Can I Get a Cashier’s Check at Any Bank?
We get the question "Can I Get a Cashier’s Check at Any Bank?" and here's what you need to know!
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You are reading this because you want to know if you can get a cashier’s check at any bank or perhaps without a bank account.
When making a big purchase, often times a seller or contractor will want to guarantee that the funds will clear and may request that you pay for the goods or services with a cashier’s check.
If you are looking to get a cashier’s check but aren’t sure if you can do so at any bank, keep on reading for the answers.
Can I Get a Cashier’s Check at Any Bank?
Yes, you can get a cashier’s check at almost any bank!
There is however some exceptions.
The reason we say “almost” is because there are some financial institutions that will not issue cashier’s checks without a bank account.
On the other hand, there are financial institutions that will issue a cashier’s check to non-account holders for a fee.
If you do not have an account, the bank will require that you pay for the cashier’s check with cash upfront + the fee.
The bank then deposits the funds into their account, guaranteeing the cashier’s check for the payee (the person receiving the check).
What is a Cashier’s Check?
A cashier’s check is a form of payment that is more secure for the recipient.
In order for a cashier’s check to be issued, there needs to be enough money in the bank or cash on hand to cover the full amount of the cashier’s check.
When the cashier’s check is issued, the money is immediately withdrawn from the account and set aside, making the cashier’s check as good as cash for the recipient.
A normal check is different because the recipient can deposit the check but it is not guaranteed that the check issuer still has the funds available in their account.
For example, say Eric hired XYZ Paint Co to paint the interior of their home.
The total cost for the job was $4,000.
Eric issued a normal check to XYZ Painting for $4,000 for the work done.
At the time that Eric wrote the check, he had a balance of $5,650 in his bank account.
XYZ Painting Co deposited the check 4 days after receiving it from Eric and it came back as NSF (insufficient funds).
In the 4 days from when Eric wrote the check to when XYZ Painting Co deposited the check, Eric spent $1,900.
Eric’s balance when the check was written – Expenses = Remaining balance
$5,650 – $1,900 = $3,750
This means that Eric only had $3,750 left in his account when the check was deposited versus the original amount of $5,650.
Because the check was written in the amount of $4,000, it could not clear because Eric did not have enough funds available in his account.
When the depositing bank tries to clear the check and finds that there are not enough funds to cover the amount written on the check, the check bounces.
This cannot happen with a cashier’s check because the money has already cleared and as mentioned above, the cashier’s check is the same as depositing cash into your bank account.
In this same scenario, if Eric were to have gotten a cashier’s check for the services rendered by XYZ Painting Co, he would go to the bank and request a cashier’s check in the amount of $4,000.
If Eric’s bank balance is $5,650, the bank will take $4,000 out of his account when the cashier’s check is issued.
$5,650 – $4,000 = $1,650 ending balance
This means Eric new balance will be $1,650 when he walked away with the cashier’s check in hand.
When XYZ Painting Co deposits the cashier’s check, there is no risk of it bouncing or coming back as NSF (insufficient funds) because the money has already been set aside and is guaranteed.
Other names used for a cashier’s check are bank check, teller’s check, or bank drafts.
Cashier’s checks are often used when the recipient wants to guarantee the funds will be available.
Some examples of times when a cashier’s check might be used include the purchase of a car or a down payment on a home.
How to Get a Cashier’s Check
There are two ways to get a cashier’s check:
- If you have a bank account – if you already have a bank or credit union account, you can easily request a cashier’s check by visiting a teller or banker. Most of the time there will be a small fee, but some accounts such as business accounts waive the fee. You can also apply for a cashier’s check online through your online banking portal.
- If you do not have a bank account – if you do not have a bank account you will want to find a bank that will issue a cashier’s check without that requirement. Most will require a non-customer fee and cash upfront to purchase the cashier’s check. You will want to call a few financial institutions in your area before going in-person to be sure you aren’t wasting your time. If you are having a hard time finding a bank or credit union that will issue a cashier’s check without a bank account, you might consider getting a money order instead.
