Consumers often provide their own routing and account numbers online without any problem, so voided checks are required less frequently. For example, online banks allow you to link external accounts by typing in those details yourself. Billers, such as utility companies, also accept payments by e-check when customers input their checking account information. Some businesses even take payments over the phone, allowing customers to provide the information orally.

It can serve as a conduit for establishing direct deposits, ACH transfers or to schedule electronic payments from a checking account, whether for personal or business use. When it comes to approving automatic payments or direct deposits, voided checks do provide you with the easiest approach. Nevertheless, if you don’t want to void a check or you don’t have a checkbook, there are typically other options available. Companies need a voided check to set up direct deposits for their employees.

Lost Checks

If your online banking portal does not offer this option, you can also ask your bank for one at your local branch. The Smart Investor (this website) is an independent financial website. The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website may receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The Smart Investor does not include all companies or all offers available in the marketplace and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete.

• Billers, such as utility companies, also accept payments by e-check when customers input their checking account information.
• If the date is incorrect, it may still go through as long as too much time has not lapsed.
• A cheque is a document that instructs a bank to transfer funds from a person’s account to the person to whose name the cheque is issued.

The team at WealthRocket only recommends products and services that we would use ourselves and that we believe will provide value to our readers. However, we advocate for you to continue to do your own research and make educated decisions. A voided check has the word ‘VOID’ written across the front of the check in capital letters.

Requirements for a Voided Check

You can also use a voided check to set up automatic payments to come out of your checking account automatically. Despite the decrease in popularity for personal checks, many entities still use voided checks for many reasons. So it’s important to understand what purpose they serve and how to void a check if there’s a need to do so. The days of receiving paper payroll checks and taking them to the bank to have them cashed are long gone.

Before writing one, you’ll want to understand the information on the cheque itself. Do not cover up the banking information at the bottom of the cheque because it is necessary for the recipient to know those numbers. Voiding a cheque is a simple process, but it still requires a bit of care so as to avoid any potential problems further down the line. The GlobalBanks editorial team comprises a group of subject-matter experts from across the banking world, including former bankers, analysts, investors, and entrepreneurs. All have in-depth knowledge and experience in various aspects of international banking. In particular, they have expertise in banking for foreigners, non-residents, and both foreign and offshore companies.

• It’s a cost-effective and straightforward approach, which only requires your routing number and bank account number.
• Do not cover up the banking information at the bottom of the cheque because it is necessary for the recipient to know those numbers.
• The only way to give yourself peace of mind is to void the check and then throw it out or shred it.
• If you don’t have a voided check, there are several alternatives you can use to provide your banking information for purposes such as setting up direct deposits or automatic payments.
• Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money.

Our writers and editors used an in-house natural language generation platform to assist with portions of this article, allowing them to focus on adding information that is uniquely helpful. The article was reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff prior to publication. This is because it is an easy and convenient way for the employer to have access to your bank information without requiring you to make a money transfer. It means that the check can no longer be used after it has been cashed or deposited. To void a check, you’d have to cancel it before the recipient had deposited it.

Do I sign a voided check?

Often, banks will provide instructions on how you can set up a 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. For example, if your company’s payroll department needs a check from you to set up direct deposit, you can provide a voided check.

Then you know that no one would be able to alter the check and spend it, because it has been voided. If you do not have a voided check available, you may be able to provide the specific account information that is being requested of you. No, once a check is voided, it cannot be reinstated or reused as a valid form of payment. It ensures that the check cannot be accepted by banks or financial institutions for payment.

All this means is that the check is now invalidated and can’t be deposited or cashed by the intended recipient. Nevertheless, if you don’t have a check, you can head to your local bank branch and ask them to provide you with a check. The bank teller should be able to print a check for you, which will have your account information on it.

Voided checks are useful in setting up direct deposits, payments and regular voided cheque meaning bill payments. Voiding a check is a common practice used to nullify incorrect checks and set up direct deposits or bill payments. The process is fairly straightforward, but it’s important that you do it carefully to avoid someone using your check fraudulently. A voided check is a check which is no longer valid and has the word ‘void’ written on the front. Additionally, a voided cheque can be used to set up new accounts at your financial institution.

Wise is a safe and easy way to send, receive and manage your money without any old-fashioned banks involved. A voided check refers to a bank check with the term “void” written across the face. This indicates that the check has been voided intentionally, which means it can no longer be used for payment. However, you want to make sure the word is clearly seen so that thieves can’t write in any information and cover up the word.

Is a voided check the same as a canceled check?

In most instances, your employer will prefer that you enroll in direct deposit so they can send your earnings directly to your bank account on payday. And there are some instances where you’ll need to provide a voided check to make a special arrangement, such as setting up direct deposit or online bill pay. Many employers use direct deposit to pay their employees instead of writing cheques. Once your account is linked electronically, your money will be deposited directly into your account on payday.

The best way to make sure you can prepare a cheque that is void quickly is to order a book of cheques from your financial institution and keep them on hand for an occasion when you need them. Then, you can tear a cheque from the book, void it, and give it to whoever needs it. The “void” writing tells the receiver (and anyone else who handles the cheque) that the cheque has no cash value. If a thief were to steal a cheque that is void, they would not be able to use it to withdraw money from your bank account.

What If You Don’t Have a Personal Check to Void?

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.

That story’s probably apocryphal, but it conveys a deep truth about the power of fiscal policy to change the world along with our daily lives. Civilization became possible only when Sumerians of the Bronze Age invented money. You can try the alternatives below if your account does not offer checks.