Many banks will give you a starter set of checks for free, but after that, you will need to spend some cash for your checks if you want to restock.
This can be costly if you need to write checks often. And, ordering checks directly from your bank isn’t always the most cost-effective option.
Often, ordering checks online is the better choice. These sites provide a wide selection of checks, including personal checks, business checks, single checks, and duplicate checks, and they’ll mail these checks right to you.
While ordering checks online can be cheap and convenient, is it safe?
In today’s post, I’ll cover whether or not it is ok to order checks on the internet.
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Table of Contents
Is it Safe to Order Checks Online?
Yes, it’s safe to order checks online!
Remember that banks order their checks too. That’s not to say that every site is safe to order from though.
There are some things you can look out for on these check ordering sites that can help you to determine whether it’s a safe company to buy from.
I’ll cover these below…
Things to Look Out for When Ordering Checks Online
Okay, so when you are ordering checks from a legit site, you will tend to see certain security badges and icons that demonstrate the site is indeed a safe place to purchase from.
I have included images from popular check websites and have added arrows to the photos, so you know exactly what it is you are looking for.
Here’s what you should look out for…
Look for the padlock symbol next to the site’s address
A really easy way to determine whether or not a site is secure is to look out for “https” or the padlock symbol next to the website’s URL. You should see the padlock symbol next to the URL when the page loads. Or you can highlight the URL and it will show whether it has the less secure “http” at the start or the more secure “https” at the start.
Sites with the padlock symbol and the “https” at the start of the URL are secured meaning that when you enter data it is encrypted. It basically ensures data security on the site.
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DigiCert Secured Symbol
This shows that the site is validated as a secure platform for sending and receiving sensitive data.
Check Payment Systems Association (CPSA) Icon
Another way to tell if a site is legit is if it has a Check Payment Systems Association (CPSA) badge on the platform. This means that it’s a member of the CPSA, and its checks feature the CPSA’s padlock icon. This icon shows that additional security features have been incorporated into the design of the check.
Accredited with the Better Business Bureau
Check to see whether a website is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This can indicate that a site is a legit place to order checks from. Of course, just because a site isn’t accredited by the BBB, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a safe place to order from. Just make sure that you check to see if it has any of the other security badges on there, like the DigiCert symbol or the CPSA icon.
How to Order Checks Online
Here are some tips for ordering checks online.
Choose a safe website
Look out for those security features that I mentioned above. A website doesn’t need to have all of them, but having one or even a few can be a good indication of a site’s legitimacy.
Most of the time, things like the CPSA badge or BBB accreditation will be right at the top of the page, or you may have to scroll right to the bottom of the page to view them. Just have a look around the site to see if it has any of those things like the CPSA icon.
Compare prices
Have a look at how much checks cost on each website and see what each site offers too. See which site offers the best deal in terms of price, but also customer service.
Get your basic information ready
When you order checks online, you will need your name and address. So be prepared to enter that when you visit a site to get checks mailed to you.
You will also need to get the contact information for your bank. Make sure that you enter not only your information correctly but also the bank’s. Double check that the bank’s address is correct. Check the address against your existing checks if possible.
Enter the right bank numbers
You will also need to have these numbers when ordering checks online:
Checking account number
You will need your checking account number. If you already have any checks, you can find your bank account number there. It’s typically the second number from the left – checks generally use a series of three numbers at the bottom.
If you don’t have any checks, then you can usually find your bank account number on your bank statement.
Bank routing number
Banking systems need a routing number to know which bank will pay the check.
Your bank routing number identifies where your account was opened. So, you need it to order a check.
You can find your routing number at the bottom of checks – it is the 9-digit number that appears on the bottom left.
What if you don’t have a check though?
Don’t worry – even if you don’t have a check, you can still get your routing number from your bank.
You can do this by visiting your bank’s website and checking if they list routing numbers on there.
Just search Google for the name of your bank, followed by the words “routing number.” So if your bank is Wells Fargo, you might search for “Wells Fargo routing number.” This can help you to find your bank’s routing number.
Or, you could simply contact your bank and ask it to give you your routing number.
Consider the check number
If you have been using a checkbook for a while, then you may want to consider ordering checks that start with a check number you haven’t used yet.
For example, if you are now on check number 99 in your checkbook, then you may want to consider starting the new set with check number 100.
Now, this is of course, optional, but it’s a good way to keep your finances organized.
What is the Best Place to Order Checks Online?
There are tons of great websites where you can order checks, such as:
Now, recently, I did a post on the best places to order checks online, so I would have a read of that for more details on where to get checks online.
In that post, I list the 10 best sites for ordering checks online, and I go into detail about things like how much checks cost on each site, and what types of checks you can get.
I also want to cover a couple of questions here about safety when ordering checks from specific sites. I see these two questions most often…
Is it safe to order checks online from Walmart?
Yes. Walmart is a well-known company, and its site is secure meaning any data you enter will be encrypted. Checks from the Walmart website also feature that padlock icon I mentioned earlier in the CPSA section above.
By the way, Walmart is also one of the best places to order Money Orders near you.
Is it safe to order checks from Checks Unlimited?
Yes. Checks Unlimited features a CPSA badge on its site, it’s accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and it has a padlock symbol before its URL, meaning it’s a secure site.
Closing Thoughts
Ordering checks online does take a little effort with things like choosing a website to order from (remember to consult our list!) and entering the right routing number, etc., but it can be cheaper. And, you can get the checks mailed right to your home, making it such a convenient option.
If you’ve wondered, “Is it safe to order checks online,” then look out for those safety measures we mentioned above, like the CPSA badge and the accreditation from the Better Business Bureau.
Have you ever ordered checks online? If so, share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
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