10 Easy Ways to Cash a Check Without a Bank Account

Have a look at the check to see which bank issued it. Typically, you’ll find the name of the issuing bank on the bottom left corner of the check, above the memo line.

Then, once you know what bank issued the check, you can visit the local branch of that bank to cash the check.

So, for example, if JP Morgan Chase & Co issued the check, then you may be able to go to your nearest JP Morgan Chase & Co branch to cash it.

You can visit the website of the issuing bank to find your nearest branch. Most banks have a branch locator tool or a list of branches on their website.

The cost of cashing a check at the issuing bank varies. If you aren’t an account holder, many banks will charge you a fee for check cashing. Also, there can be other restrictions, like hold times.

Each bank has different fees and terms for those who are looking to cash checks but don’t have an account. So, call your local branch to learn whether or not you’ll pay a fee and what the terms and restrictions there are, if any, for cashing a check without a bank account.

2. Sign the check over to someone you trust

Another option is to sign the check over to a friend or family member that you trust. When you sign a check over to someone else, it is known as a third-party check.

Most checks only involve two parties. So, the check is made payable from one person or business to another person or business. Basically, most checks are made payable from person A to person B.

With a third-party check, the original payee signs the check over to a third person, so person C.

So, person B receives a check from person A, and person B signs the check over to person C.

This allows the third party, person C, to cash the check.

If you want to create a third-party check, you will need to write the following in the endorsement space below your signature:

• “Pay to the order of [insert name of new payee].”

Be sure to leave enough room for the third party to endorse the check by signing the endorsement area too.

This method turns the check into a brand-new check for someone else.

So, if you have a friend or family member that does have a bank account, sign the check over to them and they will be able to cash it for you.

It’s important to note that because third-party checks come with an increased risk of fraud, many places are reluctant to cash or deposit them as it is riskier for them compared to cashing a check in someone’s own name. So, not all places will cash third-party checks.

Some places that cash third-party checks include:

• Citibank
• US Bank
• Chartway Federal Credit Union

To learn more, read my list of places to cash third-party checks.

Each place has its own policy for cashing endorsed checks. For example, some places may ask you, the original payee, to complete a form to confirm that the person to whom you’ve endorsed the check has permission to cash it. And, some places don’t accept third party checks at all.

You or the person you plan to sign the check over to will need to contact the place where you plan to cash the check to ask what its policy is on third-party checks.

3. Walmart

Walmart is a good place to cash a check if you don’t have a bank account.

Here are the types of checks you can cash:

• Pre-printed checks
• Payroll checks
• Government checks
• Tax checks
• Cashier’s checks
• Insurance settlement checks
• 401(k), retirement disbursement checks
• MoneyGram money orders
• Two-Party Personal Checks

Walmart charges you fees for check cashing, which are:

• A $4 fee for checks up to and including $1,000.
• For checks that are worth $1,000 and up to and including $5,000 the fee is $8.

Here’s the cashing limit:

• Two-Party Personal Checks are limited to $200
• All other checks are limited to $5,000 or $7,500 from January to April.

When you cash a check at Walmart, you get the cash instantly!

Here’s how to cash a check at Walmart:

• Visit your local Walmart store.
• Visit a customer service desk or Money Services center and cash your check.
• You’ll receive the money in cash, or you can load it onto a Walmart MoneyCard (reload fee is waived).

If you are looking to cash a check, and you don’t have a bank account, then Walmart is one of your best options.

4. Advance Financial

If you live in Tennessee, then you could try cashing a check at Advance Financial.

Advance Financial has more than 100 stores in Tennessee.

Here are the types of checks you can cash:

• Payroll checks
• Insurance checks
• Cashier’s checks
• Government checks
• Personal checks

Here are the fees:

• For most types of checks, the fees range from 1% to 5% of the check amount.
• For personal checks, the fee is 10%.

Some Advance Financial locations are even open 24 hours. So, if you are looking for 24-hour check cashing, then give it a try. Check with your local store to see its opening hours.

All you need to cash a check at Advance Financial is the check and your photo ID.

5. Ingo Money

Ingo Money is another good option if you don’t have a bank account. Ingo Money is an app you can use to deposit lots of different types of checks, such as:

• Paychecks
• Personal checks
• Business checks

Ingo Money offers two different options:

• Get your money in minutes, but you pay a fee.
• Opt to wait for 10 days and get the money for free.

You can choose where you want the funds to be deposited.

You can have the money sent to:

• A prepaid card
• PayPal
• An Amazon gift card

Overall, Ingo Money is a good option if you don’t have a bank account.

Here’s where you can get the app:

• Android
• iOS

6. ACE Cash Express

ACE Cash Express will give you cash in hand for your checks. It’s a check cashing store.

Here are the types of checks you can cash:

• Payroll checks
• Personal checks
• Business checks
• Income tax refund checks
• Government checks
• Insurance settlement checks

To cash a check at ACE Cash Express, you will need to bring your check and a valid, government-issued ID to an ACE location.

The company says that it will cash most types of checks, even hard-to-cash checks that other companies may not cash, and checks in any amount.

Fees range from 2% to 10% depending on the type of check.

7. Speedy Cash

You can cash a check without a bank account at Speedy Cash.

There are 160 Speedy Cash locations in the United States.

Here are the types of checks you can cash:

• 401K and IRA checks
• Benefit checks
• Cashier’s checks
• Government checks
• Insurance checks
• Payroll checks
• Personal checks
• Stimulus checks
• Tax refunds
• Unemployment checks

There’s a minimum $2 fee for check cashing. Some locations are even open 24 hours, but not all locations, so check the opening hours for your nearest store.

Speedy Cash will need to verify your ID, the check, who wrote it, and the amount, and ensure that the check has not been altered in any way before it will cash it. But, you don’t need a bank account.

8. Kroger

Kroger has 2,800 stores in 35 states. So, you may have a store near you where you can cash a check.

Here are the types of checks you can cash:

• Payroll checks
• Insurance settlement checks
• Government checks
• Tax refund checks
• Business checks
• Stimulus checks

Here are the fees:

• For checks up to $2,000, fees start at $3.
• For checks between $2,000.01 and $5,000, fees are $5.50.

9. Albertsons

You can cash checks at Albertsons.

There are more than 2,200 Albertson’s stores across the United States.

Albertsons will cash electronically signed checks, but not personal checks.

Some stores have pretty long opening hours too, so they’re open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. Check with your local store to learn what its opening hours are.

Albertsons’ check-cashing service has a $1,000 limit, and fees vary by location.

10. Load funds onto a prepaid debit card

If you don’t want to open up a bank account, but you’ll need to cash checks often, then you might want to consider getting a prepaid debit card instead.

You can deposit checks directly onto a prepaid card, and then use the card to purchase items or withdraw cash from an ATM using the card.

There are quite a few places that allow you to deposit a check onto a prepaid card.

This includes:

• NetSpend
• Brink’s Money Prepaid Mastercard
• Transact by 7-Eleven

Bottom Line

If you want to know how to cash a check without a bank account, some options include visiting the bank that issued the check, signing the check over to someone else, cashing the check at your local Walmart, and getting a prepaid card. And, there are plenty more options on our list, so give them a try!