Certified Checks: A Secure Payment Method

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• What is a certified check?
• How to obtain a certified check
• Advantages
• Potential drawbacks
• When to use a certified check
• FAQs

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• A certified check is a check that's been reviewed at a bank to ensure it won't bounce.
• You'll need to go to a brick-and-mortar bank to get a certified check, and usually there's a fee.
• You can often use a money order, cashier's check, or wire transfer instead of a certified check.

If you need to give someone a personal check but they need a little more assurance that the check is good, a certified check should do the trick. While they are not all that common, certified checks are a way to show guaranteed funds for a purchase, such as at an auction.

If you're interested in giving or receiving secured funds, here's what you need to know about certified checks.

What is a certified check?

A certified check is a personal check that's gone through an extra step to prove the funds are available. In certifying the check, the bank earmarks the funds in your account to ensure the check clears when it's deposited. The funds will be unavailable to spend in the meantime.

Certified checks are seen as more "official" than personal checks in the sense that they have been reviewed by the payor's bank to ensure the funds are available for a purchase.

Difference between certified checks and cashier's checks

Certified checks and cashier's checks are both guaranteed by the payor's bank.

When obtaining a cashier's check, however, you transfer the money to the bank up front. The check is then written from the bank's account rather than your personal account, as with a certified check.

Certified checks are not used often these days. Most people would opt for money orders or cashier's checks as a safer and often cheaper alternative.

How to obtain a certified check

Certified checks are available through some banks and credit unions. To get a certified check, take your checkbook and identification to a physical bank branch and let a teller know you want a certified check. If available, be prepared to pay a fee of around $10 to $20.

Not all banks offer certified check services. If you have an online bank account, for example, certified checks likely are not available. But even many traditional brick-and-mortar banks have stopped offering certified checks, as they are not very popular with most banking customers.

Advantages of using certified checks

Security and reliability

Certified checks are guaranteed by a bank. Certification tells the payee that the bank has reviewed the account and that the check won't bounce, avoiding one of the biggest risks with personal checks. The bank essentially puts a hold on the funds until the check is deposited and cleared.

Acceptance for large transactions

If paying with cash isn't practical, online or wire payments are not available, and you don't want to use a cashier's check or money order, a certified check can be a practical way to handle a large purchase, like a car.

Potential drawbacks of using certified checks

Fees

There is usually a fee to get a certified check. But depending on your purchase, it could be worth the additional charge to guarantee peace of mind for yourself and the recipient.

Requires in-person visit

You usually need to visit a bank or credit union branch to get a certified check. For this reason, online banks typically do not offer them.

When to use a certified check

Certified checks, like other forms of guaranteed funds, are ideal in situations where the buyer and seller don't know each other. This offers both parties some level of protection, but namely protects the seller from a bounced check.

Certified checks are more secure than a personal check but don't offer the same level of buyer protection as cashier's checks or money orders. For very large purchases, such as real estate transactions, wire transfers might be the best way to send money. They offer same-day funding and transfer directly to the recipient's account.

Auctioneers often accept certified checks, as they may be a good way to earmark funds for a large purchase when you don't know the exact amount. You can make out a certified check to yourself and sign it over to the seller if you win the auction. If you don't win, you can just redeposit the funds into your checking account.

How to avoid fraud with certified checks

Scammers may use fake checks or steal other people's information to commit financial fraud. If you are unsure whether a certified check is legitimate, you can call the bank that issued the certified check to verify whether it's real.

If you have received a fake check, you'll have to reach out to the person who wrote the check to receive another form of payment. You may also report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.

Certified check alternatives

If your bank doesn't offer certified checks, you have a few other good options available for secure payments. Consider these alternatives to certified checks:

• Credit cards:Credit cards are the safest way to pay as a buyer. Many cards include valuable purchase protections and the ability to dispute transactions where the seller didn't come through as promised. Credit cards are free for the buyer but cost up to around 3% in fees for the seller.

• Cash: Good old-fashioned cash doesn't have any added security, but there's no debating its value for any purchase. It's free to use cash.

• Money orders: Money orders are a step up from certified checks. They are backed by large companies like Western Union and MoneyGram and are considered guaranteed funds. They are generally cheaper than certified checks and available for up to $1,000 each and cost up to around $5 each. You can fill out a money order in four quick steps.

• Cashier's checks: A cashier's check is a check from a bank. That's the best kind of guaranteed check there is. Cashier's checks cost more than money orders. Unlike certified checks, they are available from nearly any bank or credit union. Cashier's checks often cost around $10 to $20 each.

• Online payments: Apps like Venmo and Cash App are instant and secure. Zelle also offers near-instant payments to other bank accounts in the Zelle network. These payments are typically free for both parties.

• Bank wires: Wires are one of the safest ways to make a large purchase and are common in real estate and other industries. Wire transfers generally process the same day but cost anywhere from $0 to $45 each.

Certified check FAQs

What exactly is a certified check? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

A certified check is like a personal check, except it is certified by your bank, guaranteeing you have enough funds for the check to clear.

How does a certified check differ from a cashier's check? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

A certified check is drawn from your own bank account, while a cashier's check is drawn from the bank's account because you transferred the funds beforehand.

What are the advantages of using a certified check? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

A certified check is considered safer and more secure than a personal check, since it requires the bank to review the payor's account to ensure the funds are available for the check to clear. A recipient can feel confident that the check they are receiving will not bounce.

Are there any fees for obtaining a certified check? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Most banks that offer certified checks charge a nominal fee for the service.

When should I consider using a certified check? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Certified checks are best suited for large purchases where a buyer and a seller don't know each other. It gives the recipient confidence that the check will clear.

Eric Rosenberg is a finance, travel, and technology writer in Ventura, California. He is a former bank manager and corporate finance and accounting professional who left his day job in 2016 to take his online side hustle full-time. He has in-depth experience writing about banking, credit cards, investing, and other financial topics, and is an avid travel hacker. When away from the keyboard, Eric enjoys exploring the world, flying small airplanes, discovering new craft beers, and spending time with his wife and little girls. You can connect with him at Personal Profitability or EricRosenberg.com .

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