Remember there is no need to enter any other information on the check, namely date, payee or amount. Also, if you use duplicate checks, be certain that the VOID marks are visible on the duplicate as well. There are several ways to get your hands on a voided check, some of which are explained below. Our writers and editors used an in-house natural language generation platform to assist with portions of this article, allowing them to focus on adding information that is uniquely helpful. The article was reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff prior to publication.

Reasons for Using a Voided Check

Alternatively, the word can be written on other check parts, such as the payee line, dateline and amount box. Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. This website does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. This website may use other proprietary factors to impact card offer listings on the website such as consumer selection or the likelihood of the applicant’s credit approval. If both of these options fail you might want to ask the bank to record your pertinent account information and then notarize the letter, making sure it’s printed on their official letterhead. That’s almost always a solid approach, though circumstances will rarely dictate you have to go down that road.

Leave the checking account and routing number area clear

This is why it is always a good idea to document your check transactions in your check register so that you will always have information like, the check ID number, the amount, and who you paid. So you wrote a check and gave it or sent it, but now you need to cancel it. If either of these things occurs what you are going to want to do is get a Stop Payment Order. Maybe you don’t need the check anymore, or you messed up writing it out and need to change something on it.

Be sure to keep images of your checks somewhere safe, like a locked filing cabinet or an encrypted storage container on your computer. We have options to fit every need and qualification level, so you can get the cash your business needs to keep surging forward– or get through a rough patch. Acquiring business funding can be difficult if you don’t have perfect credit, tons of collateral, or established connections. They also use the information to verify that your account matches where the funds are being sent to ensure they’re going to you. However, you don’t want to take any kind of chances when it comes to your banking information. It can help to add some spacing between each letter (V O I D) to ensure you can cover the entire check.

• They ask for a voided check because it contains all the information they need to ensure your paycheck is deposited into the right account.
• In fact, a voided check is considered invalid and no longer carries any value.
• All you should see is the bank information such as your routing number, account number, and check number, and the word ‘VOID’, which you should have written on the front of the check.
• In the other states, the program is sponsored by Community Federal Savings Bank, to which we’re a service provider.
• If you add one too many ‘0s’ to your check, you can’t just correct it and hope it works out.

You can write a void check example by sourcing a blank unused check from your check book. Then, you can write the word “void” across the face of the check in large example of void check block letters. Importantly, you should use blue or black ink when writing “void” as this is often a requirement for certain legal processes. However, no bank will deposit a check with the word “void” clearly written across its face, as this clearly indicates that the check is no longer valid.

You can ask your bank to draw you up a “counter check”, a special type of check that can be officially voided by the bank but still includes your important account information. You might also ask the business or organization requesting a voided check if they would accept a deposit slip that has been voided as well. Just remember to leave the bottom of the check where your checking account and routing number are listed legible, otherwise it won’t be much good as a voided check. Yes, you can create a voided check by following the instructions shared in this article, which include writing “void” in large block letters across the face of the check. However, in most cases, you will need to use blue or black ink and after the purpose of the voided check has been fulfilled, the check should be discarded securely.

Verification of Banking Information

Ask for a letter, printed on bank letterhead, which lists your account number, routing number, and account type (checking or savings). Alternatively, some banks provide form letters for setting up direct deposit—print it while you’re logged in to the online banking system, and it should have everything you need. You may need to use a voided check when you write a check and make mistakes. Also, you can use voided checks to set up direct deposits, direct payments, and regular bill payments. A blank check can be drawn against your account, and you can lose money.

You can also use a voided check to set up automatic electronic payments, including ongoing expenses such as rent and bills. You can use a voided check to schedule regular payments from your checking account. This is necessary if you intend to pay your car loan, mortgage and other bills online. Voiding a check is a common practice used to nullify incorrect checks and set up direct deposits or bill payments.

Voided checks can serve an important role in direct deposits and other ongoing transactions. The banking information necessary to start the direct deposit is the account and routing numbers. The word ‘VOID’ is written in capital letters, so it is not mistaken for cash use. When you void a check, you prevent the check from being used by anyone to withdraw money.

What is a voided check?

Your employer may ask you to provide a void check for direct deposit setup. This gives them all the necessary information, including account and routing numbers that are found on the check. The most common use for a voided check is to establish a direct deposit¹. If you’re going to receive payments from an employer electronically, you can send them a voided check, so they have all of your bank information. There are different alternatives to a voided check that you can explore if you do not have checks and you want to set up automatic payments and direct deposits.

If you do not have a checkbook, the process of getting checks, voiding them and providing it to the employer for direct deposit can be difficult compared to the available alternatives. For example, if you are in business and your suppliers prefer to be paid electronically, then a voided check may be part of setting up automatic payments. A creative solution is to have a check printer to generate an image of a voided check for you. This method won’t work if you need to mail the check, but it can help you get an electronic image of a check containing your account information. Start the process of ordering checks, and when it’s time to “preview” your order, you’ll have a customized check image that you can void. You may also be able to set up deposit or withdrawal instructions using a deposit slip instead of a voided check.

If you’re unable to provide a voided check, or if your bank doesn’t offer paper checks, there are alternative methods to set up a direct deposit or an electronic payment. You may need to provide a voided check when you set up automatic bill payments, deposits from your employer, or investments from your bank account. Your bank account information appears on those checks, and whoever asked for the voided check will use those details to set up an electronic link to your bank account. There is only one hitch, you need to know how to void a check, and you may not have done that before.

This is because anybody can just complete it and withdraw funds from your bank account. You can even directly link your Wise account to your US bank, brokerage, credit card provider, PayPal, and many other services — and automate your payments through direct debits, which are free. Often, banks will provide instructions on how you can set up a direct deposit without a voided check. Reach out to your bank, or see if there’s any information online about how you can do this. A voided check is a check which is no longer valid and has the word ‘void’ written on the front.

• Writing “VOID” across the front of the check prevents anybody from using the check to make a standard check payment (by filling in a payee and an amount).
• This is because you can make a mistake while copying the details on the check.
• By writing “void” across a check, it will no longer be valid for depositing or cashing at any financial institution.
• When you void a check in QuickBooks, it changes the transaction amount to zero but still keeps a transaction record.

You may need to provide voided checks numerous times in the coming years. When an original check is not required (for example, if you’re going to fax in the instructions or submit an electronic image of your check), you can use the same copy repeatedly. Most tools to void checks online are compatible with most banks and credit unions in the country. You can void your check using the tools by inputting your information, including your bank name and routing number. You may be asked for a voided check if you want to set up payments from your bank account or direct deposit. Instead, once a check has the word VOID written across its face, it is no longer eligible for deposit or cashing.

If You Don’t Have Checks

In fact, any check that has the word void on it anywhere is highly unlikely to be cashed or deposited by any financial institution anywhere in the world. This is because banks and depositing institutions understand that “VOID” is the universal language that a check is no longer valid. Autopay can be very useful to stay on top of recurring bills like utilities, rent, or credit card payments.

Once you’ve voided a check, it’s essentially disabled and cannot be used any longer. So, be thorough and write it large and wide across the majority of the check. Also, you don’t need to bother endorsing the check as you won’t actually be using it. Make a note in your check register so that you’ll know where the check went.