Yes, you can and often must void a check for direct deposit setup. If you don’t have a paper check, you can always go to your nearest bank branch and request a voided check. All you need to do if you want to establish a direct deposit is take an existing check and write the word ‘VOID’ across the front of it in large capital letters. You can also use a voided check to set up automatic electronic payments, including ongoing expenses such as rent and bills. If you prefer the convenience that online banking provides, then check out Wise. Voided checks can serve an important role in direct deposits and other ongoing transactions.

Authorize a government agency to direct deposit your benefits

• No, it isn’t necessary to sign or put any information on a voided check.
• However, don’t let it cover the bottom where routing and account details are normally found.
• The main reason you’ll be asked for a voided check is to verify your bank account details for electronic transactions.
• To err is human and if you make a mistake when writing a check, voiding the check is often the best way to fix the error.
• You must first contact your bank and see if that particular check has already been cashed.

Deposit slips have your account number and routing number on it. It is also important to note that not all organizations accept counter checks, so please do check beforehand. Now, void this check in the same way that was described earlier. This may be available free of charge in some banks, while others may charge a small amount of money.

This article was co-authored by Gina D’Amore and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure.

You may want to dispose of a voided check, in lieu of holding onto it, for several reasons. You can void a check for any information that is incorrect and then rewrite it on a new check. Once voided, a physical check cannot be cashed or deposited. Yes, it can serve as proof of your banking information. This streamlined process eliminates the need for physical checks while ensuring accuracy and security.

See a real filled-out check example and learn with a practical case. Make sure it’s a check you haven’t already filled out or signed. Take a blank check from your checkbook. Our websites may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. Voiding a check is a straightforward process that involves writing the word “VOID” on the check. The article was reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff prior to publication.

Get a bank letter

• While you don’t strictly need a voided check to set up a direct deposit², many employers will ask for one.
• Some alternate names include “invalid check” and “nullified check”.
• To void a check means to write on it in a way that sends a message to the bank.
• In the other states, the program is sponsored by Community Federal Savings Bank, to which we’re a service provider.
• Providing a voided check is a foolproof way to give them this information without the risk of typos.
• If you want to set up direct deposit with an employer, you’ll usually need a copy of a voided check.
• To properly void a check, make sure you use a pen, not a pencil.

If you’ve already sent a check, you can request a stop payment on a check if you’ve made an error or don’t want the payment to complete for another reason. A mistake in either the routing number or the account number can create delays in payment and may lead to other costs. The requester only needs your name, account number, and routing number off the check. Since this information is on every check, there’s no need to void a second check if you need to show a voided check to more than one company.

Often you can earn a better rate by using automatic payments, so it may be worth the extra effort of setting up autopay and sending a copy of a voided check. Many times, you’ll need a voided check to set up automated loan payments such as a mortgage payment, student loan, or auto loan. Certain types of transactions might require a voided check to verify your banking information. The trustee would be the one to void checks for those coming from a trust account. If you need to present voided checks often, then, it may be a good idea to open a checking account. If you have your account’s deposit slip, you may use this instead of the voided check.

Ask for a counter check from your bank

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These forms usually require you to provide your bank account, as well as the routing number. Some employers and organizations have their own forms for setting up direct deposits or automatic payments. Maybe you’re just starting at a new job and setting up direct deposit, or facing a banking error. Implementing best practices in storing and disposing of voided checks ensures that your financial information remains secure. Since your banking information is clearly visible, you should only share a voided check with organizations you trust, like your employer or a reputable company. The voided check acts as official confirmation of your account details.

You would need to write “VOID” in the payment amount box, across the payee line, and on the signature line. You can also write “VOID” in smaller letters over key parts of the check. For instance, maybe you wanted to write a check out to a newly married couple and wrote the check out to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson.

Can I write “VOID” on my own check?

No, there is no need to sign a voided check. Yes, it is safe for setting up payments and deposits. Unlike a pay stub sheet, a voided check doesn’t record transactions or earnings.

There are several situations when you might need to void a check, but the two most common are fixing mistakes and setting up direct deposit with an employer. All things considered, however, knowing how to void a check correctly can help protect your bank account and personal information, whether you’re the payer or payee. It provides the bank’s routing number and your account number.

Use the form in CIBC Online Banking®

Make a note in your check register so that you’ll know where the check went. Voiding capital gains vs. dividend income a check “disables” the check so that it can’t be used as a blank check. This step keeps parties who don’t have the password from viewing the document.

Some businesses even take payments over the phone, allowing customers to provide the information orally. A check (or an image of one) might not be the only way to set up electronic payments. Write with well-spaced letters that are tall and wide enough to cover the whole face of the check without obscuring the banking information at the bottom. Grab a check out of your checkbook, and write “void” across the front. Those numbers printed in magnetic ink at the bottom of your check provide everything needed to deposit or withdraw funds. In other words, a thief who steals a voided check can’t make the check out to himself, enter a large amount, and sign it.

To properly void a check, make sure you use a pen, not a pencil. Use large letters that fill up the entire check, or write “VOID” in smaller letters on the date, payee, amount, and signature lines. The process is fairly straightforward, but it’s important that you do it carefully to avoid someone using your check fraudulently.

The ABA routing transit number (RTN) and account number on the MICR line are read by payroll/AP systems; no funds move because the check is void. The purpose is to share the pre-printed bank account information, like your account number and routing number. In summary, understanding how to write a void check is essential for managing your finances safely and efficiently.

Having all this on a voided check makes it easier for an employer to establish and verify a connection to the bank account where you want your paycheck deposited. Voiding a check is a common practice used to nullify incorrect checks and set up direct deposits or bill payments. For those who don’t have physical checks, many ask, can I get a voided check online?