Banks · checked Nov 8, 2026

Banks that cash checks, and what non-customers pay

In brief

A bank will usually cash a check written on its own accounts, but it doesn’t have to cash one for a non-customer. Bank of America charges non-customers $8 per check over $50. Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank say they may charge a fee and ask for a fingerprint, without publishing the amount; Chase publishes no non-customer fee at all.

Can I cash a check at any bank?

Not usually. Banks cash checks for their own customers. For everyone else, the bank most likely to help is the bank the check is drawn on: the bank named on the front, where the check writer has the account. Chase’s own guide puts it this way: “Many banks will cash their own checks even if you don’t have an account, provided you have the proper identification. They may charge a fee for this service.”

U.S. Bank’s deposit agreement spells it out: it “may refuse to exchange for cash any check drawn on your account unless the presenter of such check also maintains a deposit account with us.” Wells Fargo “can require that all endorsers be present and that you deposit the item instead of cashing it.”

What each bank publishes

Bank	Non-customer fee	Conditions	Document
Bank of America	$8 per check over $50	Checks drawn on Bank of America personal accounts. No fee for relationship customers.	Personal Schedule of Fees, effective Aug 7, 2026
Wells Fargo	“may charge a fee”, amount not published	Acceptable ID, which may include a fingerprint.	Deposit Account Agreement, effective Jul 28, 2026
U.S. Bank	“a fee to cash the check if applicable”, amount not published	May refuse non-customers; may require a fingerprint or thumbprint and ID.	Your Deposit Account Agreement, effective Aug 10, 2026
Chase	Not published	Its guides say banks “may charge a fee” and need “proper identification”.	Chase education guide

For comparison, Walmart charges at most $4 for a pre-printed check up to $1,000 and doesn’t care which bank it’s drawn on. See the fee calculator.

Before you go to the bank

Find the bank’s name on the check. That’s the bank to try first if you don’t bank anywhere.
Bring government photo ID. Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank say they may also take a fingerprint or thumbprint from a non-customer, and may refuse if you decline.
A check made out to two people may need both of you there: Wells Fargo says it can require all endorsers to be present. See two-party checks.
Old checks: a bank doesn’t have to pay an ordinary check more than six months after its date (UCC § 4-404).

If you open an account: how fast deposited money is yours

When you deposit a check into a bank account, the bank must make the first $275 available by the next business day (or the whole deposit, if smaller). (12 CFR 229.10(c)(1)(vii))
Treasury checks deposited by the payee get next-business-day availability; so do USPS money orders, cashier's, certified and teller's checks and state or local government checks when deposited in person to a bank employee. (12 CFR 229.10(c)(1))

The entries, with sources

Bank of AmericaFees published

Bank · Check cashing at a Bank of America financial center

Other checks up to $50Checks drawn on Bank of America personal accounts, $50 or lessFree
Other checks $50.01+Checks drawn on Bank of America personal accounts, over $50$8

Fees: From the Personal Schedule of Fees effective August 7, 2026. A 'relationship customer' is anyone with a Bank of America deposit account, IRA, loan, credit card, mortgage or safe deposit box, or a Merrill investment account.
Who: Non-customers, for checks drawn on Bank of America personal accounts
Where: Bank of America financial centers

Bank of America relationship customers pay no check cashing fee.

Source: bankofamerica.com · checked November 8, 2026

ChaseFee not published

Bank · Cashing a check at a Chase branch

Fees: Chase's Additional Banking Services and Fees (effective 6/14/2026) lists no fee for non-customers cashing a check, and its own guides say only that banks 'may charge a fee for this service'.
Where: Chase branches

Chase's guide: 'Many banks will cash their own checks even if you don't have an account, provided you have the proper identification. They may charge a fee for this service.'
Chase's guide: 'the bank isn't required to cash checks for people who aren't their customers'.

Sources: chase.com, chase.com, chase.com · checked November 8, 2026

U.S. BankFee not published

Bank · Cashing a check drawn on a U.S. Bank account

Fees: Its deposit agreement (effective August 10, 2026) says it may require a non-customer to 'pay a fee to cash the check if applicable'. The Consumer Pricing Information (effective August 10, 2026) gives no amount.
Who: At the bank's discretion: it may refuse to cash a check for anyone without a U.S. Bank deposit account
Where: U.S. Bank branches
ID: May require 'a fingerprint or thumbprint, and identification, as a condition of cashing a check.'

U.S. Bank 'may refuse to exchange for cash any check drawn on your account unless the presenter of such check also maintains a deposit account with us.'

Sources: usbank.com, usbank.com · checked November 8, 2026

Wells FargoFee not published

Bank · Cashing a check drawn on a Wells Fargo account

Fees: The Deposit Account Agreement (effective July 28, 2026) says 'We may charge a fee for non-customers to cash a check.' The Consumer Account Fee and Information Schedule (effective July 28, 2026) gives no amount.
Who: Non-customers presenting a check written on a Wells Fargo account, with acceptable identification
Where: Wells Fargo branches
ID: 'we require acceptable identification, which may include a fingerprint from the person presenting your check.'

Wells Fargo may not honor the check if the person refuses to provide requested identification.
Wells Fargo can require that all endorsers be present and that the item be deposited instead of cashed.

Sources: wellsfargo.com, wellsfargo.com · checked November 8, 2026

Questions

Can I cash a check at any bank?

Not usually. A bank doesn’t have to cash a check for someone who isn’t its customer. The place most likely to cash it is the bank the check is written on, whose name is printed on the check. Chase’s own guide says the bank “isn’t required to cash checks for people who aren’t their customers”.

Which bank will cash a check without an account?

Normally the bank the check is drawn on. Bank of America cashes checks drawn on its personal accounts for non-customers and charges $8 per check over $50. Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank say they may charge non-customers a fee and may ask for a fingerprint, but don’t publish the amount.

How much does Bank of America charge to cash a check?

Nothing for its customers. For someone without a Bank of America relationship, $8 per check for amounts greater than $50, on checks drawn on Bank of America personal accounts (Personal Schedule of Fees, effective August 7, 2026).

How much does Wells Fargo charge to cash a check for a non-customer?

Wells Fargo doesn’t publish an amount. Its Deposit Account Agreement (effective July 28, 2026) says “We may charge a fee for non-customers to cash a check”, and that it requires identification, which may include a fingerprint.

How much does Chase charge to cash a check for a non-customer?

Chase doesn’t publish one. Its fee guide (effective June 14, 2026) lists no non-customer check-cashing fee, and its education pages say only that banks “may charge a fee for this service”.

If I have an account, how fast can I use a deposited check?

Under Regulation CC, a bank must make the first $275 of most check deposits available by the next business day, and the whole amount of a Treasury check, a USPS money order or a cashier’s check deposited in person.

Sources for this page

Bank of America: Personal Schedule of Fees (effective August 7, 2026) — $8 per check over $50 for non-relationship customers, on checks drawn on Bank of America personal accounts.
Wells Fargo: Deposit Account Agreement (effective July 28, 2026) — May charge non-customers a fee; ID may include a fingerprint; may require all endorsers present.
Wells Fargo: Consumer Account Fee and Information Schedule (effective July 28, 2026) — Lists no non-customer check-cashing amount.
U.S. Bank: Your Deposit Account Agreement (effective August 10, 2026) — May refuse non-customers; fee “if applicable”; fingerprint or thumbprint.
U.S. Bank: Consumer Pricing Information (effective August 10, 2026) — Lists no non-customer check-cashing amount.
Chase: How to cash a check without a bank account — Banks may cash their own checks for non-customers with ID and may charge a fee.
Chase: Where to cash a check — Banks aren’t required to cash checks for non-customers.
Chase: Additional Banking Services and Fees (effective June 14, 2026) — No non-customer check-cashing fee listed.
12 CFR 229.10(c)(1)(vii) — When you deposit a check into a bank account, the bank must make the first $275 available by the next business day (or the whole deposit, if smaller).
12 CFR 229.10(c)(1) — Treasury checks deposited by the payee get next-business-day availability; so do USPS money orders, cashier's, certified and teller's checks and state or local government checks when deposited in person to a bank employee.
UCC § 4-404 — A bank does not have to pay an ordinary check presented more than six months after its date (it may still choose to).

Every fee on this site comes from the company’s own page, fee schedule or agreement, or from a statute or regulator. How we check them and how to report a change: methodology.

Cite this page

Where Can I Cash a Check. “Banks that cash checks, and what non-customers pay.” Updated November 8, 2026. https://wherecanicashacheck.com/banks/