William Lipovsky
Below, I list the places where you can cash a 401(k) check from Fidelity, Vanguard, or another plan administrator, categorized by banks and credit unions, check cashing stores, and grocery stores.
Details include each business’s limits, fees, and requirements.
You’ll also find a list of places that won’t cash a 401(k) check to ensure you’re covered.
What I Recommend
If you have a bank account, your own bank can be a convenient place to cash or deposit your 401(k) checks. Check processing services are typically free for account holders as well.
If you don’t have a bank account or can’t get to your bank, you can visit the issuing bank or credit union, a check cashing store, or a grocery store with check cashing services.
Your plan administrator (Fidelity, Vanguard, etc.) usually doesn’t matter when choosing where to cash your check. Instead, you’ll need to find a place with a high enough limit to cover your check amount and fees that you find reasonable.
Walmart is a good option for most checks, with lower fees than other check cashing places ($4 to $8).[1]
However, if your check is worth more than $5,000, a check cashing store like ACE Cash Express or PLS may work better for you, since they tend to keep more cash on hand to process larger checks.[2][3]
Comparison Table
See the table below for a quick comparison of the limits and fees associated with 401(k) check cashing at the places that offer it, then select any business or scroll to the list for more information.
You can sort the table using the arrows at the top of any column.
Note that the limits and fees for banks and credit unions don’t typically apply to account holders.
| Establishment | Limit | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Citibank | $5,000 | None; not available in all locations |
| Fifth Third Bank | Varies by cash availability | 2% of the check |
| KeyBank | $5,000 | Vary for checks greater than $15 |
| Truist Bank | Varies by cash availability | $8 |
| Chase Bank | Varies by location | $10 for checks greater than $50 |
| Regions Bank | Varies by cash availability | 1% to 4% ($5 minimum) for checks greater than $25 |
| ACE Cash Express | Varies by location | Vary by state |
| PLS Check Cashing | Varies by cash availability | Vary by location |
| Check Into Cash | None | Vary by location |
| Advance Financial | None | 1% to 5% ($5 minimum) |
| Money Mart | None | Vary by state |
| CheckSmart | None | Vary by location and check |
| Kroger | $5,000 | Vary by check amount |
| Fred Meyer | $5,000 | Vary by check amount |
| Ralphs | $5,000 | Vary by check amount |
| King Soopers | $5,000 | Vary by check amount |
| Walmart | $5,000 or $7,500 | Up to $4 for checks $1,000 or less; up to $8 for checks above $1,000 |
| Safeway | $1,500 | Vary by location and check amount |
| Albertsons | $1,500 | Vary by location and check amount |
The List
Regardless of where you have your 401(k) account, there are several places you can go to cash your 401(k) checks.
I list these places below, categorized by the type of establishment; I organized the list in each category starting with the best overall options.
Banks and Credit Unions
Your personal bank or credit union can cash your 401(k) check for you, free of charge.
It may limit you to immediately cashing the available amount in your account so that the bank can recover its funds if the check bounces. You can deposit the remaining amount.
If you don’t have an account at a bank or credit union, the following banks and credit unions can still cash your 401(k) check, but you will likely need to pay an additional fee.
Note that limits and fees listed below apply to non-account holders.
1. Citibank
- Limit: $5,000;[4][5] find out more about Citibank check cashing.
- Fees: None, though not all locations cash checks.[6][4]
- Requirements: Must have a valid government-issued ID; checks must be drawn on Citibank for non-customers.[6][4]
- Find a location
2. KeyBank
- Limit: $5,000[7]
- Fees: Vary by state for checks greater than $15[7]
- Requirements: Two forms of ID, including one valid government-issued, photo ID; checks must be drawn on KeyBank for non-customers.[7]
- Find a location
3. Fifth Third Bank
- Limit: Depends on how much cash it has available[8]
- Fees: 2% of the check[8]
- Requirements: Government-issued ID; checks above $500 not drawn on Fifth Third Bank must pass its verification system.[8]
- Find a location
4. Regions Bank
- Limit: Depends on how much cash it has available[9]
- Fees: 1% to 4% of the check amount ($5 minimum fee); none for checks of $25 or less drawn on Regions bank[10]
- Requirements: Must enroll in check cashing services; enrollment requires a valid ID and Social Security number.[11]
- Find a location
5. Chase Bank
- Limit: Varies by location;[12] find out more about check cashing at Chase Bank.
- Fees: $10 per check greater than $50[13]
- Requirements: Government-issued photo ID; having two forms of ID is recommended, as some locations require this to cash checks greater than $500; non-customers can only cash checks that are drawn on Chase Bank.[13]
- Find a location
6. Truist Bank
- Limit: Depends on how much cash it has available[14]
- Fees: $8[14]
- Requirements: Valid photo ID; checks must be drawn on Truist Bank for non-customers.[14]
- Find a location
Find out more about banks that cash checks even if you don’t have an account.
Check Cashing Stores
If you don’t want to use a bank or credit union, you can usually find 401(k) check cashing at major check cashing stores.
Keep in mind that check cashing stores sometimes have higher fees than banks.
1. ACE Cash Express
- Limit: None[2]
- Fees: Vary by state (up to about 10%)[15]
- Requirements: Valid, government-issued photo ID[15]
- Find a location
2. PLS Check Cashing
- Limit: However much cash it has on hand[3]
- Fees: Vary by location, but can be as low as 1% of the check amount plus $1[16]
- Requirements: Government-issued photo ID[17] [3]
- Find a location
3. Check Into Cash
- Limit: None[18]
- Fees: Vary by location (usually around 3% to 5%)[19]
- Requirements: Valid, government-issued photo ID[19]
- Find a location
4. Advance Financial
- Limit: None[20]
- Fees: 1% to 5% or a minimum of $5, whichever is larger[21]
- Requirements: Valid, government-issued photo ID[21]
- Find a location
5. Money Mart
- Limit: None[22]
- Fees: Vary by state[23]
- Requirements: Government-issued photo ID[23]
- Find a location
6. CheckSmart
- Limit: None[24]
- Fees: Vary by location and check[24]
- Requirements: Government-issued ID[25]
- Find a location
Grocery Stores
The following grocery stores cash government checks, including 401(k) checks.
1. Walmart
- Limit: Generally $5,000, but it increases to $7,500 from January and April;[1] find out more about Walmart’s check cashing policy.
- Fees: Maximum of $4 for checks up to and including $1,000; maximum of $8 for checks $1,000.1 to $5,000[1]
- Requirements: Valid form of ID[1]
- Find a location
2. Kroger
- Limit: $5,000;[26] find out more about Kroger’s check cashing policy.
- Fees: Vary by check amount, with a discount for store card holders;[26] you can see your exact fee amount on Kroger’s Money Services site.
- Requirements: Government-issued photo ID and Social Security or Tax Identification Number[26]
- Find a location
3. Fred Meyer
- Limit: $5,000;[26] find out more about Fred Meyer’s check cashing policy.
- Fees: Vary by check amount; less for store card holders;[26] you can see the fee for your check online.
- Requirements: Government-issued ID and Social Security number or Tax Identification Number[26]
- Find a location
4. Ralphs
- Limit: $5,000;[26] find out more about Ralphs’ check cashing policies.
- Fees: Vary by check amount, though store cardholders receive a discount;[26] you can estimate your fees online.
- Requirements: Social Security number or Tax Identification number and government-issued ID[26]
- Find a location
5. King Soopers
- Limit: $5,000;[26] find out more about the King Soopers check cashing policy.
- Fees: Vary by check amount; store card holders have reduced fees;[26] you can estimate the fees for your check online.
- Requirements: You must provide your Social Security number or Tax Identification Number and a valid government-issued ID.[26]
- Find a location
6. Albertsons
- Limit: $1,500;[27] find out more about Albertsons’ money services.
- Fees: Vary by location and check amount[27]
- Requirements: Government-issued ID; the Albertsons verification system must approve checks for cashing.[27]
- Find a location
7. Safeway
- Limit: $1,500;[28] find out more about Safeway’s check cashing policy.
- Fees: Vary by location and check amount[28]
- Requirements: Government-issued ID; Safeway’s verification system must approve checks for cashing.[28]
- Find a location
If you have other types of checks you also need to cash, see the list of grocery stores that cash checks.
Tip: If you need to take money from your 401(k) early, you may be able to borrow against it instead to avoid tax penalties.[29][30]
Places That Don’t Cash 401(k) Checks
While banks, check cashing stores, and grocery stores provide plenty of options for 401(k) check cashing, there are some places that don’t offer this service.
While the following businesses cash checks, they do not cash 401(k) checks:
FAQ
You can generally cash 401(k) loan checks anywhere you can cash regular 401(k) checks; they’re treated the same by financial institutions.[4][22]
Fidelity is a 401(k) plan administrator and each 401(k) is unique with guidelines set by the sponsor (your employer). You’ll have to check with your employer for specifics of your 401(k) plan, such as which bank it uses.[36]
In Summary
You can cash a 401(k) check wherever you have a bank account, though the bank may limit the amount to what you have in your account.
You can also cash them at some banks and credit unions as a non-account holder, as well as at check cashing stores and some grocers. These options generally have specific limits, fees, and requirements you should keep in mind.
Feel free to share your own 401(k) check cashing experiences below.
You can also ask questions, leave comments, and reply to others who could use a little wisdom from someone who knows what they’re experiencing.
