A Check is a draft or order on a bank. It is used in place of cash when paying someone or purchasing an item. When you write a check to purchase an item, the cashier will deposit your check into the bank. The bank will verify that there is enough money in your account, and then it will tell the store to release your item to you. Although most banks do not require that a check be written for specific amounts, it is helpful to pay exact amounts to avoid confusion. For example, if you have $1,000 in your account, it is easier to write a check for $1,000 than to write one for $999.99.There are two main types of checks - a check payable to yourself and a check payable to someone else.Check payable to yourself: A check that you write to yourself is called a bank draft. You can use this form of payment when you want to transfer money from your savings or checking account to your loan account. You can usually make these types of payments for free (depending on the bank).Check payable to another person: When you write a check to another person, it has the same effect as using cash. The person who receives the check can take it to the bank and deposit it just like he/she would with cash. The bank will verify that there is enough money in your account, and then it will credit the other person's account.A third type of check is a certified check. A certified check is a special kind of check that is guaranteed by the bank. In order to make a certified check, you must take your regular check to the bank and pay an extra fee. Once the check is certified, a special stamp is placed on it. This stamp shows that it has been guaranteed by the bank, and that the person who receives it can be sure that there is enough money in your account.
