How to Write a Check 

While many people nowadays tend to make payments with their debit card or on their mobile banking apps on their phone, writing a physical check is still an important part of everyday banking and personal finance.

Whether it’s sending money for service rendered, receiving money from your employer, or getting money in a card, checks remain an integral part of daily life.

If you have never written a check before, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write a check.

Numbers on a Check

Before we get into how to write a check, you should know the individual sections of a check. Three important numbers that you’ll likely see in the exact same place in every check include:

• Bank routing number. Every bank has a specific identification number known as a routing number that is located on the bottom-left corner of a check. It is nine digits and is especially important for online banking transactions.
• Account number. Your individual checking account number is located right next to the bank routing number.
• Check number. This number appears in the upper right corner of the check and the bottom right-hand corner next to the account number.

Writing a Valid Check

While filling out a check isn’t too difficult, there are specific tasks that you need to follow to write a valid check…

• Date. You’ll write the date on the line in the upper right-hand corner. This detail helps the person receiving the check know when it was written.
• Pay to the Order. The line that says “Pay to the Order of” is where you write the name of the person, company, or organization you want to pay. If you’re unsure of the person or organization’s exact name, take time to find out and ensure it’s written correctly.
• Check amount (numerical). This box on the right-hand side of the check is where you’ll write the numerical amount for the check. You should write the amount as close to the left-hand border as possible; that way, someone can’t write additional to the left and commit fraud. If you don’t want to use the whole space, draw an invisible line through to the end.
• Check amount (written out). Write out the dollar amount in words directly below the “Pay to the Order of” line. This task is essential because the words will rule out any potential inconsistencies between the two amounts.
• Memo. Writing in the memo section isn’t always necessary, but it can help you track down payments if need be. When paying taxes as well as for products or services, you should write your account number or Social Security Number (SSN) in this section.
• Signature. A check is not a valid form of payment without the proper signature. Sign the check on the line in the bottom right corner.

How to Write a Check for 1000

Now that you know how to write a check, here is how to write a check for 1000 dollars with what you have learned:

1. Write today’s date.
2. In the “Pay to the Order of” line, write the name of the person or company you’re paying with this check.
3. Write “1000.00” in the box on the right-hand corner of the check.
4. Write “one-thousand dollars” in the line directly below “Pay to the Order of.”
5. If you want to track the payment, write your account number or SSN in the “Memo” line.
6. Sign your name on the line in the bottom right corner.

Balancing Your Checkbook

Even though balancing your checkbook has mostly transitioned to online portals and mobile apps maintaining a record of all your transactions (whether cash or deposit) is important. Doing so ensures the records you keep for your financial transactions match with those of the bank. Credit union members should also balance their checkbooks as a way to keep track of their account activity and ensure their records match the credit union. Most people balance their checkbooks after receiving their monthly statements. They would compare whatever transactions they hand listed in their checkbook register (also known as a “check register”), a paper document that is used to keep track of financial transactions, with what their bank statement has listed. Acceptable credit card usage is balancing your credit card statement every month. This means that you should compare the transactions that your credit card company has listed on your monthly statement with the transactions that you have listed in your check register. If there are any discrepancies, you will need to take action and correct them. If you’ve never balanced your checkbook before, then here is what you need to do:

1. Look up the “current available balance” in your checking account on either your bank’s website or through its mobile app. For a paper checkbook register, record this number above the spaces you record your transactions on.
2. Write down pending transactions you know are coming but have not yet cleared, including debits, credits, and checks. Write down the date of the transaction, a brief description, and the check number (for checks).
3. Subtract the amount of the transaction from your balance when taking debit into account. Conversely, you’ll add the amount for each credit (like when you deposit a check). Continue doing this until you have recorded all your transactions.
4. Track fees and interest.
5. Record every transaction you make in your check register.
6. Log on to your financial institution account and compare your bank’s records of every time you withdrew or deposited money with your own. Matching records means you have a balanced checkbook.

If your numbers and your bank’s numbers don’t match, then look through both your records and the bank’s transaction history to find the error. Maybe you forgot to record a transaction or you accidentally switched out a couple of numbers. The only way to discover the error is to start from the last time your checkbook was balanced and work your way forward. If you utilize credit card payment, make sure to keep an eye on your balance to avoid discrepancies. Credit card companies may sometimes charge different amounts for the same purchase, depending on when the purchase was made. So, if you’re not careful, you could end up paying more for purchase than you thought. Common discrepancies are one of the many reasons for balancing your checkbook more often than once a month. That way, you’ll have fewer transactions to worry about if you balance your checkbook once a week or once every two weeks.

Digital Balancing Options

If you’d rather balance your checkbook online instead of with pen and paper, then we have some ways for you to do that as well:

• Daily Online Check-In with Your Bank. Log onto your banking account every day to keep track of your transactions within 24 hours of making them. Credit and debit card companies offer apps that allow you to do this on your phone.
• Account Aggregators. Several online programs (like Mint.com and Personal Capital) let you see an analysis of all your financial accounts in one place. This includes checking and saving accounts and loans.
• Open-Source Spreadsheets. You can also make a transaction register on open-source spreadsheet software. Two examples are Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Credit card companies may also provide a downloadable transaction register in PDF or Excel format on their websites.
• Accounting Programs. Accounting software for your computer and mobile phones, such as Quicken and YNAB, is another option. It automatically populates some transactions, but there may be some details for you to finish.

Shiirs is Here to Help!

Shiirs can help you with many personal finance activities such as writing a check and balancing your checkbook. When it comes to financial advice, our expert staff will always steer you in the right direction. Visit our website and learn how we can help you with your finances!