Certified Checks: Where Can You Get Them?

Whether you want to make or receive a secure payment, it’s important to know the best way to do so. You could go the cash route, but it’s risky to carry cash and then mail it. You could opt for a personal check, but how does the recipient know it won’t bounce? A certified check could be a better option, but first, this is what you need to know about how it works.

If you have financial questions beyond certified checks, a financial advisor can help you create a financial plan.

What Is a Certified Check?

A certified check is a check written by an account holder that is guaranteed by a bank¹.

You write a certified check just like a traditional check, but then the bank verifies the signature and certifies it before freezing that amount in your account. This ensures that the sender has enough cash in their account to complete the transaction.

People often use certified checks in large transactions where the recipient doesn’t know - or trust - the account holder. A personal check can always bounce, but a certified check guarantees that the funds are available. They’re also useful for making large cash purchases, as they clear quickly and eliminate the risks of handling and transporting large sums of cash.

Keep in mind that most institutions will charge a fee for certified checks. The fee often varies depending on the type of checking account, institution, and transaction amount.

For regular checking account holders, here are the typical fees that some of today’s best banks charge for official checks, such as certified or cashier’s checks.

Certified Check Fee by Bank

Bank	Check Fee
TD Bank²	$8
Wells Fargo³	$10
Bank of America⁴	$15
PNC Bank⁵	$0

How to Get a Certified Check

Handing over a certified check at a bank.

You can purchase a certified check through a bank or credit union.

While you can get a certified check from any old bank, it’s usually easier to go to a bank where you already have an account. You’ll need to go into a physical branch to get a certified check. It helps to call the institution beforehand to find out whether it offers certified checks and if there are any special requirements.

To begin, you must provide the check amount, the recipient’s name and any note you want to include. After verifying your identity, you must show the bank or credit union employee that you have the funds available in your account. Banks may require a photo I.D. for verification.

After you write the check, the teller or a bank officer will certify and stamp it.

Drawbacks to Certified Checks

One drawback to certified checks is that you cannot stop the payment once you’ve handed over the check. The financial institution freezes the funds until the recipient deposits or cashes the check.

Another downside is that there is typically a fee for certified checks, though these fees usually aren’t very high. For many, the fee is well worth the security of a guaranteed payment.

Check Fraud

Certified checks themselves provide secure and guaranteed funds. However, certified checks aren’t hard for fraudsters to copy.

Of course, if you’re the one sending the check, you have nothing to worry about. However, if you are requesting payment by certified check, you should exercise caution, especially if you don’t know or trust the check’s sender.

These tips can help.

If you worry about a certified check being fraudulent, first look for telltale signs like typos or anything that looks generally off.
Double-check the bank information with the bank’s information online.
Call the bank itself, not the number on the check, to ensure the check is valid.

Following these steps can help you avoid becoming a victim of fraud. It is important to be proactive because if you do fall victim, you will be responsible for any money you spend or withdraw from the check’s funds.

Certified Checks vs. Cashier’s Checks

Certified checks may sound familiar because they’re pretty similar to cashier’s checks. They’re both official checks guaranteeing payment that you obtain from a bank or credit union.

Both types of checks provide bank-guaranteed funds. The difference lies in the back-end structure with the bank.

With certified checks, the bank ensures your account has the correct amount of funds. It then freezes that amount for the certified check payment.
With cashier’s checks, you make a payment to the bank in the amount of the check. The bank then draws the funds from its own account when the cashier’s check is deposited⁶.

Functionally, there is little difference between a cashier’s check and a certified check, as your bank guarantees both. However, certified checks do display your personal information, so a cashier’s check may be better when privacy is a concern.

Certified Checks vs. Money Orders

Another alternative to certified checks is a money order. These are more widely available, as you can get them at post offices, retail stores and money transfer companies, as well as financial institutions.

Money orders act more like cash vouchers than checks because you pay the vendor in cash upfront. The vendor then issues a money order, which promises that, upon redemption, the funds will be available to the redeemer.

Money orders are a great option when you need to get cash to someone without a bank account, or when you need to cash a check outside normal banking hours due to an emergency.

In addition to banks, you can typically cash money orders at grocery stores, check cashing locations, post offices and credit unions. However, there is a $1,000 limit on money orders⁷, so they are not a viable option for conducting large transactions.

What You Can and Can’t Use a Certified Check For

Certified checks work well for some transactions and poorly, or not at all, for others, so it’s worth knowing where they are actually a good fit.

Common Uses

Real estate transactions. These transactions often require certified checks. This is particularly the case for earnest money deposits, down payments and closing costs, since sellers and title companies want guaranteed funds for amounts this large.
Private sales. Buying a car, boat or other big-ticket item from a private seller is another common use. Sellers are understandably wary of accepting a personal check for thousands of dollars from someone they don’t know.
Deposits. Some landlords require certified checks for large security deposits, especially for higher-end rentals.
Legal payments. Legal settlements and court-related payments frequently require certified funds as well. Attorneys and courts don’t want to accept a check that might bounce for a settlement, bail or similar payment.
Business transactions. These transactions can also require certified checks, particularly when paying a contractor, supplier or vendor a large sum and neither side wants to wait for a personal check to clear.

What Certified Checks Aren’t Suited For

Regular bill payments. The fee involved, typically $8 to $15, makes certified checks impractical for routine or recurring payments, such as rent or regular bills.
International payments. They also aren’t a good option for international payments, since a certified check is a U.S. banking instrument. A wire transfer or an international money transfer service is the standard tool for sending money abroad instead.
Speed. Speed is another limitation. Getting a certified check generally means visiting a bank branch in person, verifying your identity and waiting for a teller to certify it on the spot. It’s slower than a wire transfer or an electronic payment when time matters.
Flexibility. Certified checks aren’t a good fit for any transaction you may need to cancel or adjust afterward. Once the bank issues the check, they freeze the funds, and you can’t stop payment. If there’s a real chance the deal might fall through or change, this inflexibility works against you.
Privacy. Certified checks aren’t ideal when privacy matters. Your personal information appears directly on the check, unlike a cashier’s check drawn on the bank’s own funds. If you’d rather not have your account details visible to the recipient, a cashier’s check is generally the better choice.

Bottom Line

Given today’s increasing dependence on online banking, writing a check may seem old-fashioned. However, when it comes to making secure payments, that check may be the better option. Certified checks give peace of mind to both the recipient and the sender, ensuring that the payment will go through. With a bank’s stamp of approval, a certified check is a great way to guarantee a successful transaction.

Tips on Money Management

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