William Lipovsky
Short Answer — Kroger accepts checks for in-store purchases. You’ll need to show a photo ID and pass Certegy check verification to pay by check. For more details of the Kroger check acceptance policy, see below.
Does Kroger Take Checks?
Kroger accepts personal checks as a form of payment in stores.[1] You can’t use checks for grocery pickup or delivery orders.[2][3]
Identification
When you pay with a check at Kroger, you’ll need to provide a state-issued ID from the state where you’re shopping or an adjoining state.[1]
Acceptable forms of ID include a driver’s license or non-driver photo ID card.[1]
Limits
First-time check writers have restrictions, which vary by store. We contacted several Kroger locations and found that, in general, first-time check writers are only allowed to write a check of up to $150 and can’t get cash back.[4]
This limit is pretty standard across stores, though a few have $250 limits, which also allow new check writers to get up to $20 cash back.[4]
Be aware that if more than 90 days pass without you paying by check at Kroger, your history will be lost; Kroger’s computer system doesn’t store this information indefinitely.[1] You may have to start over as a first-time check writer.
Customer service representatives advised that you might want to pay by check about once a month to ensure that your history won’t be lost.
Cash Back
If you have a good check-writing history at Kroger, the store may allow you to get cash back when paying with a check.[1] Check writers with history at the store can usually get up to about $20 cash back (as previously reported).
Keep in mind, however, that individual Kroger stores can set their own limits.[1] You may want to contact your local store before visiting to determine its specific cash back limit for check writers.
Verification
Kroger uses Certegy for check verification (as previously reported). Certegy is a third-party risk assessment company that determines whether your check is safe for the store to cash.[5]
If Certegy approves your check, Kroger will deposit it within two to three business days.[1]
If Certegy denies your check, you’ll need to use a different payment method — Kroger can’t override Certegy’s check acceptance.[5]
However, to avoid future payment issues, it’s a good idea to look up your declined check on Certegy’s website and make sure there aren’t any errors in your Certegy report.
Returned Checks
If a check is returned for non-sufficient funds, Kroger will resubmit the check to your account up to two more times.
Returned checks are subject to a fee, which Kroger will charge to your account seven to ten days after the check clears.[1] Fees are limited by state law and generally range from $20 to $40.[6]
Kroger will contact you regarding the outstanding check if the check still doesn’t clear after two attempts.[1]
Returned checks reflect negatively on your check history with Kroger; you won’t be able to pay by check again until the check has cleared.[1]
Does Kroger’s handle return checks locally through county attorneys or does customer have to work it out(get checks paid) with Kroger’s?
Hi Bruce,
The customer should contact the Kroger Customer Relations department to resolve check related issues at (800) 917-6484.
If you write one check and you get $20/$25 back, can you write another one for cash back in the same day? Lost debit card, bank is out of town needed to get some cash.
No you have to pay the fees before you can write another check and Kroger returned a check that I wrote after only
sending it through one time!
Hi, you cannot get cash twice in one day. You may even have to wait or have a manager override the transaction to get cash back the next day. At least this has been my experience when I was in the same situation.
If you have a returned check from 2 years ago and that account is closed can you go to another Kroger and pay with a check from another account. I’m asking for my grandmother, I’m in charge of her financial stuff now.
Hi Andy,
Kroger only keep you check payment history for 90 days, so a two-year-old check definitely shouldn’t be in their records anymore. If your grandma pays with a check now, she’ll be starting with a clean slate.
If all the checks have cleared but the return fees have not been paid, are you allowed to write checks to purchase groceries?
Hi V Brown,
As long as your check has cleared, you should be able to go ahead and pay by check again even though the fee hasn’t been paid yet. But, the store has the discretion to make an exception to this general rule and could decide not to let you pay by check. Their decision depends on the relationship you’ve established with Kroger. They keep info on your check history with them for 90 days, so if you had a couple checks not clear in that time frame or they have other reasons to be concerned, they could decide not to accept your check. In your position, I would try to pay with a check again, but be prepared with an alternative payment method in case they won’t accept your check.
No you have to pay the fees before you can write another check and Kroger returned a check that I wrote after only sending it through one time!
Does Kroger take starter checks for groceries
Hi Fds,
Because starter checks don’t have any of your personal information printed on them, stores generally don’t accept them because they don’t have any way to verify that the check won’t bounce. In addition, because the account is new, check authorization services like Telecheck and Certegy often won’t accept starter checks. You’re better off waiting until your regular checks get in before trying to pay by check at Kroger or any other large store, for that matter.
I don’t know if you can answer these questions, but 1)Are they required to attempt to run the check three times before they can classify it as a returned check? 2) If there was another check written they day after the check that did not go through the first time was written (for a much smaller amount which would have gone through just fine) are they allowed to charge a return check fee for both even though they did not even attempt to run the second check?
Hi Kris,
While some retailers will attempt to run the check more than once, they are not required to do so. The only way a retailer can charge a returned check fee is if they actually attempted to run it. Hope this helps!