The Right Way to Write a Cheque

Online money management and mobile payments may have made cheques less popular than they once were, but they do still serve an important function. If you need to write a check for something like a rental deposit, or you're setting up direct deposits from your chequing account, it's important that you know how to fill out a cheque correctly. This article gives you the details on the right way to write a cheque, including what each field on a check means.

In the top-right corner, write the current date in both long form and numbers (for example, 4/24/2023). This is so that the bank can verify when you wrote the check and ensure it hasn't been cashed yet. You can also write a future date to make the cheque post-dated. This allows you to pay for something now and have the bank cash it when it's convenient for you, like the first day of each month.

On the line that says "Pay to the order of," write the name of the person or company you're paying. This information is necessary so that the bank knows who to put the money in the account for, and that the amount is accurate. You can also add a memo in the bottom-left corner if you'd like to include extra details for yourself or the recipient, such as a child's name and grade when paying school expenses.

Always use a pen when writing or endorsing a cheque. A pencil can be erased, making it easier for someone to alter your checks.