Where & How to Cash a Business Check Without a Bank Account

William Lipovsky headshot William Lipovsky
Verified & Updated Sep 27, 2018

You have a check in your hand. You’re excited to cash it, but then you look down and realize it’s a business check — that is, a check drawn on a business account rather than a personal account. Don’t panic! Many places accept business checks (both electronically written and handwritten), from banks to grocery stores to check cashing stores. See below to learn more about cashing a business check without a bank account and where to go.

Note: We verified all of the information in this article through either the company’s website or by calling corporate customer service (where noted).

How to Cash a Business Check Without a Bank Account

Business check cashing is not too different than cashing a personal check. Many places do it for a nominal fee, and you can even find some places near you that offer free check cashing. The tricky part is knowing which banks will do it. That’s explained in the following section…

Banks That Cash Business Checks (No Account Necessary)

While there are several banks that will cash checks for you even if you don’t have an account, your best bet for cashing a business check is at a bank or credit union where you have an account. At most institutions, it’s free to cash a business check if you are an account holder. If you do not have a bank account or can’t get to your bank for whatever reason, you can only cash a business check at the bank that issued the check. For example, if a company wrote you a check that’s drawn on a Citibank business account, you can take the check to Citibank to cash it, regardless of whether you have an account there. Be aware that there are often fees for cashing business checks at a bank where you do not have an account; typically, these charges are under $10 but may be based on either a set fee amount or a percentage of the check amount.

Bank of America

  • Check cashing fees: $6 for non-account holders (according to corporate customer service)
  • Other important information: Checks can only be cashed at a full-service financial center, not a drive-up location. Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card.
  • Find a location

Bank of the West

  • Check cashing fees: For non-account holders, if your business check is under $50, there is no fee. If the check is greater than $50, the fee is $7.50.
  • Other important information: Check cashing fees are waived for deposit account customers, minors, and Bank of the West checks drawn on a deposit account in the name of any government agency. Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card.
  • Find a location

BB&T

  • Check cashing fees: For non-account holders, if your business check is under $50, there is no fee. If the check is greater than $50, the fee is $8.
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Read more information about fees at BB&T here.
  • Find a location

Capital One 360

  • Check cashing fees: There is no fee to cash business checks drawn on a Capital One account.
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Learn more about check cashing at Capital One here.
  • Find a location

Chase

  • Check cashing fees: $8 for non-account holders (according to customer service).
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Learn more about Chase’s services here.
  • Find a location

Citibank

  • Check cashing fees: It is free to cash a business check drawn on a Citibank account, as long as it’s under $5,000 (according to a corporate customer service rep).
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Learn more about Citibank’s services here.
  • Find a location

Citizens Bank

  • Check cashing fees: $6 for non-account holders.
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Read more about how much Citizens Bank charges for its services on this fee schedule.
  • Find a location

Fifth Third Bank

  • Check cashing fees: Fifth Third Bank charges 1% of the check amount, with a $4 maximum (according to customer service) for non-account holders.
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Read more about how much Fifth Third Bank charges for its services on this fee schedule.
  • Find a location

First National Bank

  • Check cashing fees: $10 for non-account holders.
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Read more about how much First National Bank charges for its services on this fee schedule.
  • Find a location

HSBC

  • Check cashing fees: There is no fee to cash business checks drawn on an HSBC account for non-account holders, but it is up to the individual branch whether they choose to cash it (according to customer service).
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Learn more about HSBC’s services here. For questions about check cashing services, the live chat option gives you immediate access to a customer service rep.
  • Find a location

PNC Bank

  • Check cashing fees: There is no fee to cash business checks drawn on a PNC Bank account.
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Read more about how much PNC charges for its services on this fee schedule.
  • Find a location

SunTrust Bank

  • Check cashing fees: There is no fee for non-account holders if your business check is drawn on a SunTrust account and is less than $50. Checks over $50 that are drawn on a SunTrust account will be charged a $7 cashing fee. You can also cash a non-SunTrust check for a fee of 1 to 3% of the check you are cashing.
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Read the above information and more on this page of the SunTrust website.
  • Find a location

TD Bank

  • Check cashing fees: $7 for non-account holders.
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Learn more about how to cash a check at TD Bank here.
  • Find a location

U.S. Bank

  • Check cashing fees: $7 for non-account holders (according to customer service).
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. Learn more about U.S. Bank’s business operations here.
  • Find a location

Wells Fargo

  • Check cashing fees: $7.50 for non-account holders (according to a bank teller).
  • Other important information: Non-account holders will need two forms of valid ID to cash a check; e.g., a government-issued ID and a bank card. The bank will cash checks up to $2,500, depending on the location.
  • Find a location

Grocery Stores That Cash Business Checks

It is pretty easy to find grocery stores that will cash personal and payroll checks, and some will even cash your business check, too. Think about it from their perspective: If you cash a check at their store, you’re more likely to spend money, right? It can be very convenient since you won’t have to travel elsewhere to get your check cashed. Be prepared to pay a fee (usually around $5 or less) for this convenience.

Dillons

  • Check cashing fees: $3 to $5, depending on the amount of the check.
  • Other important information: You will need your social security number and a current ID to cash a business check. The store will cash checks up to $5,000, depending on the location. Read the above information and more on this page of the Dillons website.
  • Find a location

Fry’s Foods

  • Check cashing fees: $3 to $5, depending on the amount of the check.
  • Other important information: You will need your social security number and a current ID to cash a business check. Check cashing fees and limits vary depending on the location. Read the above information and more on this page of the Fry’s Foods website.
  • Find a location

King Soopers

  • Check cashing fees: $3 to $5, depending on the amount of the check.
  • Other important information: You will need your social security number and a current ID to cash a business check. The store will cash checks up to $5,000, depending on the location. Read the above information and more on this page of the King Soopers website.
  • Find a location

Kroger

  • Check cashing fees: $3 to $5, depending on the amount of the check.
  • Other important information: You will need your social security number and a current ID to cash a business check. Read the above information and more on this page of the Kroger website.
  • Find a location

Ralphs

  • Check cashing fees: $3 to $5, depending on the amount of the check.
  • Other important information: You will need your social security number and a current ID to cash a business check. The store will cash checks up to $5,000, depending on the location. Read the above information and more on this page of the Ralphs website (owned by Kroger).
  • Find a location

Note that handwritten business checks are a little harder to cash, but there are some grocery and check cashing stores that will accept them.

Check Cashing Stores That Cash Business Checks

You’ve probably noticed many check cashing stores as you’ve driven down busy streets. Obviously, these places will cash checks for you, but it will always come at a cost. Fees at check cashing stores often vary by branch or by state, so be sure to check the fees at your local check cashing stores before taking your business check there. While these stores are convenient, their rates may be higher compared to banks and grocery store money centers.

ACE Cash Express

  • Check cashing fees: Yes, the check cashing fees are posted in the store.
  • Other important information: While ACE Cash Express says they cash all the hard-to-cash checks that other places do not, each check is still subject to approval. Be sure to bring in a photo ID. Read the above information and more on this page of the ACE Cash Express website.
  • Find a location

Check ‘N Go

  • Check cashing fees: Yes, but check cashing fees vary by state. Check with your local Check ‘N Go for rates near you.
  • Other important information: Be sure to bring a valid, non-expired Government issued ID. Read the above information and more on this page of the Check ‘N Go website.
  • Find a location

Check Into Cash

  • Check cashing fees: Yes, the check cashing fees are posted in the store.
  • Other important information: While Check Into Cash says they cash ALL types of checks, each one is still subject to a check verification process. Be sure to bring a photo ID. Read the above information and more on this page of the Check Into Cash website.
  • Find a location

Moneytree

Money Mart (California Only)

  • Check cashing fees: Yes, but fees vary by location, check type and amount.
  • Other important information: Be sure to bring a photo ID. Read the above information and more on this page of the Money Mart website.
  • Find a location

PLS Check Cashing

  • Check cashing fees: Fees run as low as 1% plus $1, but vary by location and check amount. Ask a store associate at your local PLS Check Cashing for rates.
  • Other important information: The PLS Checking website says it’s always best to call ahead if you want to cash business checks. Read the above information and more on this page and this page of the PLS Check Cashing website.
  • Find a location

United Check Cashing

  • Check cashing fees: Yes, but fees vary by location.
  • Other important information: Be sure to bring a photo ID. Read the above information and more on this page of the United Check Cashing website.
  • Find a location

USA Check Cashing Store (California Only)

  • Check cashing fees: Yes, USA Check Cashing Store charges a percentage of the amount of the check, but fees vary by location.
  • Other important information: Be sure to bring a photo ID. Read the above information and more on this page of the USA Check Cashing Store website.
  • Find a location

In Summary

If you have a bank account, your best bet is to get your business check cashed there to avoid paying any fees. Otherwise, head to the bank that issued the check and bring two forms of valid ID with you. If you decide to go to a grocery store or check cashing store, be sure to call ahead for local fees and rates and always have a valid ID with you. By using this guide, we hope you are able to cash your business check in an efficient and effortless fashion.

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