How to Write Checks

Have you seen the movie Blank Check? That basically explains what usually happens when you’re not paying attention on how you write your check. If you have signed it but have not indicated to whom it was for, then somebody can definitely have fun with all your money.
How do you exactly write a check? It’s not actually complicated. You just need to be keen to details.

Requirements

• Blank Check

Instructions

1. Check if there is a check number. Normally, they are pre-numbered, but if there isn’t any, you can take the liberty to do it on your own. You just have to make sure that you’re still following the series. The purpose of this is to help you keep track of the movement of your checks. You can stop a payment or easily report a stolen check to the bank.
2. Write the date on the check. The date can be written in any way as long as it’s legibly written. Moreover, it’s also clear which number corresponds to the month and the day. Usually, the date used is the exact day of encashment. However, you can also post-date the check, which means it could have a future date. Nevertheless, you have to be extremely careful as the bank may not honor it once the check will be encashed before the written date.
3. Identify the payee. The payee is the person or the company that will have the opportunity to convert the check into cash. You have to write the name in the line that says Payable to or Pay to the Order of. As much as possible, you should spell the name out and not settle for abbreviations. This is to get rid of ambiguity. You can also write your name on the line if you want to convert the cash yourself. The word “cash” will also do. With the former, though, you may need some form of endorsement.
4. Write the amount in figures. Write the amount in their numerical form first. You will know it which line to put it because of the dollar sign. The first number should be found close to the sign, in order to prevent other persons from adding another numeral. When you’re going to have a fraction of a dollar, you can have the cents separated from the whole number with a period, or you can write them in fraction. First number should be smaller, and a line with “100” underneath it should be written next to the whole number. Thus, you can have $200.60 or $200 60/100.
5. Write the amount in words. Fill out the line that says Amount in Words. When writing, the whole dollar should be spelled out, while the fraction of the dollar must be written as numbers: two hundred and 60/100. You should also write as far left as possible, followed by a dotted or wavy line, and end it with the word “dollars.” Hence, using the example earlier, it should be completely written as two hundred and 60/100 ————————– dollars.
6. Affix your signature. Add your signature at the lower right portion of the check. Make sure that the ink you’re going to use will be highly similar to the one you utilized in your signature card. Most of all, the signature should match the specimen signature you submitted in the bank. You could have everything typewritten on the check, but you need to do the signature with your hand.