In this article, we’re explaining the different ways that you can cash a check without ID. This will be relevant to individuals who opened US bank accounts without an SSN or ITIN as well US residents with personal and business accounts.
First of all, yes it is possible to cash a check without an ID. Of course, the option you choose will depend on which options you can access.
We’ll discuss the specific options and answer a few frequent questions that people ask when they’re looking to better understand how to cash checks below.
This article is part of our free series on how to send and receive money, including bank checks, bank transfers, and more, which you can access by clicking here.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
- Cash Check Without ID
- Where Can I Cash a Personal Check Without Verification?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Explore Your Options?
Cash Check Without ID
You can cash a check without ID in one of four ways: depositing via an ATM, depositing via your bank’s mobile app, depositing via a fintech or digital banking application, or cashing a check via a third party. The option you choose will likely depend on the accounts, platforms, and reason you want to cash a check without identification.
Where Can I Deposit a Personal Check Without Identification?
Where you can deposit a personal check without identification ultimately depends on the method you choose to deposit, the banks you have accounts with, the platforms you have access to, your existing banking relationships, and more.
Check Cashing via ATM
Check cashing via an ATM is one of the most popular ways to deposit a personal check without identification. In most cases, you just need to visit an ATM managed by your financial institution, sign (or endorse) the back of the check, and deposit it into your account. Depending on your bank, the funds may take several days to clear as the bank will first verify the check before accessing the cash.
Check Cashing via a Mobile App
Check cashing via a mobile app without id is possible with traditional banks and digital banking or transfer services. For example, most major banks allow checks to be deposited directly into an account by uploading an image of the check via the bank’s mobile app.
Alternatively, it is also possible to deposit money via certain digital banks and transfer services. However, it’s important to note that not all mobile applications allow checks to be deposited. Two popular examples include PayPal and Venmo. In both cases, you will need to sign (or endorse) the back of the check before uploading images of the check for deposit into your account.
Check Cashing via a Bank Account
Check cashing via a bank account in person generally requires presenting identification. So, if you lost your identification or do not have it on you when you plan to deposit a check, you may want to consider one of the other alternatives in this list.
Depositing a Third-Party Check
Depositing a third-party check is an option if you have lost your identification and you have a trusted third party that you can ask to deposit or cash the check for you. Alternatively, if you want to deposit a third-party check and you do not have identification, you will need to use one of the methods already mentioned above.
That said, not all mobile banking or ATM depositing methods accept third-party checks, so it’s important that you confirm with your bank before depositing. Otherwise, you may be delayed in receiving payment for the check.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are three of the most common questions that we receive from people looking into how to cash a check without ID. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
How Long Do I Have to Cash a Check?
In most cases, you have as long as six months to cash a check. However, certain banks will allow you to cash checks that are slightly older. In fact, even if a check has language that suggests a check could be canceled before the six-month anniversary of a check being issued, most banks will still process the payment.
What App Can I Use to Cash a Check Without ID?
Popular apps that you can use to cash a check without ID include both PayPal and Venmo. Once your account is active, you can select “Cash a Check” in your preferred application, and upload a photo of the check. Importantly, you will need to endorse (sign the back) of the check before uploading a photo to either application.
Can Someone Else Cash My Check For Me?
Yes, someone else can cash your check for you. This is referred to as cashing a third-party check. To do so, you will first need to endorse the check for deposit, which requires you to sign the back of the check. Next, you will need to confirm that the bank where the other person intends to cash the check accepts third-party checks. If their bank does not, they may need to consider cashing it at another bank. For this reason, if you want someone to cash a check for you, it is often best to go to the bank that issued the check originally.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
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Of course, if you have any questions, please contact us directly.
