However, make sure to leave the routing number and account number at the bottom of the check visible. If you’ve completed a check but want to cancel it, simply taking it back and voiding it makes it financially empty and therefore cannot be used to deposit a payment. This information will allow them to set up a direct deposit for your salary into your bank account. When I used to write checks a lot for bills and other payments, occasionally I would write the wrong amount or accidentally spell something incorrectly. If you’re going to send the voided check electronically it may be a little risky to send it through a normal email sender.

Usually, any check with the word ‘VOID’ on it can’t be cashed, but it pays to be cautious and make sure the word ‘VOID’ hits all the right areas. If you need a Stop Payment Order for a check, your bank will probably need the information on the check you want to cancel. Maybe you don’t need the check anymore, or you messed up writing it out and need to change something on it. Sometimes you’ll need to cancel a check payment after you’ve already sent or given the check. Voided checks reveal crucial banking information that if not shredded or disposed off properly can serve as linchpin to more dangerous scams. Also, it gives more control because the funds are deposited at the same time every month.

Why do employers need a voided check?

One group of motives derive from errors or changes in the transaction. For example, some information was wrongly written or the check is not needed any more because the transaction was cancelled. But another common reason is simply to send reliable information about the banking account to another person or organization. As paper checks become less common in banking, organizations that normally require a voided check may be more receptive to another method. Try those first and you avoid the risk of your sensitive financial information falling into the wrong hands.

Employers usually ask for a voided check as a simple way to collect your banking information for direct deposit. If you need a voided check to set up direct deposit with your employer, you have a couple of choices. You can take a check from your checkbook and write “void” across it in large letters and provide the check to your employer. A voided check is a check with the word “void” written across the front, which indicates that it shouldn’t be accepted for payment. The check can still be used to get the information needed for electronic payments. You can also use a voided check to set up automatic electronic payments, including ongoing expenses such as rent and bills.

Alternatives to a Voided Check

Don’t cover up the routing or bank account number at the bottom of the check when voiding it. Those numbers are necessary for identifying your bank account to send or receive payments. A voided check is a check which is no longer valid and has the word ‘void’ written on the front. Another option in case you have no checks is to use online banking options. By opting for setting up your account online, you don’t have to provide a voided check.

We recommend that you review the privacy policy of the site you are entering. SoFi does not guarantee or endorse the products, information or recommendations provided in any third party website. A woman sits at her dining room table with laptop and financial reports doing her monthly budget. [+] She is smiling at the ease of use as she works on her smart phone banking app to do monthly finances, pay taxes and save money for the future. Online, an Internet scammer might find a way to enter their banking information in place of yours and intercept your paycheck. But a check with your name and banking details preprinted on it is much harder to fake.

Alternatives to set up direct deposit

This is the main reason why you should manage them carefully and keep them safe and out of reach. Voiding a check makes it invalid and impossible to use as a blank check. This means that if your void check falls into the wrong hands, they won’t be able to abuse it.

Also, you cannot discard it because someone may use it to withdraw funds from your account. In the image, the check has the word ‘VOID’ written across its face in capital letters. Alternatively, the word can be written on other check parts, such as the payee line, dateline and amount box. Balancing a checkbook voided check means and keeping track of all your expenses are great ways to start on the path to budgeting. Get started with a step-by-step guide, and take control of your money. No matter the reason for needing to trash a check, it’s a good idea to void it first just to be safe—yes, even if you’re planning to rip it up.

You can use the bank’s website to create your profile and set up an account. You will probably have to fill in an online form on your bank’s website, so make sure to have all the relevant info before you begin. If you get your paycheck electronically, your employer will need your bank account information to be able to send the money to the right person. This can speed up the process and the funds can sometimes be on your account even a few days early. An illustration of this happens when a company needs to make an electronic charge to someone who purchased a service. The supplier wants to be sure that the charge will be made to the correct account and holder.

Autopay can be very useful to stay on top of recurring bills like utilities, rent, or credit card payments. By using auto-pay you won’t have to worry about forgetting any bill payment and accruing late fees and hits to your credit score. A void check is simply a check with the word “VOID” across the front. Writing “VOID” on a check means that the check can’t be deposited or cashed. When you void something it means you’ve made it empty, of no effect, or null.

Reasons for Voiding a Check

In the other states, the program is sponsored by Community Federal Savings Bank, to which we’re a service provider. Find out what ACH stands for, what it can be used for, and the pros and cons of ACH transfer. Wise is an online account that lets you spend abroad with your Wise card.

• However, it’s important to note that online void check services are typically only offered by major financial institutions in developed financial markets.
• Even though it’s voided, identity thieves could steal it from your bin and use it to get your bank account information.
• Thus, sending a voided check is a simple way to provide your banking details to someone else so they can set up electronic payments.
• When you need a voided check, all you need to do is write “VOID” across the front of the check.