Personal Checks and Saving Money

When you write a personal check you're essentially an order instructing your bank to pay a particular merchant a specified sum of money, using funds in your account at that bank. To collect the money, the merchant probably will deposit the check. It’ll take about one to five business days before the money is transferred out of your account. However, there are new ways for merchants and other vendors to process personal checks electronically and reduce the time it takes for the funds to be deducted from your account.

Personal checks are familiar and easy to use or mail. They also are routinely accepted by merchants as well as by utilities, landlords, mortgage lenders, credit card companies, and other major service providers, although sometimes with limits. As with cash, checks also are widely accepted by other individuals.

Paying by check can be a good way to avoid overextending your family finances and to build a good payment history. Checks also are good for people who just aren’t comfortable with newer forms of electronic payment, such as debit cards.

Checks also create a paper trail that can be followed if there’s a dispute over who got paid or how much. If your bank doesn’t routinely return canceled checks but you need some for your records, you have a couple of options, according to Cynthia Bonnette, a bank examination specialist with the FDIC in Washington. "You can make a special request for copies of checks, possibly for a fee," she says. "Or, if you bank at home by personal computer, your checks’ images may be offered as part of that service."

For those of us that write personal checks while grocery shopping, catalog shopping, or paying bills; there are options besides reordering personal checks from the bank for inflated prices. Did you know that you can buy personal bank checks direct from the check printers for low prices?

Save money by safely buying checks online direct from the check printers. My Personal Checks is your direct connection to discount bank check printers, offering personal checks in multiple check designs and styles that fit your budget and personal identity.

About the Author

Stop paying inflated reorder prices at your bank and order personal checks direct from the printer today with My Personal Checks. Content also contributed from FDIC.gov

Top Scoops (Scoop.co.nz)
Back in August 2005, when my personal credit crunch hit in the form of impending layoff from a research project that was running out of money, I wrote a piece for a local citizen journalism website about small things I was doing to prepare for it.

Friends of Montgomery County Texas Animal Shelter is launching a desperate appeal for financial donations. (The Woodlands Villager)
During Hurricane Ike, our shelter accepted many animals from Bay City and League City animal shelters (in addition to the already large numbers of animals occupying MCAS). MCAS was without power and water for days. Friends of Montgomery County Texas Animal Shelter (FMCTAS) helped by buying flashlights, gasoline and a generator for the shelter (which was driven down to The Woodlands from Dallas ...

Hoeven proposes preschool aid, child care grants (The Bismarck Tribune)
Gov. John Hoeven says he will ask the Legislature for $10 million in state aid for preschools, along with money for new child-care facilities and mandatory background checks for their employees.

Curry County Commission candidate profiles (Clovis News Journal)
Editors Note: The Clovis News Journal asked the Curry County Commission candidates to answer the following questions in 200 words. The answers were edited for spelling and style. The general election is Nov. 4.

Briefly in Tompkins (The Ithaca Journal)
Due to the construction of an addition to Statler Hall, the short section of Campus Road between East Avenue and Hoy Road (between the two all-way stop signs) will be closed to vehicular traffic through Monday, Nov. 17.

Home page

Information Index