This is a fancy name for checks printed on demand for specific purposes at your bank or credit union. Banks typically charge a fee for these checks, which can be anywhere from a few dollars to as much as $25. But, if you normally have no need for paper personal checks, this can be a way to provide a voided one. Faster access to funds is based on comparison of traditional banking policies and deposit of paper checks from employers and government agencies versus deposits made electronically. Direct deposit and earlier availability of funds is subject to timing of payer’s submission of deposits.

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You can detach a check from your supply and write ‘VOID’ across its front. The word does not have to cover the entire face of the check, but it should be big enough so no one else can use it. Voiding a check is a simple way of providing such financial information. We have options to fit every need and qualification level, so you can get the cash your business needs to keep surging forward– or get through a rough patch. It doesn’t matter if someone else picks that check up and tries to write over it. So, be thorough and write it large and wide across the majority of the check.

What Is a Voided Check?

You may have several of these pre-printed slips in the back of your checkbook. If you’re going to provide the voided check electronically, don’t just send it out in the open, in a standard email message. Take steps to hide your account information from thieves and hackers. For example, consider encrypting the image or uploading it to a secure file vault.

If someone requests a voided check from you, it’s easy to take care of. Simply use a blank check and write ‘VOID’ in large letters across the front. Then, use a pen with black ink and make the word large enough to be read. Sometimes mistakes happen when writing a personal check, like putting in the wrong name or incorrect amount, rendering it useless.

We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Voided checks are useful in setting up direct deposits, payments and regular bill payments. Many banks now offer the option to set up direct deposit through their online banking platforms. Simply log in to your bank’s website or app, navigate to the direct deposit section, and follow the prompts to enter your account information.

• A voided check is simply a check that has the word “void” written on it.
• This website does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.
• If you don’t have a paper check, you can always go to your nearest bank branch and request a voided check.
• The banking information necessary to start the direct deposit is the account and routing numbers.
• This website may use other proprietary factors to impact card offer listings on the website such as consumer selection or the likelihood of the applicant’s credit approval.

A voided check is a check which is no longer valid and has the word ‘void’ written on the front. A voided check will have all of your bank information printed on it, so it can provide others everything they need to set up a direct deposit payment from your account. If someone gets hold of a blank check, they could potentially fill it out and commit fraud. By writing “void” across the check, you ensure that no bank will process it.

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Also, ensure it’s written across the entire check, but don’t write over the information at the bottom of the check since it includes important banking information. Once a check has been voided, it’s no longer usable as a form of tender. No matter who the check was written out to or how much it might be written for, the check can no longer be presented to a bank or credit union for payment. While many people have switched to using debit cards instead of paper checks, there are times when you may still need a check. There are also instances when a company requests a voided check, or when you wish to have a check voided for your own purposes.

How do I get a voided check for direct deposit?

The most common use for a voided check is to establish a direct deposit¹. If you’re going to receive payments from an employer electronically, you can send them a voided check, so they have all of your bank information. A voided check is simply a check that has the word “void” written on it. This means it cannot be used in any financial exchange or transaction. When you void a check, it becomes invalid and unusable for any payments or deposits. You can ask your financial institution to send a letter providing all the same information to the party requesting your voided check.

Sometimes you’ll need to cancel a check payment after you’ve already sent or given the check. In a computerized accounting system, there is usually a menu option for voiding a check, since this is a sufficiently common activity to warrant having its own routine. We’ve put together a list of the best banks that don’t use ChexSystems or require a credit check. Although some mistakes can be corrected by marking the incorrect information and initialing it, this is not always a safe practice. It’s essential to note that some businesses may not accept such corrections. The check could still be run through the bank’s system for the incorrect amount.

To do this, write down the original check number in your check register or software you use to track check payments and make a notation that it has been voided. If your bank’s online tools allow you to keep track of your written checks, record it there. Often, banks will provide instructions on how you can set up a void a check meaning direct deposit without a voided check. Reach out to your bank, or see if there’s any information online about how you can do this. You can also use a voided check to set up automatic electronic payments, including ongoing expenses such as rent and bills. Autopay can be very useful to stay on top of recurring bills like utilities, rent, or credit card payments.

• You should not give anyone a blank check because they can fill it out and withdraw money from your account.
• Once a check has been cashed, you can’t reverse or void the transaction.
• At the very left-hand bottom of the front of your check is going to be your routing number, your account number, and the official check series number (in that order).
• This fee is usually worth it if you need to prevent a check from being cashed for any reason.

By using auto-pay you won’t have to worry about forgetting any bill payment and accruing late fees and hits to your credit score. A void check is simply a check with the word “VOID” across the front. Writing “VOID” on a check means that the check can’t be deposited or cashed. When you void something it means you’ve made it empty, of no effect, or null. So, if a written check is full of the monetary amount you write on it, voiding the check makes that check financially empty. Once it has been appropriately voided, a check cannot be used.

If you’re the one making the payments, you may need a voided check from the other party to connect the accounts. If the other person is making the payments, he or she will need a voided check from you for the same purpose. If you’re self-employed, a freelancer, or you run a business, you may have certain clients whom you work with on an ongoing basis. To simplify and speed up payment, you may set up an electronic billing and payment arrangement with that client. Setting up the arrangement may require you to provide a copy of a voided check so the client can establish the electronic link for payment purposes. Even though fewer consumers make payments by check, voided checks remain important.

You can provide written informaition about your account, but many companies require the voided check for verification. Whatever you do, never sign a voided check or write any additional information in the blank spaces provided. The purpose of a voided check is to provide your bank name, routing number, and personal account number. Grab a check out of your checkbook, and write “void” across the front. Write with well-spaced letters that are tall and wide enough to cover the whole face of the check without obscuring the banking information at the bottom. You want to make it difficult for thieves to erase or cover your void mark.

Some financial services and employers accept digital bank account verification instead of a voided check. This can be done through secure online platforms where you input your account details. Online banks and financial services like FormPros offer digital voided check generators, making it easy to provide the necessary information without a physical check. Deposit slips contain your account information, and you can write “VOID” across the slip. This can be used in place of a voided check for setting up direct deposits or automatic payments. If you want to set up direct deposit for your paycheck or other regular payments, you will likely need to provide a voided check.

What Is A Voided Check?

The person who receives a voided check cannot fill in the amount and other details and present it to a bank. It also prevents a thief from taking the check, filling out an amount, and forging your signature to debit funds from your bank account. Once you have the voided check you need, consider scanning or photocopying it. You may need to provide voided checks numerous times in the coming years. When an original check is not required (for example, if you’re going to fax in the instructions or submit an electronic image of your check), you can use the same copy repeatedly.

Digital Alternatives to Voiding a Check

Instead, turn it into an encrypted or password-protected file or create a link to a file in a protected folder. Or better yet, see if you can send a hard-copy through the mail or via fax. If you don’t have any checks, and you want to set up a direct deposit or automatic electronic payment, there are other ways to do so. If you prefer the convenience that online banking provides, then check out Wise.

Becoming financially independent involves knowing how to deal with your finances and checks. Certain financial transactions will require you to use a void check and you should be aware of what that entails. If you still don’t know how to void a check, fear not because we’re here to help you with the process.