If you have a bank account, your safest and most convenient option is to cash the check at your bank.
Supermarkets, gas stations, and convenience stores also offer check cashing services, but the fees and hours of operation may vary.
If you don’t have a bank account or if your bank doesn’t have a branch near you, check cashing stores are your best bet.
Major retailers like Walmart and Publix also offer check cashing services, but the fees may be higher than at check-cashing stores.
No matter where you go to cash your check, it’s important to bring along valid identification and the original check.
Places That Cash Checks
Here’s the list of best check-cashing places –
- ACE Cash Express
- Food Lion
- Chase Bank
- Hy-Vee
- Albertsons
- Citibank
- Hannaford
- Regions Bank
- The Check Cashing Store
- Wells Fargo
- Winn-Dixie
- Tops Friendly Markets
- Safeway
- PNC Bank
- Market Basket
- HSBC
- Fifth Third Bank
- Check ‘n Go
- Bank Of America
- Advance Financial
- First National Bank
- Money Mart
- PenFed Credit Union
- Pay-O-Matic
- TD Bank
These are some places where check-cashing services are offered. Remember that the fee varies from place to place.
Check Cashing Fee
Check-cashing stores, grocery stores, and convenience stores usually do charge a fee for cashing checks.
The fee you need to pay usually varies depending on the store, but is usually a percentage of the check amount or a set fee.
If you are cashing a large check, make sure you are aware of the potential fee so that you are not surprised when it comes time to pay.
Credit unions and banks typically don’t charge a fee to cash checks for customers.
However, some institutions may charge a fee for cashing checks for non-customers.
Fees vary depending on the bank or credit union’s policies while the type of check and the amount of the check are also factors that affect fee amounts.
How much does it cost to cash a check at Walmart?
Walmart charges a maximum fee of $4 for cashing a $1000 check.
For checks above the $1000 value, you need to pay $8. And, the maximum dollar limit is set to $5000.
Note that the fees may vary depending on the type of check you submit. The above rates are for personal checks.
For example, two-party checks are limited to only $200 and a maximum fee of $6 is charged for cashing them.
How much does it cost to cash a check at ACE Cash Express?
ACE Cash Express works on a percentage model. It charges 3% of the total check amount as a fee.
And also, this check cashing fee of ACE Cash Express varies from location to location.
So, a person in Chicago might pay less than a person in California or vice versa.
Do not forget to take an ID card as it’s a requirement in order to cash checks at ACE Cash Express.
How much does it cost to cash a check at Amscot?
At Amscot, you can cash almost all types of checks including payroll checks, insurance checks, tax refund checks, cashier’s checks, and a variety of government checks too.
It charges a minimum check cashing fee of $3 per check.
And, different rates apply to different checks. For example, a flat fee is charged for payroll checks whereas you’ll have to pay a percentage fee for tax refund checks.
For cashing a $500 payroll check, you’ll have to pay a fee of $11.85 to Amscot.
On the other hand, for cashing a $500 tax refund check, you need to pay 2.5% of the check i.e $10.25.
You can check out the check-cashing fee at Amscot on this page.
Types of checks you can cash
Before cashing a check, it’s important to know the different types of checks and what each is used for.
This will help you determine where to go to get your check cashed. It will also determine the fees that are charged.
Personal Checks
Personal checks are a type of check that is used to pay for goods or services.
The check is written out by the person who wants to make the payment and includes the name of the payee, as well as the amount of money that is being paid.
The check is then deposited into the payee’s bank account.
Personal checks can be cashed at most places including Amscot, ACE Cash Express, Walmart, Publix, Food Lion, Pay-O-Matic, etc.
Tax Refund Checks
Tax refund checks are a type of check that is issued to taxpayers by the government when they have overpaid their taxes.
The amount of the check depends on how much money was overpaid, and it is usually sent out within six weeks of filing a tax return.
Taxpayers can use the money from their refund checks to pay bills, save for the future, or treat themselves to a little something special.
You can cash your tax refund check at –
- PLS Check Cashing
- Amscot
- Ralphs
- Speedy Cash
Payroll Checks
A payroll check is a type of check that an employer issues to an employee as payment for work done.
The check includes the employee’s name, the amount of pay, and any other information that is required by law.
These checks are usually written out by hand, but some employers now use computer software to generate them.
Best places to cash your payroll check are –
- Kmart
- ACE Cash Express
- Amscot
- Baker’s
- Advance Financial
- Check Into Cash
Kmart is one of the cheapest places to cash a payroll check or any government check.
In fact, Kmart offers free check-cashing in some states like Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, South Carolina, etc.
So, if you are looking for a cheap place, Kmart is the one you need to look for near you.
Traveler’s Checks
A traveler’s check is a type of negotiable instrument that allows the holder to spend money without having to carry large sums of cash.
The checks are usually issued by banks or other financial institutions and can be used at any location that accepts them.
These checks can be cashed at most banks for a small fee.
Best places to cash your traveler’s check are –
- Walmart
- Chase
- Bank of America
- PNC
- U.S. Bank
- Giant Eagle
In fact, you can simply visit your bank’s branch near you to cash a traveler’s check.
So, if you have a checking account in any bank, it’s best to visit that bank for check cashing.
Insurance Checks
An insurance check is a type of check that is used to pay for damages that are covered by an insurance policy.
The check is written by the insurance company and is usually payable to the person who suffered the damage.
These checks can be cashed by the recipient, used to pay for repairs, or deposited into a bank account.
Best places to cash your insurance check are –
- Ralphs
- PLS Check Cashing
- Pay-O-Matic
- Kroger
- King Soopers
- H-E-B
- Fry’s Food
Cashier’s checks
A cashier’s check is a type of check that is guaranteed by the bank that issues it.
The funds for the check are withdrawn from the account of the person who buys the cashier’s check.
This makes them a popular form of payment for large purchases, as there is less risk that the buyer will not be able to pay for the item.
Cashier’s checks are also used as a form of collateral for loans. Cashing a cashier’s check usually costs a small fee.
Best Places to cash your Cashier’s check are –
- PNC Bank
- Walmart
- Citibank
- ACE Cash Express
- Chase Bank
- Check Into Cash
- Advance Financial
- The Check Cashing Store
- Check ‘n Go
- Wells Fargo
It’s best to visit a Walmart near you as it’s cheap and also easy to find a store near you.
Third-party checks
A third-party check is a check that is not drawn on the account of the person who is receiving the funds.
Instead, it is written by another person or organization and then endorsed by the recipient.
This type of check can be used to transfer money between two parties without having to go through a financial institution.
Best places to cash a third-party check are –
- HSBC
- PNC Bank
- Bank of America
- BB&T
- First National Bank
- Citibank
It is important to remember that third-party checks cannot be cashed at most retail stores and check-cashing stores.
And so, it’s best to visit a bank branch near you if you have a third-party check.
Cheapest Check-Cashing Place
Kmart and Walmart are the cheapest places to cash almost all types of checks.
At Walmart, you will be able to cash checks ranging from $1 to $5000. On the other hand, Kmart is popular for cashing payroll checks at a $1 fee.
So, find a Kmart near you to cash a check at the lowest rate.