Parts of a Check

A check is a written document that authorizes a bank to pay a specific amount from one person’s account to another. It consists of several key parts. The date is the day the check is written, whereas the payee line indicates who will receive the money. 

Among the different parts of a check is the numeric amount, which specifies the payment in numbers, while the written amount confirms it in words. The signature verifies the payer's authorization, and the memo line provides details about the purpose of the check. Lastly, the routing and account numbers at the bottom identify the payer's bank and account.

TL;DR

• Understanding the parts of a check is essential for accurate writing and mailing.
• Key components include the date, payee line, numeric and written amounts, and signature.
• Properly filling out checks helps avoid issues like bounced payments and ensures accurate processing.
• Familiarity with check details aids in verifying staff entries and managing payments effectively.

• The date and payee line indicate when the payment is made and who receives it.
• The numeric and written amounts work together to ensure the payment amount is correct.
• Financial institutions authorize payments and release funds after cross-verifying the check’s signature. 
• The routing and account numbers allow the bank to process the payment from the correct account. It also helps in a direct deposit transaction.

Also Read: How to Write a Check for Less Than a Dollar

Knowing the parts of a check is crucial to writing and mailing it. However, aside from that, it allows you to cross-verify whether your staff filled the checks correctly. 

Also, it helps you order new payment checks, set up deposit instructions, and ensure the checks you receive have all the correct details. 

You must ensure that all the fields have accurate information, from the payee’s name to the amount. Since personal checks appear the same as business checks, you don’t need to worry about the source. Instead, verify that no detail is incorrect or missing. Otherwise, your check might bounce and you might need to pay a small fee. 

Please note that you might not need to fill out all the parts of a check. However, understanding what the fields signify can help you identify what information is necessary to be added.

💡Also Read: Digital vs Paper Checks

Personal Information

The top-left corner of a check usually has the account owner's details, and these are usually printed on the check already. This area often includes:

• Your name
• A home address
• Your phone number

These details are either the contact information linked to your bank account or the information you requested to be printed when ordering checks from your bank.

You should fill this out by hand using blue or black ink so it stands out from the other details on the check. Otherwise, let the online check writer handle everything. If you're worried about privacy, you can reduce the information on your checks or use a post office box instead of your home address.

Payee

It is the most important part of the check. On the payee line where you can see the words “Pay to the order of”, you write down who will get the money from your checking account. This is the person or company over to someone else.

Make sure to use the recipient's full name, not a nickname, to avoid any problems when they deposit the check. If you don't want to name a specific person or group, you can make the check payable to “Cash.” But be careful while using the check writer—anyone can cash the check, not just the person you intended.

Also, you can mark “A/c payee” on the upper left corner of the check to direct the financial institution to only transfer the amount to the payee’s account. 

💡Also Read: Best Check Fraud Protection Strategies

Date

Write the date in the upper right corner of the check in the correct field. If you want the payment to happen later, you can put a future date and let the bank know. 

However, just writing a future date on the check doesn't guarantee the bank will wait to process it. Banks usually don’t follow the date on the check unless you specifically tell them.

The best way to write checks is by using a check writer online. You don’t need to worry about physically writing the date on every check. Some people also order checks from Wells Fargo online. However, you must still fill them manually. 

Memo Line

The memo line is for extra details about the payment. You can use it to write things like the name of the person or business you're paying, an order number, or anything else that’s helpful.

The memo line is an optional spot where you can write an informal note. You can use it to:

• Keep track of the payment for your own records
• Add an account, invoice, or transaction number for bills
• Write notes when paying friends or family

You don’t have to fit everything on the memo line. You can add details anywhere on the front of the check, as long as it doesn’t block important information. But don’t write anything on the back of the check for this purpose.

Amount

In the dollar box, write the amount of your online check using numbers (for example, “1,250.00” instead of writing it out in words).

To keep your check safe from being changed, follow these steps:

• Start the numbers as far to the left as possible after the dollar sign.
• Clearly write the decimal point and any cents.
• For whole dollar amounts, include “.00.”

This box is sometimes called the “courtesy box” because it’s there for convenience. However, the official amount of your check comes from the words you write on the line below, before “DOLLARS.”

Amount in Words

On this line, write the amount of the check in words, not numbers. For example, if the check is for $10.50, you would write “Ten and 50/100.” If there’s extra space before or after what you write, you can draw a single line through it to prevent anyone from changing the amount.

For the cents, write them as fractions of a dollar. Since there are 100 cents in a dollar, write the number of cents over 100. Keep in mind that if there’s a difference between the numbers in the dollar box and the words you write, the bank will go by the words because they are harder to change.

Using an online check writer allows you to print the numbers instead of writing them, reducing the possibility of check fraud.

 Also Read: What is a Checkbook?

Signature

The person writing the check signs their name on the line in the bottom right corner. This is for security, and the bank can compare it to the signature they have on file.

Signing the check is the last step and should only be done after making sure everything else is correct. If you sign a blank check and lose it, someone else could fill in the rest and take your money.

Sometimes you’ll see “MP” next to the signature line. This means the check has a security feature called microprinting—tiny words printed so small that you can’t see them without magnification.

💡Also Read: Print Mail Checks 

The Bank's Contact Details

Your bank’s name is printed on every check you write, but it doesn’t include important details like the routing number. You might see the bank's logo, a phone number, or an address.

If you receive a check, this part shows which bank the person uses and where the money will come from. You might be able to cash the check at any branch of that bank, not just the one listed on the check.

However, the bank isn’t required to cash the check. They may charge a fee or refuse to cash it if you’re not a customer.

 Also Read: What is a Void Check? How to Void a Check?

Account Number

Your account number is also printed at the bottom of a check, and it uses Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) as well.

Most checks have three sets of numbers at the bottom, and your account number is usually the middle one. Some checks may look different, so it's a good idea to double-check your account number. For example, business checks and those from online bill payment systems can have different formats.

 Also Read: How to Use a Legal Memo Format in Legal Writing (Template)

Check Number

Some checks have the check number printed in MICR to help prevent fraud.

A check number is a reference number that helps you:

• Keep track of your checkbook balance.
• See which checks your bank has processed.
• Identify which checks are still pending.

 Also Read: How to Send Business and Personal Checks in the Mail?

Use PostGrid’s check API to write, print, and mail checks by leveraging direct mail automation. PostGrid lets you complete all these processes in one go either via an API integration or its platform/ dashboard. 

You can use this online check writer to send highly-secured checks with the MICR line and other features. Our 2-business-day SLA ensures your checks are out of the door in no time. 

Request a demo now to understand how our check API works and get started immediately!