William LipovskyShort Answer: If your cashier’s check has been stolen, lost, or you no longer need it, you can cancel it and get the money returned to your bank account. The steps for canceling a cashier’s check vary by bank but are typically similar. Before canceling your cashier’s check, however, know that the refund process can take from 90 up to 180 days and you may be subject to a cancellation fee. For more details on canceling a cashier’s check, see below.
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What Is a Cashier’s Check?
A cashier’s check is a check guaranteed and approved by a bank or credit union. It is signed by a cashier or teller who works at the bank and usually comes with a fee — typically around $10. The funds for the check are drawn from your checking account before the check is created, so it will never bounce and can be used as cash. Cashier’s checks are commonly used in place of cash, personal checks, debit cards, credit cards, money orders, or any other type of payment that is seen to be less “credible.”
See our related research for the list of places where you can get a cashier’s check.
How to Cancel a Cashier’s Check
Before you cancel your check, it’s important to be certain that what you had was really a cashier’s check. If you’re not sure, ask yourself the following questions:
- Did you talk to a bank teller face-to-face?
- Did you provide ID and payee information?
- Were you asked to provide any proper documentation?
- Did you pay a fee to purchase the check?
- Did the teller you spoke with print and sign, stamp, or verify the check?
- Was a receipt provided to you?
If you answered yes to these questions, you purchased a cashier’s check. See below for next steps.
If You Have the Check
If you still have the check, you can simply return it to your bank. In most cases, your bank will tell you how you can endorse the check, then it’ll provide you with a refund. This is done either by depositing the funds back into your account, offering you a cash refund, or giving you a replacement check. Note that cancellation fees may apply. Also, while this sounds simple enough, the process isn’t quick. Before you’ll get your money back into your account, check cancellation can take between 90 and 180 days.
If You Don’t Have the Check
If you don’t have the check anymore, you’ll be required to fill out forms at your bank requesting a reimbursement of the funds. Again, cancellation fees may apply. Another option for lost or stolen cashier’s checks is to wait 90 days from the date the cashier’s check was issued and then file a declaration of loss with the bank.[1] Once the declaration is processed, the bank can issue you a refund check.
If you want the bank to issue you a replacement cashier’s check, you’ll need to first purchase an indemnity bond from an insurance company.[2] This is a specialized type of insurance that would make you liable for the second check, rather than the bank. Indemnity bonds can be difficult to obtain, and many banks will then make you wait anywhere from 30 to 90 days before they’ll issue you a replacement check.
Canceling a Cashier’s Check at Major U.S. Banks
We researched the cashier’s check cancellation policies at several major banks so you’re not left wondering.
Bank of America
- Cashier’s check cancellation policy: Bank of America doesn’t publicize specific information about canceling a cashier’s check. Policies may vary based on the individual branch, the amount of the check, when it was issued, and other specific details of the request.[3]
- Process: Contact your local branch to speak with someone in the Financial Center and make sure that the stop payment will be allowed for your particular situation.[3]
- When/how to contact: Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET or on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. You can reach Bank of America customer service at (800) 432-1000. In addition to calling, you can contact a representative through Facebook chat.
- Find a Bank of America
You can see our related articles for more details on handling checks at Bank of America — such as cashing a third-party check or cashing a large check.
Capital One
- Cashier’s check cancellation policy: You can cancel a cashier’s check if it has been lost, stolen, or destroyed so long as the check has not been cashed yet.[4]
- Process: Visit the branch where you purchased the check to speak with a representative. You’ll be asked to fill out an affidavit. If you ordered the cashier’s check online, Capital One will send you an affidavit form to fill out via mail. Cancellation fees may apply.[4]
- When/how to contact: Representatives are active on Twitter Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. You can also reach general customer service at (877) 383-4802.
- Find a Capital One
Chase Bank
- Cashier’s check cancellation policy: If the cashier’s check was damaged, destroyed, lost, or stolen, you can place a stop payment by phone or within a branch.[5]
- Process: Customers will need to call Chase customer service or visit a local branch to place a stop payment on a cashier’s check. Cancellation fees may apply.[5]
- When/how to contact: Representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 935-9935.
- Find a Chase
Citibank
- Cashier’s check cancellation policy: You can cancel a cashier’s check as needed.[6]
- Process: You can only place a stop payment in person at a branch. There is no fee for a stop payment on a cashier’s check, but it must have been at least 90 days from the date of purchase. Policies may vary for cashier’s checks over $10,000.[6]
- When/how to contact: Many branches are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday (closed Sunday). To speak with a corporate representative, call Citibank at (800) 374-9700.
- Find a Citibank
SunTrust Bank (Now Truist)
- Cashier’s check cancellation policy: You can cancel a cashier’s check as needed.[7]
- Process: Visit your local SunTrust branch to speak with a representative. You’ll need to fill out an Indemnity Agreement & Declaration of Loss form to complete the cancellation. If you would prefer to fill out this form by mail, contact SunTrust’s corporate customer service line to request one. There is typically no fee for canceling an official check.[7]
- When/how to contact: You can contact SunTrust any time at (800) 786-8787 (800-SUNTRUST).
- Find a SunTrust
TD Bank
- Cashier’s check cancellation policy: TD Bank doesn’t publicize specific information about canceling cashier’s checks. Policies may vary based on the branch, the amount of the check, when it was issued, and other individual details of the request. Contact your local TD Bank branch for details on its specific policy.[8]
- Process: Customers will need to visit their local branch to place a stop payment on a cashier’s check. While a fee applies for stop payments on standard checks, there is typically no fee to cancel a cashier’s check.[8]
- When/how to contact: You can contact TD Bank 24/7 at (888) 751-9000.
- Find a TD Bank
Wells Fargo
- Cashier’s check cancellation policy: You can cancel a cashier’s check as needed.[9]
- Process: Customers can place a stop payment on a check or pre-authorized payment online, by phone, or by visiting a bank in person and speaking with a representative. Contact your local branch and ask about the policy regarding your specific situation with the check.[9]
- When/how to contact: You can contact Wells Fargo 24/7 at (800) 869-3557.
- Find a Wells Fargo
If you received a cashier’s check and you want to cash it, our related research lists where you can cash a cashier’s check.
Cathy Desmet
Loren Eaton
Lindsey Desmet
Kait Scirri
Sonya Bateman
Erika Crawford
Joseph Cho
Maria R. Riegger, Esq.
I deposited a cashier check on Friday afternoon by Saturday all fund were available, I spent the money on the weekend, now my account shows negative, the amount of the check, and the check shows on hold! Did the person who gave me the cashier check cancel or put a stop to the check?
Hi Mayra,
You should call you bank as soon as possible to find out exactly what happened with this check. If your account is a checking account, you risk having to pay over draft fees if you account is actually in the negative. It is possible that the cashier’s check was canceled or stopped, but odd that the cancel or stop was processed on a Saturday when most banks are closed. Many banks automatically put a hold on part of the check if the check is for more than a certain amount. If your check was large, it is possible that the bank did put a hold on part of the funds but that the hold didn’t show up immediately when you viewed your account (e.g., if you checked your account online). Without more information though, we can’t give you a for sure answer. Your best bet is to call your bank.
I return a person a check for $ 1,835 dollars, after he overpaid me. Unfortunately the check he sent me was fraudulent and the check I sent him was ver real. Can I stop the check from getting cashed?
Juan,
In order to stop the cashier’s check from getting cashed, you’ll be required to fill out forms at your bank. By doing this you’ll be requesting a reimbursement of the funds. The required forms will vary depending on your bank; we’ve included a few major banks above. If you bank somewhere else, simply contact your bank’s customer service and let them know what’s happened. I hope this helps!
Hi,
I will sell my car and the buyer will pay with a cashiers check. We signed a sales agreement yesterday.
Is the cashiers check a secure way or would I have to worry to not get the money/is there any way that the buyer cancel the payment after picking up the car?
Thanks
Hi John,
A cashier’s check is considered a fairly secure form of payment, as it represents guaranteed funds (because the purchaser paid cash for it). Whether the buyer can cancel the cashier’s check will depend largely on the policies of the bank that issued the check — some don’t allow stop payments on cashier’s checks at all, some require the purchaser to wait 90 days from the date of issue before a cancellation can be requested, and some will allow for more immediate stop payment requests. (All of this assumes that the cashier’s check is legitimate; counterfeit cashier’s checks have been known to crop up in numerous types of scams. If you have any suspicions about the buyer, you may wish to request cash.) I hope this helps!
Before handing over anything of value, please call the bank to verify the check is authentic; there are many fraudulent (fake) cashiers checks made. Look up the bank phone number on google.
Lee,
Thanks for your comment! It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and verifying the legitimacy of a cashier’s check with the bank is a smart move when you’re selling anything of value.
I bank with Wells Fargo and used a cashier’s check $225k+ to purchase a home. We mailed the check through the USPS with tracking to a law firm. The check was mailed on 2/13 with an expected delivery date of 2/17. Per the USPS, my money is still in transit…I call it lost. Can I put a stop payment on the cashier’s check? Are their any fees associated with this? How long must I wait to have the money put back into my account so I can wire the money instead?
Hi Henry,
According to the Wells Fargo website, you can request a stop payment for a check by calling 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557) or by visiting Wells Fargo Online. There will be a fee associated with the stop payment; Wells Fargo recommends that you refer to your Consumer Account Fee and Information Schedule for information about the applicable fees for your particular account. You can read more about stop payments on the Requests FAQs page of the Wells Fargo website. As far as how long it will take for the money to be restored to your account, a Wells Fargo representative will likely be able to give you a specific estimate for your situation. I hope this helps!
I used a cashier check for $7000 to purchase a vehicle from a private seller yesterday 01/30/2017. Today I discovered that the vehicle I purchased is stolen. When contacting my bank via phone (Golden One Credit Union) and explaining the situation they state there is nothing they can do and the check has not been cashed yet. What are my options?
Hi Zack,
Sorry to hear about the frustrating situation you’ve had with the car purchase! I visited the Golden 1 Credit Union website, and it states that a stop payment may be placed on a cashier’s check for a fee of $25. Did you discuss this option with the representative at all? If the representative stated that the stop payment was not possible, did they provide any further details about why this is the case? Since the check has not yet been cashed, it seems that this would be the logical step to take. (You’ll also want to contact the police about what to do with the car, if you haven’t already. Although not specific to cars, this article from Aizman Law Firm explains some of the legal implications of your situation.) Best of luck getting this resolved!
Hello I just sent out a cashiers check out to bring my sons car payments up to date $ 2500.+ yesterday priority mail I have a tracking #, son has changed his mind.is it possible to cancel that check or maybe stop delivery of that check. Thank you RB
Hi Russell,
Certain banks do not allow a stop payment to be placed on a cashier’s check. You’ll need to contact your bank directly to find out the policies for cashier’s checks. If stop payments are not allowed, you may be able to work with the company to whom the payment was made to prevent the check from being cashed. Depending on the shipping service used, you may also be able to redirect the check before it reaches its intended recipient. For example, USPS offers a service called Package Intercept that allows en route packages to be sent to a different address or back to the sender. I hope this helps!
thats very helpfull thanks for your time
My Mother’s credit union, Desrt Schools made an error on her rent cashiers check. They mistyped and added an extra 1, taking out $10k more than they were supposed to. The rental company didn’t notify her of the error and deposited it into their account. They are refusing to return her money and telling her to do a stop payment. The credit union states they can’t do a stop payment. Is this true and what can we do to get her money back? Thank you!
Hi Sandra,
That sounds like a very frustrating situation! Unfortunately, Desert Schools Credit Union’s Statements of Terms, Conditions, and Disclosures states the following: “CASHIER’S CHECKS. In accordance with applicable laws and guidelines, a stop payment may not be placed on a cashier’s check.” This means that your best bet will likely be working with rental company directly to explain the situation and hopefully reach a resolution with them, as there is no way to place a stop payment from the bank’s end. Sorry I couldn’t bring you better news!
I got a cashiers check from Wells Fargo to pay for cabinets and they (Home Depot) cashed check and I still don’t have a completed kitchen. What recourse do I have?
My bank account closed. 3 weeks later my pension/direct deposit was accepted (even tho account was closed due to overdraft fees). They took overdraft fees out of my pension check and then reissued a bank check less the overdraft fees and sent to my old address! I now have not received their bank check and essentially left struggling w/o any pension since end of September. Do I have any recourse?
Thank you.
Hi Vicki,
Sorry to hear about the trouble you’ve been having! Unfortunately, you’ll have to work with the bank directly to figure out how to get your money. Once you get in touch and explain the situation, the bank may simply cancel the previous check and send a new one to your current address. You can ask if there’s a faster or more direct way for you to get the money, but that may be the only option available. Best of luck getting this resolved!
I lost a $1600 bank check made out to my landlord. Bank of America ( where the bank check came from) will not let me stop it or cancel it. Is there any way that I can make sure that no one else that finds check can cash or deposit it?
Hi Steve,
You can get a refund but for cashier’s checks over 1k, you must wait until the 91st day after the check was issued to get a refund. Until then, it’s sort of like you’ve lost cash. I wish I could provide you with a cheerier answer.
The article has been updated to reflect this information.
Exboy friend on account withdrew $5k and then $25k without me knowing. We’ve been broken up for 5 years I forgot he was on my account I sold my house recently and put the money in the bank. I called Bank of America it was 11:00 pm to see how the funds were withdrawn they couldn’t tell me, said I had to call bank in the morning. I went to the bank in the morning and was told the funds were taken out by cashiers check and I couldn’t place a stop payment on them. Is this true. I’m out 30k
Hi Maxine,
I just spoke with corporate customer service and was told that you could go into a branch and they have the ability to place a stop payment on the checks and get the funds returned to the account. But of course ONLY IF the checks have not already been cashed/deposited. So act quickly.
my suntrust cashers check has ben stolen 16500. can i get my money back now
Contact Suntrust right away and have them cancel the check! If it hasn’t been cashed/deposited by someone else, you can still get a refund.