Cashing a check for someone else

Can you cash a check

At Kroger, we don’t accept any personal or third-party checks, so you won’t be able to cash a check for someone else at your local Money Services, unless it’s a business check for someone else.

The main types of checks we do accept are:

Payroll checks
Business checks
Government checks
Income tax refund checks
Insurance settlement checks

Situations where you can cash a check for someone else include if you are getting a payment from the IRS or a company. However, we’d advise to always check with your local Money Services before endorsing the check to someone else.

Banks will allow you to cash or deposit a personal check for someone else. This is especially useful for people without a bank account, as it means a friend or family member can cash in a personal check for you.

To successfully endorse a check, follow these steps:

Ask the person who the check is from if their bank will allow you to sign a check over to someone else.
Check with the person who is depositing the check if their bank will accept a check that has been signed over.
If so, sign your name on the back of the check
Include any additional details such as whether it’s to be deposited or cashed
Check to make sure the signature and name on the front of the check are the same
Ensure the signature is on the line
If you are making a deposit to your bank account, include the account number.

By endorsing the check, you are giving the bank permission to collect the payment. It’s always recommended you wait until you’re at the bank before signing the check. Once the check is signed, if it gets lost it can be easy for someone else to cash it and take your money.

Another thing to be careful of when cashing a check for someone else is the check bouncing. Should this happen, the funds will be taken from your account if it is a bad check.

Often when cashing a check, the funds will show up in your account immediately. But it can take the bank a few days to actually process the check. As this process can take a while, it’s recommended you don’t hand over any cash until you’re sure the check has been processed.

How to sign a check

If you have a check and would like someone else to cash it for you, you’ll need to sign it over to them. This allows them to either deposit or cash the check.

Due to the risk of fraud, your bank may not want to cash the check, so it’s recommended you go to the bank with the person depositing the check and present your ID.

Banks often prefer to verify your signature before handing over your money to another person.

If you don’t have a bank account, using a prepaid debit card can be a good solution.

1
Check your bank allows this type of endorsement
2
Check the other party’s bank also endorses this
3
Sign the back and write ‘pay to the order of’ and the name of the new payee, followed by your signature.

Prepaid debit cards

If you’re struggling to get someone to cash a check for you, using a prepaid debit card could be an option.

Most prepaid cards have an app that lets you upload a photograph of your check and deposit it to the card. Those without a bank account or good credit history can apply for a prepaid card.

But there can be high fees to pay on purchases, and some providers limit the amount of money you can load or spend.

For more information on managing your money, prepaid cards or any of the other services available, head to your local Kroger Family of Stores.

Can you cash a check for someone else at Money Services?