William Lipovsky
Check cashing fees vary depending on the retailer, check type, check amount, and state laws.
While you can typically cash a check for free at a bank where you have an account, at most other places, you will pay a fee. Fees can be up to 10% of the total check amount, but they are typically 5% or less.
Below, we’ve summarized the maximum check cashing fees established by states that set them, as well as the fees at different check cashing locations like retail stores, banks, and money service stores and apps.
State Laws on Check Cashing Fees
Check cashing fees are not technically dictated by state law, but many states do impose maximum check cashing fees that a check casher may charge for certain types of checks. In these states, such laws take precedent over the fees set by individual companies.
Many states also provide legal exemptions to the maximum check cashing fees, or they only impose maximum fees only for certain types of checks.
You can use the table below for a comparison of the maximum check cashing fees established by each state.
Note: This table only includes the 25 states that set restrictions on check cashing fees; if your state does not appear in the table, it does not impose a maximum fee.
| State | Maximum Fees |
|---|---|
| Arizona | 3% for government checks |
| California | 3% for government, 12% for personal, and 3.5% for payroll checks |
| Connecticut | 2% for personal and payroll checks |
| Delaware | 2% for personal and payroll checks |
| Florida | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| Georgia | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| Hawaii | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| Illinois | 1.5% to 3.5% |
| Indiana | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| Louisiana | 2% for government, 10% for personal and payroll checks |
| Maine | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| Maryland | 2% for government, 10% for personal, and 4% for payroll checks |
| Mississippi | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| New Jersey | 2% for personal and payroll checks |
| New York | 2% for personal and payroll checks |
| North Carolina | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| Ohio | 3% for government checks |
| Oregon | 2% for government, 5% for personal, and 3% for payroll checks |
| Pennsylvania | 2.5% for government, 10% for personal, and 3% for payroll checks |
| Rhode Island | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| South Carolina | 2% for government, 7% for personal, and 2% for payroll checks |
| Tennessee | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| Vermont | 3% for government, 10% for personal, and 5% for payroll checks |
| Washington, D.C. | 2% for government, 10% for personal, and 4% for payroll checks |
| West Virginia | 1% for all types of checks; for checks under $100, the maximum fee is $1 |
Check Cashing Fees at Different Locations
Aside from state maximums, individual retail locations and financial institutions set their own check cashing fees.
Below, we’ve summarized the check cashing fees at several different locations, as confirmed by company websites and customer service.
Check cashing fees will vary based on the type and amount of check. When cashing checks at grocery stores, fees will often be lower if you have a store shopper’s card.
See the table below, then select any business name or scroll to the list below for more details.
| Check Cashing Location | Fee |
|---|---|
| Bank of America | $8 for non-customers |
| Chase | $8 for non-customers |
| Citibank | None |
| ACE Cash Express | 5% of check amount |
| Ingo Money | 5% for immediate cashing (no fee if you choose to wait 10 days) |
| PayPal | 5% for immediate cashing (no fee if you wait 10 days) |
| PLS Check Cashing | Fee varies based on check amount and risk factors |
| The Check Cashing Store | Fee is percentage and varies based on check type |
| Walmart | $4 to $8 depending on check amount |
| H-E-B | Fees start at $3 and vary based on check amount |
| Amscot | Fee varies based on check type and amount |
| Winn-Dixie | $3.50 |
| Money Services | $4 to $7.50 based on check amount |
| HSBC | $3 to $5 depending on check amount |
| Fifth Third Bank | 1% of check amount; maximum $4 |
| KeyBank | $7, or 1.5% at KeyBank Plus locations |
| M&T Bank | 2% of the check amount; minimum $3 |
| Regions Bank | 1% to 4% depending on check amount |
| SunTrust Bank | $7 for SunTrust checks or 1% to 3% of check amount |
| TD Bank | $7 for non-customers |
Banks
The following are major U.S. banks that cash most types of checks for both customers and non-customers. Other major banks limit the types of checks they’ll cash for non-customers to checks drawn on the bank.
Most of the banks below also offer mobile check deposit options, so you can deposit a check into your bank account without visiting a branch. This service is also generally free for account holders.
Remember that you can usually cash a check for free by cashing it at a bank where you have an account. If you don’t have an account, many banks charge a fee.
Bank of America
- Fee: Free for customers and $8 for non-customers
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
Chase
- Fee: Free for customers and $8 for non-customers
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
Note: You can learn more in our research on check cashing at Chase Bank
Citibank
- Fee: Free for customers for non-customers
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
Fifth Third Bank
- Fee: 1% of the total check amount, with a maximum of $4
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
HSBC
- Fee: None to cash HSBC personal checks. Otherwise, it is $3 for checks up to $100 and $5 for checks $100 and more.
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
KeyBank
- Fee: $7 per check at regular KeyBank branches and 1.5% of the check amount at KeyBank Plus locations
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
M&T Bank
- Fee: 2% of the total check amount (minimum $3)
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
Regions Bank
- Fee: 1% to 4% of the total check amount, depending on the check type
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
SunTrust Bank
- Fee: $7 for SunTrust checks; otherwise, it is 1% to 3% of the check amount
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
TD Bank
- Fee: Free for customers and $7 for non-customers
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- Find out more
Check Cashing Stores and Apps
The following check cashing stores and apps cash most types of checks for a fee.
ACE Cash Express
- Fee: 5% of the check amount
- Mobile deposit available? Yes, through the ACE Mobile Loads app (powered by Ingo Money)
- Find out more
Ingo Money
Note: If you’ve cashed six or more checks within the prior 90-day period, you will qualify for Ingo Gold Preferred Pricing, and the fee to cash checks will be from 1% to 4% depending on the check type.
- Fee: 5% (with a $5 minimum fee per check) for immediate cashing. There is no fee if you choose to wait 10 days to receive your money.
- Mobile deposit available? Yes, Ingo Money is an online-only service
- Find out more
PayPal
- Fee: 5% (with a $5 minimum fee per check) for immediate cashing. There is no fee if you choose to wait 10 days to receive your money.
- Mobile deposit available? Yes, PayPal deposits are online only
- Find out more
PLS Check Cashing
- Fee: Varies; fees are system-generated based on the amount of the check and other risk factors
- Mobile deposit available? No
- Find out more
The Check Cashing Store
- Fee: A percentage of the amount of the check, which varies by check type. For example, the fee to cash a tax refund check is 5% of the check amount.
- Mobile deposit available? Yes
- See our research about The Check Cashing Store’s policies
Retail Stores
There are also several retail and grocery stores that cash checks for a fee.
These can be convenient options if you don’t have a bank account (since fees for retail stores are typically lower than non-customer bank fees) but you still want to cash a check in person.
Walmart
Walmart check cashing fees are based on the check amount and range from $4 to $8. See our research on Walmart’s check cashing policy.
H-E-B
H-E-B check cashing fees start at $3 and are determined by the check amount (as previously reported).
Amscot
Amscot’s check cashing fees vary based on check type and amount. They generally range from about 2% to 10% of the check amount.
Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie charges about $3.50 to cash checks and only cashes payroll checks (as previously reported).
Grocery Stores That Partner With Money Services
Several grocery stores across the nation partner with Money Services to provide check cashing services. The fee structure is as follows:
- $4 for checks up to $2,000 if you have a store Shopper’s Card and $4.50 without a Shopper’s Card
- $7 for checks up to $5,000 if you have a Shopper’s Card and $7.50 without a Shopper’s Card
The following stores have Money Services locations inside, and their check cashing fees are as listed above. (Note: Linked store names will take you to our previous research on that store’s check cashing policy.)
- Baker’s
- City Market
- Dillons
- Fred Meyer
- Fry’s Food Stores
- Gerbes Super Markets
- King Soopers
- Kroger
- Owen’s Market
- Pay Less Super Market
- QFC
- Ralphs
- Smith’s Food and Drug
