How to Cancel a Bank Check

Checks are a common form of payment, and on occasion, it may be necessary to cancel a check or issue a stop payment. Be aware this process is usually expensive and cannot always be accomplished. Time is a factor and electronic transactions cannot be reversed.

You need

• Check information


• Payee information


• Telephone


• Fee

1. Gather the information about the check. The bank associate you talk to requires the bank account, check number, amount, the date of the check and the payee information.


2. Stop by the local branch of the bank that issued you the checks. There you are able to stop payments since they originiate there.


3. Confirm with the bank that you want to issue a stop payment on the check. Most banks tend to charge a fee from $10 to $30. In some cases, the fee can be as much as the check, had it been deposited and you were insufficient of funds. Sometimes the stop payment order can be issued over the phone, but many banks still require a signature to initiate the stop.


4. Let the payee know that a stop payment has been issued on the check, especially if it is someone with whom you do business on a regular basis. If you don’t, they may assume the check is valid and attempt to cash the check.


5. Realize there are some instances when a check cannot be stopped. If the payee has already cashed the check, the action cannot in any way be reversed.