Most people are familiar with personal checks. However, the term cashier’s check may be a little less common to the normal consumer. That begs the question – what exactly is a cashier’s check, and how exactly is one different than a personal check? When you write a personal check, funds are drawn straight from your…
According to Bankrate, in 2015, 9 million American families (7% of U.S. households) did not have bank accounts. Although some may think that a bank account is needed to cash a large or small check, there are check-cashing alternatives. However, it may cost you because these services are not usually free if you do not…
In our fast-paced modern life, many of the services and products we consume are no longer tied to being at home or sitting at a computer. Watching a movie, buying tickets and live-streaming your life can all be done while walking or on the train. But one of the biggest changes has been mobile banking.…
Many of us write checks for groceries, PTO responsibilities, Boy Scouts or Brownies, etc. Those checks usually came with a “float” time, the time between when the check was written until it gets processed at the bank and the amount is taken out of your account. With today’s technology, is that buffer time still available?…
You’ve probably heard the phrase “Member FDIC” and it sounds like a good thing, but what exactly does it mean? In short, a member of the FDIC is a banking institution that pays a premium for all the money deposited by its customers to a federal agency that insures the money is there to stay,…
When you order from Bradford Exchange Checks, you may wonder what personal information you should have printed on your checks. It’s a good question: after all, choosing the right information to include on your checks is an important part of protecting yourself from identity theft, keeping your finances safe, and making sure the information you…
When you open a new checking account and order a new set of personal checks, you will be offered a number of different options. Specifically, you will be asked if you prefer single or duplicate checks. Each option has its merits and drawbacks, and it is important to understand the differences to make your choice…
Have you ever written a check to someone and then waited weeks or months for the funds to be withdrawn from your account? Perhaps you’ve waited so long that you started to wonder if the check was lost or will even be deposited. Or, have you meant to deposit a check months ago and wondered…
Some people find checks confusing. Fortunately for you, I have broken down what each part of a check means into simple, numerically indicated sections. While checks vary, this simplified explanation will give you a general understanding of what the parts of a check are. 1) Personalization Area The top left area of a check is…
Even with online bill payments and other electronic options, many consumers still write a lot of personal checks. From paying the rent or mortgage and utilities, to taking care of the PTA or paying for other school functions and resources, personal checks still play a big role in your financial life. One of the best…