What Is a Void Cheque?

A void cheque is a cheque that has the word ‘VOID’ written on it in large letters. This renders it invalid and prevents anyone from filling it out, making it out to themselves and/or trying to cash it. At the same time, it still shows the banking information needed for direct deposits or preauthorized payments.

Write “VOID” across whats a voided cheque the front of the check with a blue or black permanent marker. Use large letters that fill up the entire check, or write “VOID” in smaller letters on the date, payee, amount, and signature lines. This eliminates any risk of losing funds from your account because no one else can use the check to withdraw funds. Also, you cannot discard it because someone may use it to withdraw funds from your account.

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Say you have a monthly cell phone bill that is the exact same amount every month. Instead of physically paying it off every time you get a bill, you can set up an automatic withdrawal with a void cheque. Then, when payment is needed, it will automatically come out of your bank account. You just need to ensure you have enough funds in the account to cover it (this is where overdraft protection comes in handy, too). Nowadays, most banks offer the ability to print a void cheque directly from your online bank account. However, if this isn’t an option you can create a void cheque on your own.

This is because you can make a mistake while copying the details on the check. The word ‘VOID’ is written in capital letters, so it is not mistaken for cash use. When you void a check, you prevent the check from being used by anyone to withdraw money.

• Subject to identity verification and minimum load requirements.
• A voided check is simply a paper check with the word “VOID” written across it, often in big letters, indicating without a doubt that it shouldn’t be used for making a payment.
• If you don’t have a check to give, ask whether you can provide a counter check, a copy of a deposit slip, or a letter from your bank.
• The Smart Investor (this website) is an independent financial website.
• However, we advocate for you to continue to do your own research and make educated decisions.
• Often, banks will provide instructions on how you can set up a direct deposit without a voided check.

Voiding ensures that you’re not giving a blank cheque that could be misused. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products.

• Through July 2, 2025, earn up to $700 after opening a Performance Chequing Account with an Eligible Bank Plan and a Savings Amplifier Account and add a family member as part of the Family Bundle.
• A voided check is a check with the word “void” written across the front, which indicates that it shouldn’t be accepted for payment.
• The only way to give yourself peace of mind is to void the check and then throw it out or shred it.
• Then, when payment is needed, it will automatically come out of your bank account.
• Voided checks are often used to provide banking information without risking a payment.

Jordann Kaye is a content marketing manager and spokesperson at Zolo Canada and freelance financial writer based in Halifax with more than 10 years’ experience. She writes about personal finance topics, such as investing, insurance, credit cards, and real estate. A void cheque is a regular cheque with the word VOID written across the front of the cheque. There are three main reasons why you may find yourself in need of a void cheque. Our writers and editors used an in-house natural language generation platform to assist with portions of this article, allowing them to focus on adding information that is uniquely helpful. The article was reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff prior to publication.

Below are a few of the most common questions we receive from people looking into what a voided check is. If you have further questions you would like to ask our team, don’t hesitate to get in touch. To void a cheque, you simply need to write the word “VOID” in ink in large capital letters across the front, without covering the numbers at the bottom of the check. It’s a good idea not to sign the cheque to safeguard it from being misused. You won’t need a void cheque very often, but it’s very inconvenient not knowing how to make one when you do.

While certain people may be concerned over the safety of voided checks, no financial institution will cash or deposit a check that has the term “void” on its face. This is because the paying bank will not release funds for the check after completing the bank transaction validation process. Setting Up Automated PaymentsThe second common reason for needing a void cheque is to set up preauthorized payments.

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Then, on paydays, instead of receiving a physical cheque that you need to deposit yourself, your pay will be deposited directly into your bank account. A voided check is simply a paper check with the word “VOID” written across it, often in big letters, indicating without a doubt that it shouldn’t be used for making a payment. This precautionary measure prevents the check from being misused, whether you used it previously for an electronic payment or by thieves who might attempt to write a large sum of money out to themselves. Grab a check out of your checkbook, and write “void” across the front. Write with well-spaced letters that are tall and wide enough to cover the whole face of the check without obscuring the banking information at the bottom. You want to make it difficult for thieves to erase or cover your void mark.

Q: Can I void a check online?

We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. You can even directly link your Wise account to your US bank, brokerage, credit card provider, PayPal, and many other services — and automate your payments through direct debits, which are free. If you don’t have a paper check, you can always go to your nearest bank branch and request a voided check. If you prefer the convenience that online banking provides, then check out Wise. Wise is a safe and easy way to send, receive and manage your money without any old-fashioned banks involved.

What is a void cheque used for?

A void cheque is a way for an employer or company to ensure it has your correct banking details. However, if it doesn’t insist on an actual voided cheque, you can simply contact your bank to confirm transit, institution and account numbers. Depending on your online banking portal, you may be able to print your void cheque online. To check, log into your online banking portal and go to your chequing account. If there is an option to print a void cheque, you’ll find it in your account details. First, your online banking portal may be able to provide you with a void cheque on demand.

When it comes to approving automatic payments or direct deposits, voided checks do provide you with the easiest approach. Nevertheless, if you don’t want to void a check or you don’t have a checkbook, there are typically other options available. Despite being an invalid form of payment, a voided check, which shows your bank’s routing, account and check numbers, can play an important role in setting up various financial transactions. It can serve as a conduit for establishing direct deposits, ACH transfers or to schedule electronic payments from a checking account, whether for personal or business use. Consumers often provide their own routing and account numbers online without any problem, so voided checks are required less frequently. For example, online banks allow you to link external accounts by typing in those details yourself.

You can get a void check for your checking account by writing “void” across the face of any check in your checkbook. Alternatively, your bank may provide you with a downloadable void check, which you can access from your online bank account. Lastly, if you do not have a checkbook or a downloadable void check option, you can visit your branch in person and request that they provide you with a void check.

What Is a Void Cheque Used For?

The best way to make sure you can prepare a cheque that is void quickly is to order a book of cheques from your financial institution and keep them on hand for an occasion when you need them. Then, you can tear a cheque from the book, void it, and give it to whoever needs it. Finally, if you don’t have any cheques to hand, you can request them from your bank. Your bank will most likely charge you a fee to purchase cheques and you’ll have to wait for them to come in the mail, so this may not be a good choice if you need your void cheque quickly. You may also request a letter from your bank with your vital account information, or you can get a preprinted deposit slip or counter cheque from your bank and use that instead. Voiding the cheque ensures that you aren’t sending out a “blank cheque” that criminals could fill in and use to withdraw money from your account.

Before writing one, you’ll want to understand the information on the cheque itself. Before exploring other options, could you please share the check date? This will help us see if you reconciled it in a previous period, which might explain why the voided check amount still shows up as a deposit. You can still use that check to grab or provide your bank routing and account number as those numbers are tied to your bank account and not individual checks, however. The most purpose in pretty much every case is to provide critical banking information to an individual or an organization so they can establish a direct link to that account. If both of these options fail you might want to ask the bank to record your pertinent account information and then notarize the letter, making sure it’s printed on their official letterhead.