Check Cashing Fees Explained by State & Check Cashing Place

Check cashing fees vary depending on the retailer, check type, check amount, and state laws. While you can typically cash a check for free at a bank where you have an account, at most other places, you will pay a fee. Fees can be up to 10% of the total check amount, but they are typically 5% or less.

Below, we’ve summarized the maximum check cashing fees established by states that set them, as well as the fees at different check cashing locations like retail stores, banks, and money service stores and apps.

Table of Contents

State Laws on Check Cashing Fees

Check cashing fees are not technically dictated by state law, but many states do impose maximum check cashing fees that a check casher may charge for certain types of checks. In these states, such laws take precedent over the fees set by individual companies. Many states also provide legal exemptions to the maximum check cashing fees, or they only impose maximum fees only for certain types of checks.

You can use the table below for a comparison of the maximum check cashing fees established by each state. Note: This table only includes the 25 states that set restrictions on check cashing fees; if your state does not appear in the table, it does not impose a maximum fee.

State	Maximum Fees
Arizona	3% for government checks
California	3% for government, 12% for personal, and 3.5% for payroll checks
Connecticut	2% for personal and payroll checks
Delaware	2% for personal and payroll checks
Florida	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
Georgia	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
Hawaii	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
Illinois	1.5% to 3.5%
Indiana	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
Louisiana	2% for government, 10% for personal and payroll checks
Maine	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
Maryland	2% for government, 10% for personal, and 4% for payroll checks
Mississippi	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
New Jersey	2% for personal and payroll checks
New York	2% for personal and payroll checks
North Carolina	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
Ohio	3% for government checks
Oregon	2% for government, 5% for personal, and 3% for payroll checks
Pennsylvania	2.5% for government, 10% for personal, and 3% for payroll checks
Rhode Island	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
South Carolina	2% for government, 7% for personal, and 2% for payroll checks
Tennessee	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
Vermont	3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks
Washington, D.C.	2% for government, 10% for personal, and 4% for payroll checks
West Virginia	1% for all types of checks; for checks under $100, the maximum fee is $1

Check Cashing Fees at Different Locations

Aside from state maximums, individual retail locations and financial institutions set their own check cashing fees. Below, we’ve summarized the check cashing fees at several different locations, as confirmed by company websites and customer service. Check cashing fees will vary based on the type and amount of check. When cashing checks at grocery stores, fees will often be lower if you have a store shopper’s card.

See the table below, then click any business name or scroll to the list below for more details.

Check Cashing Location	Fee
Bank of America	$8 for non-customers
Chase	$8 for non-customers
Citibank	None
ACE Cash Express	5% of check amount
Ingo Money	5% for immediate cashing (no fee if you choose to wait 10 days)
PayPal	5% for immediate cashing (no fee if you wait 10 days)
PLS Check Cashing	Fee varies based on check amount and risk factors
The Check Cashing Store	Fee is percentage and varies based on check type
Walmart	$4 to $8 depending on check amount
H-E-B	Fees start at $3 and vary based on check amount
Kmart	$1 for most checks
Amscot	Fee varies based on check type and amount
Winn-Dixie	$3.50
Money Services	$4 to $7.50 based on check amount
HSBC	$3 to $5 depending on check amount
Fifth Third Bank	1% of check amount; maximum $4
KeyBank	$7, or 1.5% at KeyBank Plus locations
M&T Bank	2% of the check amount; minimum $3
Regions Bank	1% to 4% depending on check amount
SunTrust Bank	$7 for SunTrust checks or 1% to 3% of check amount
TD Bank	$7 for non-customers

Banks

The following are major U.S. banks that cash most types of checks for both customers and non-customers. Other major banks limit the types of checks they’ll cash for non-customers to checks drawn on the bank. Most of the banks below also offer mobile check deposit options, so you can deposit a check into your bank account without visiting a branch. This service is also generally free for account holders.

Remember that you can usually cash a check for free by cashing it at a bank where you have an account. If you don’t have an account, many banks charge a fee.

Bank of America

Fee: Free for customers and $8 for non-customers
Mobile deposit available? Yes
Find out more

Chase

Fee: Free for customers and $8 for non-customers
Mobile deposit available? Yes
See our research about Chase’s check cashing policy

Citibank

Fee: Free for customers for non-customers
Mobile deposit available? Yes
Find out more

Fifth Third Bank

Fee: 1% of the total check amount, with a maximum of $4
Mobile deposit available? Yes
Find out more

HSBC

Fee: None to cash HSBC personal checks. Otherwise, it is $3 for checks up to $100 and $5 for checks $100 and more.
Mobile deposit available? Yes
Find out more

KeyBank

Fee: $7 per check at regular KeyBank branches and 1.5% of the check amount at KeyBank Plus locations
Mobile deposit available? Yes
Find out more

M&T Bank

Fee: 2% of the total check amount (minimum $3)
Mobile deposit available? Yes
Find out more

Regions Bank

Fee: 1% to 4% of the total check amount, depending on the check type
Mobile deposit available? Yes
Find out more

SunTrust Bank

Fee: $7 for SunTrust checks; otherwise, it is 1% to 3% of the check amount
Mobile deposit available? Yes
Find out more

TD Bank

Fee: Free for customers and $7 for non-customers
Mobile deposit available? Yes
Find out more

Check Cashing Stores and Apps

The following check cashing stores and apps cash most types of checks for a fee.

ACE Cash Express

Fee: 5% of the check amount
Mobile deposit available? Yes, through the ACE Mobile Loads app (powered by Ingo Money)
See our research on ACE’s check cashing fees

Ingo Money

Note: If you’ve cashed six or more checks within the prior 90-day period, you will qualify for Ingo Gold Preferred Pricing, and the fee to cash checks will be from 1% to 4% depending on the check type.

Fee: 5% (with a $5 minimum fee per check) for immediate cashing. There is no fee if you choose to wait 10 days to receive your money.
Mobile deposit available? Yes, Ingo Money is an online-only service
Find out more

PayPal

Fee: 5% (with a $5 minimum fee per check) for immediate cashing. There is no fee if you choose to wait 10 days to receive your money.
Mobile deposit available? Yes, PayPal deposits are online only
Find out more

PLS Check Cashing

Fee: Varies; fees are system-generated based on the amount of the check and other risk factors
Mobile deposit available? No
See our research about PLS Check Cashing’s policies

The Check Cashing Store

Fee: A percentage of the amount of the check, which varies by check type. For example, the fee to cash a tax refund check is 5% of the check amount.
Mobile deposit available? Yes
See our research about The Check Cashing Store’s policies

Retail Stores

There are also several retail and grocery stores that cash checks for a fee. These can be convenient options if you don’t have a bank account (since fees for retail stores are typically lower than non-customer bank fees), but you still want to cash a check in person.

Walmart

Walmart check cashing fees are based on the check amount and range from $4 to $8. See our research on Walmart’s check cashing policy.

H-E-B

H-E-B check cashing fees start at $3 and are determined by the check amount (as previously reported).

Kmart

Kmart charges a fee of $1 for most checks, including payroll, government, and tax refund checks. In Illinois and Rhode Island, the fee is $0.50. If you are a Shop Your Way member, the fee may be reduced. In certain states, there is no fee to cash checks at Kmart. For more information, see our research on Kmart’s check cashing policy.

Amscot

Amscot’s check cashing fees vary based on check type and amount. They generally range from about 2% to 10% of the check amount. See our research on Amscot’s check cashing fees.

Winn-Dixie

Winn-Dixie charges about $3.50 to cash checks and only cashes payroll checks (as previously reported).

Grocery Stores That Partner With Money Services

Several grocery stores across the nation partner with Money Services to provide check cashing services. The fee structure is as follows:

$4 for checks up to $2,000 if you have a store Shopper’s Card and $4.50 without a Shopper’s Card
$7 for checks up to $5,000 if you have a Shopper’s Card and $7.50 without a Shopper’s Card

The following stores have Money Services locations inside, and their check cashing fees are as listed above. (Note: Linked store names will take you to our previous research on that store’s check cashing policy.)