from the drawing bank.
What bank clears checks the fastest? ›
Mobile deposit availability: PNC offers one of the fastest turnarounds for mobile check deposits among all the banks on our list. PNC customers who use its Express Funds feature can access their money as soon as the same day a deposit is made. Its standard deposit time is one business day.
Generally, a bank must make funds deposited into an account by a government check available for withdrawal not later than the business day after the banking day on which the funds are deposited into an account held by the payee of the check and in person to an employee of the bank.
How to get a cheque cleared quickly? ›
The Speed Clearing system is available in metro centres, Presently in 66 MICR locations only. Under the Speed Clearing system, cheques payable at any CBS branches of any banks and at any centres are realized through local clearing instead of through outstation collection.
Do checks clear faster with mobile deposit? ›
Every bank's policies differ on mobile check deposit timing. Some banks offer same-day or next-day mobile check deposits for a small fee. Banks might also clear a smaller amount of the check you deposited immediately and then clear the remainder of the money within a few business days.
How long do checks take to clear? ›
How long it takes for a check to clear. Usually, it takes about two business days for a check to clear. That can vary from check to check, though. It's important to review your financial institution's deposit agreement, which will specify how long they typically hold checks for.
When you deposit a check, is it available immediately? ›
Generally, if you deposit a check or checks for $200 or less in person to a bank employee, you can access the full amount the next business day. If you deposit checks totaling more than $200, you can access $200 the next business day, and the rest of the money the second business day.
How long does it take for a check to clear think money? ›
How long does it take for cheques to clear? Cheques take four working days to clear, starting from the working day after you pay it in. Once the cheque appears on your account it will clear by 23:59 the following day.
Can a check clear before it bounces? ›
How can a check clear and then bounce? If a bank doesn't see any red flags that a check might bounce, they may go ahead and transfer funds into the payee's account. However, it may turn out during their processing that funds weren't available from the payer, so then the check bounces.
Why does a bank hold a check for 7 days? ›
Check holds are designed to protect both you and the bank. They allow the bank time to ensure that the check deposit will go through so that you're not in danger of going into overdraft or having the check returned. That's a plus since overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees can quickly pile up.
Can a cheque clear the same day? ›
You'll normally need to wait 1 working day after the day you pay the cheque in for it to clear, so if you pay a cheque in on Monday (before 3.30pm) it will usually clear by Tuesday.
How long can a bank put a hold on a check? ›
According to banking regulations, reasonable periods of time include an extension of up to five business days for most checks. Under certain circ*mstances, the bank may be able to impose a longer hold if it can establish that the longer hold is reasonable.
