If you are new to the USA you may not know how to write a check properly. Or if this is your first checking account. This website and specifically this first page will guide you on how to write a check for personal use or for business use. Our goal is to provide all the information you need to know about checks. We find that teenagers, visitors, and immigrants to the USA find this page and the entire site quite useful. We provide this information free of charge so please contribute to the discussion by using the comment box at the bottom of the post.

How to write a check with cents – video

How to write a check – Parts of a Check.

 

From the image above you can see that the checking account belongs to Mr. John Adams. Your own checkbook would contain your name.

Date  – How to Write a check

Write the date on which you are writing the check. On many checks, the word date is written in front of or below a blank space on which the date is to be written. You are allowed to write a check that you want someone to cash on a future date. All you have to do is write the date on which you want the check to be cashed. It is important that you tell the recipient of your check that it is postdated.

Pay to the order of: –

The black space after “PAY TO THE OTHER OF:” is where you write the name of the recipient of your check. This is where you write the name of the company or person you are paying to. Make sure you write the correct name of the person or company; otherwise, they may not be allowed to cash the check.

Amount in Words: – How to write a check with cents

Write out the amount you want to pay in words. You are allowed to write the fraction (cents) in numbers instead of words. Here are some examples:

• Five hundred and sixty-seven
• Four hundred and twenty-eight and 56/100

You do not need to write the word dollar because it is usually already printed on the check. Please take note that the amount in words comes on the second line, not the first line. Many people make the mistake of writing the amount in words in the space provided for the Name of the check recipient.

Amount in Numbers:

Here you simply repeat the amount you want to pay in numbers. Examples are 23.04, 12.12 or 3,456.00. It is important that you write the cents portion of the amount. If there are no cents. Simply write .00.

It is not good practice to simply write 100. The reason is that anyone can add an extra 0 and 100 becomes 1000. So if you want to pay or give $100 to someone. Don’t write 100. Write 100.00.

Signature:

Remember to sign your check. The bank stored a copy of your signature when you opened your bank account. Use the same signature every time you write a check. A check is invalid when your signature is not on it.

Memo: How to write a check with a note in it.

The memo portion of the check is optional. It is placed there to help you remember why you wrote the check. It is also a place for you to alert the recipient of your check about the purpose of the check. If you are paying a bill, you should write your account number with the company in this space. If you are making a special donation to a charity, you can write the name of the project that you are donating for. If you are writing a check to your dad as a gift then you can make a note of it too. Here are some examples:

• AC/No 123456 or Invoice no. 343343333
• For June Rent
• Happy Birthday
• School in Ghana

Please try to make your note short and easy to understand. You do not want to clutter your check.