Correctly writing a check is not as much about having nice handwriting as it is about avoiding problems with an altered check, rejected check and/or overdrawn check. A few deliberate strokes can save $45 in a utility bill as much as a $4500 deposit on a rental. Complete all of the forms, leave out no useful space and fill out the payment in the check before you leave the house.
Know What You Are Authorising
A check is a way that your bank or credit union can pay a particular person or business from your checking account. The numbers on the bottom line refer to the bank, the account number and typically the person who wrote the check. The information is printed on the paper, so only give a check to someone or a business that you trust.
Typically, there are six areas on a personal check that you fill out: the date, the party being paid (the payee), the numeric dollar amount, the dollar amount written out, the memo line, and your signature. The memo is typically not required. The other fields refer to who receives the payment, the limit the bank can pay out and if the transaction was authorized by you.
When paying bills, ensure that the amount is within your budget and that the funds are available in your bank account. Don’t expect that a deposit will come in first.
Write the Date and Exact Payee Name
Put the current date in the top right corner, for example, July 25, 2026 or 07/25/2026. Don’t take shortcuts that may lead to misunderstandings. If you are looking to write a postdated check, check with your bank if they can accept it early.
Fill in the name of the person or business that will be paid on the “Pay to the Order of” line. When making a payment to a company, use the name listed on the invoice. Do not shorten the name to “Northside” unless the business states they accept this name.
Avoid paying cash unless you’re ready to have anyone who has the check cash it or deposit it for you. Don’t write the name of the payee if you don’t know it. A signed check that has the blank payee line provides a finder with some latitude.
Enter the Amount in Numbers and Words
Fill in the dollar figure in the little box next to the dollar sign. Put the first number near the dollar sign so that someone else can’t enter a number in front. For a payment of $1,284.37, write “1,284.37,” not “1284” or “1,284 37.”
Write the dollar amounts below the payee amount and the cents as a fraction over 100. The same amount of money is paid and it is “One thousand two hundred eighty-four and 37/100 dollars.” Before the printed word “Dollars,” draw a straight line through any unused areas.
The two numbers should be in sync. Where the amount in both the written words and number box does not correspond, the amount in the written box is the amount normally used. Paying an even $90 dollars: write Ninety and 00/100 dollars and type 90.00 in the box.
Use the Memo Line and Sign Last
The memo line is used to identify the payment for both the recipient and you. This could be a customer account number, “August rent,” or “invoice 417.” An invoice number can be useful for the medical provider to apply the funds appropriately for a medical bill of $236.18.
Avoid writing or placing sensitive data like your entire Social Security number, your debit card pin number or your banking password on the memo line. Several people can take care of the check or scan it.
Make sure to check the date, payee and amount prior to signing. Sign the bottom right line with the bank’s signature on their records. Never sign an empty check! A beginner’s guide to personal finance should be as much like cash with your bank account information written on it.
Some billers will allow checks as their card transactions incur a convenience fee. That’s the cost of having to process and keep records on a check when it takes longer to do so.
Record the Payment Before It Clears
You may not see your check in your Internet balance the day you write it. The recipient could put it into the account tomorrow or wait for two weeks. The balance that you will see in your banking app may thus be a contribution made previously.
Assume that you have $2,100 in your account. You write check 1042 for $750 in rent and check 1043 for a $68.40 utility bill. The planning balance is still $2,100 even when you have a balance of $1281.60. If the bills are paid according to the higher figure, a bounced check or overdraw might result.
Write the check number, date, payee and amount on a paper register, spreadsheet or budgeting software. One real-life way to do this is to maintain up-to-date register, so you can monitor your expenses if the payments aren’t seen first. Review the history with your monthly statement and look for unusual transactions.
An emergency fund can be used for a legitimate timing error and should not be a plan for regular overdrafts.
Correct Errors and Deal with a missing check
If the memo is only a minor mistake, you can cross out the wrong memo, write the correct one and add your initials to the corrected version. When a check is altered, the bank or payee may refuse to cash it, so it’s better to make a new one if the payee, date, amount or signature is incorrect.
Cross out the prosciutto over the front of it with the word VOID written in large letters and either retain the cross-out check with your records or securely destroy the check. Do not sign it. Then use the next check number and note the voided number, so you can fill in the difference later.
If check 1048 for $620 is lost after you have given it to a contractor, notify the contractor and your bank right away. When you want to stop payment, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau encourages you to contact your bank or credit union immediately, but you might be charged a fee, and the process may differ. Inquire if there is an expiration date on the order and watch the account.
Reduce the Risk of Check Fraud
Write in an even, blue or black ink and legibly. Enter the monetary amount near the dollar sign, circle the dollar sign and do not leave the payee blank. These habits create less room for somebody to insert words or digits.
Send checks from a safe place, not an unlocked mailbox. Never snap a completed check or post a picture of a check with your routing number, account number, address and signature.
Check account notices and statements. Sometimes a $40 check is followed by a larger check, which is why it’s so important to call your bank the moment you see an unauthorized withdrawal. Retain cancelled check images or payment records for tax deduction, rental payment or business expense.
The Bottom Line
Fill in date, exact payee, matching numeric amount, matching written amount, helpful memo, then sign. Make sure to document the payment right away and then write it down as a number to be removed from the amount you use to make decisions. Toss and replace checks that are void due to material damage, and report a check that is missing promptly to your bank. Repeat reading each field again before giving it to the other person, and be sure to check to see that there is no useful blank space left.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the amount of $100 written in words?
Write “100.00” in the numeric amount box. At the amount line in the written part, in the space for dollars, record “One hundred and 00/100 dollars” then draw a line through the rest of the line.
Is it necessary to write a memo on a check?
The memo line is optional, but can help identify the bill or payment purpose. Don’t use a password, pin or complete social security number.
May be used to use a check where a mistake was made?
The recipient or bank might refuse to cash a check that has been modified, particularly if the payee or the amount has been altered. Write a new check if the error is in an obligatory field, and void the wrong one if it’s not.
Discamiler:
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial adviser for guidance specific to your situation.
