Walmart Check Cashing Policy: Hours, Limit, Fees, and More (2024)

Cashing a check while shopping at Walmart is a great way to get more done at once and save yourself time.

Knowing Walmart's check cashing policy before you visit the store will help ensure a seamless transaction and get you on your way as quickly as possible.

You can cash most checks at Walmart for a fee of about $4 to $8, though there are some exclusions and limits.[1]

Find out more about Walmart’s check cashing policy below.

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Walmart Check Cashing Policy

All Walmart locations cash checks during regular store hours at the customer service desk or Money Services center.[2][3]

Check cashing services are available any day the store is open; this includes Saturdays and Sundays.[2]

I contacted Walmart’s customer service department, reviewed its policy documentation, and contacted stores locations in Nevada, New York, South Dakota, and Texas to find more details of its check cashing policy.

Limits

Walmart typically limits checks it will cash to $5,000. During tax season (January to April), it increases the limit to $7,500.[1]

There is one exception — two-party personal checks, which have a maximum limit of $200.[1]

Note that individual stores may set lower limits. It’s a good idea to check with your local store before bringing in large checks.[3]

There’s no limit on how many checks you can cash at Walmart.[2]

Fees

For most pre-printed checks up to $1,000, the maximum fee is $4; for larger checks up to $5,000, the maximum fee is $8.[1]

Two-party personal checks have a maximum fee of $6.[1]

If you’re cashing checks larger than $5,000 during tax season, check with your local store for fees, as they’ll vary by location.[1]

Acceptable Check Types

Walmart can cash checks drawn on any bank, including Bank of America, Capital One, Chase Bank, Citibank, Fidelity Bank, PNC, Regions Bank, or Wells Fargo.[3]

Acceptable check types include:[1][4][3]

  • Cashier’s checks
  • Government checks
  • Insurance settlement checks
  • Payroll checks
  • Pre-printed checks
  • Tax refund checks
  • 401(k) or retirement distribution checks
  • MoneyGram money orders
  • Western Union money orders
  • Two-party personal checks (some locations)

There are a few additional check types Walmart will run through its verification system before deciding whether it will cash them.

These will generally need to be printed checks, not handwritten:[3]

  • Loan checks
  • Substitute checks
  • Workers’ compensation checks
  • Convenience checks/credit card checks
  • Business checks

Walmart treats and verifies in-state and out-of-state checks in the same way, so it may also cash out-of-state checks, as long as the check meets the store’s other limits and requirements.[2]

Checks Walmart Won’t Cash

While Walmart can cash most check types, there are some that it won’t cash.

These include:[3][2]

  • Third-party checks (See where to cash third-party checks.)
  • Starter checks
  • Savings bond checks
  • Altered checks
  • Checks more than 180 days old
  • Expired checks
  • Post-dated checks
  • Money orders from issuers other than Western Union or MoneyGram (See where to cash a USPS money order.)
  • Comdata Checks/Comcheks
  • Checks written to yourself

Verification

Walmart will only allow you to cash checks made out to you, and the store will verify your identity before cashing your check, so you should bring a valid photo ID.[1]

Most Walmart locations process checks electronically through TeleCheck or Certegy.[3]

These systems base their acceptance decisions on the information in the verification system and how your check compares to all the checks that have passed through the system.[5][6]

This means that the verification system may deny your check if you haven’t cashed many checks in the past, or if there is a reason to suspect that the check is fraudulent or may bounce.[7]

Tip: Walmart uses a scanning machine to read checks, so do your best to keep your check free of wrinkles, tears, and smudges to avoid problems. If the machine cannot read the necessary information, it will deny your check.[3]

If you’re worried that your check may be denied, see the list of check cashing places that don’t use Telecheck or Certegy.

How to Cash a Check at Walmart

To cash a check at Walmart, you don’t need to make a purchase, register with the store, or have a bank account.[1]

Simply bring the check and a valid, government-issued ID to your local Walmart customer service desk or Money Center.[1]

A representative may also ask you to provide your Social Security number.[3]

After the cashier approves your ID, authorizes your check, and you pay the check cashing fee, you have two options for receiving your funds: take the cash immediately or load some or all of it onto a prepaid Walmart MoneyCard debit card.[1][3]

If you’re unfamiliar with the MoneyCard and want to know more before you cash your check, see the Walmart MoneyCard FAQ.

FAQ

What’s the minimum age to cash a check at Walmart?

You must be at least 16 years old to cash a check at Walmart.[3]

Can someone else cash my check for me at Walmart?

No. Walmart requires you to show ID to cash a check, and the name on that ID must match the name on the check.[3]

Can I cash a check with my maiden name on it at Walmart?

No; the name on the check must match the name on your ID exactly.[3]

What should I do if the verification system declines my check?

If TeleCheck denies your check, Walmart will give you TeleCheck’s contact information for further assistance.[8] If Certegy denies it, you can find out why using its Declined Check Lookup.[9] Either way, Walmart cannot override the decision and cash the check, so you’ll need to resolve the issue with the verification company.[3]

In Summary

Walmart will cash most checks of up to $5,000 (or $7,500 during tax season) for a fee of around $4 to $8. Check cashing services are available during regular store hours.[1][3]

You must provide a valid ID and a Walmart associate may ask for your Social Security number.[1][3]

Additionally, all checks must pass Walmart’s check verification system before a representative can cash them.[1]

Don’t hesitate to ask questions, answer other comments, or share your experience with Walmart’s check cashing policy below. Sharing your own experiences may be helpful to others, as well!

Walmart Check Cashing Policy: Hours, Limit, Fees, and More (2024)

FAQs

Walmart Check Cashing Policy: Hours, Limit, Fees, and More? ›

What are the check-cashing limits & fees? In most states the check-cashing limit is $5,000, though we increase this limit to $7,500 between January & April of each year. Check-cashing fees have a $4 maximum for pre-printed checks up to $1,000. For pre-printed checks above $1,000, the maximum fee is $8.

What is the Walmart check cashing limit? ›

Walmart MoneyCenter Services
Bill payConsumers can pay bills in Walmart stores with over 20,000 billers available.
Check cashingCustomers can cash personal checks up to $200 and all other checks up to $5,000 for instant cash or have the amount added to a Walmart MoneyCard.
9 more rows
Mar 2, 2023

Why would Walmart declined cashing a check? ›

1. Insufficient funds: If the person or company issuing the check does not have enough money in their account to cover the check amount, Walmart may refuse to cash it. 2. Expired or stale-dated check: If the check is past a certain date, typically six months to a year, it may be considered expired or stale-dated.

How to calculate check cashing fees? ›

The average fee for check cashing services varies by state, but typically it can be between 1% and 12% of the value of a check. For a $1,000 check, that's a range of $10 to $120 simply to cash a check.

How long can you wait to cash a check at Walmart? ›

How long do you have to cash a check? In most cases, checks are only valid for 180 days, or six months from the date of issuance, though some expire after 90 days.

Can you cash a 15k check? ›

If you have already spent the money, you'll have to pay it back, in addition to possible NSF and overdraft fees. While you can deposit checks over $10,000 at any bank or ATM, cashing this requires the bank to report it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a rule for all cash transactions over $10,000.

Who has the lowest check cashing fees? ›

1. Your Local Bank or Credit Union. One of the best places to cash checks is your local bank or credit union. At most institutions, account holders won't pay a fee for this service – and you can deposit your funds first, then withdraw the cash later.

What checks does Walmart not accept? ›

In addition, we also cash MoneyGram money orders as long as they were originally purchased at Walmart. The only types of checks we cannot cash are personal checks.

Why did Certegy deny cashing my check? ›

A financial history with some negative activity can prompt Certegy to tell the business to deny your check. If you have a criminal history involving fraud or stolen checks, Certegy may flag you. Whether or not their denial of your check is warranted depends on the circumstances.

Why would a check not be able to be cashed? ›

This rejection can occur for various reasons, such as insufficient funds in the depositor's account, discrepancies in the provided account details, a hold or freeze on the account, or suspicious activity triggering security measures.

How can I cash a check without fees? ›

Your best bet for free check cashing is any bank or credit union with whom you have an account. At most institutions, account holders pay nothing to cash checks. Plus, you can deposit the check and withdraw cash later.

Do check cashing companies charge higher fees? ›

Retailers often have a flat fee of $4 to $10, while dedicated check-cashing businesses often charge between 2% and 6% of the check amount, according to our research. That means it's typically a better deal to deposit or cash your check through your bank – which will offer this for free.

How much does PLS charge to cash a $600 check? ›

*A fee of 1% + $1 applies to cashing payroll checks, recurring government benefits, and PLS money orders up to $1,000. Rates for cashing greater checks, other types of checks, and other money orders will vary based on the type and amount of the check and other risk factors. Ask a store associate for fee information.

What is the limit on check cashing at Walmart? ›

How Large a Check Can You Cash at Walmart? The largest two-party personal check you can cash at Walmart is $200. For all other types of checks, the maximum amount is $5,000 from May through December and $7,500 from January through April. Why the difference based on the time of year?

Is there a time limit on cashing a check? ›

Typically, personal checks are good for six months (or 180 days) from when they're dated. After that, they're considered "stale." Legally, banks and credit unions are not obligated to accept stale checks. However, some banks do accept checks older than six months.

How does Walmart verify a check? ›

What Is Telecheck and How Does It Work? Walmart processes personal checks electronically through a third party check verification company. The majority of Walmart stores use Telecheck for this service, but a few do use Certegy.

How much cash back can you get from a check at Walmart? ›

The Walmart cash back limit is $100 with any debit card purchase, and $20 for personal checks. Additionally, customers with either a Capital One Walmart Mastercard or Store Card can use their card's Quick Cash feature to withdraw cash in $20 increments, up to $100.

Where is the easiest place to cash a check? ›

The easiest way to cash a check is to take it to a bank where you have an account. Check-cashing services are found at Walmart and many grocery stores. Checks are commonly issued for personal gifts, payroll, or are government-issued.

How large of a check will Kroger cash? ›

What is the maximum check cashing amount? Check cashing with Money Services is simple and hassle-free, and we can accept checks up to the value of up to $5,000.

Can you cash a check on Cash App? ›

Cash App will automatically take a photo of the check as soon as it is clear and easy to read. Tap Submit. You'll see how much the check is worth displayed here as well as some disclaimer that your money won't be available until it deposits, which usually takes 3-4 business days.

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