William Lipovsky
Short Answer — Walmart accepts personal checks as payment at regular registers, but not at self-checkout or for online orders. To pay by check, you’ll need to show a photo ID and pass third-party check verification through TeleCheck or Certegy. For more details of the Walmart check writing policy, see below.
Walmart Personal Check Writing Policy
All Walmart stores accept personal checks as payment at the register.[1]
However, you can’t use a personal check to pay for a Walmart.com order[2] or make purchases at self-checkout. Self-checkout machines don’t have the capability to scan checks or verify your ID.[1]
If you recently opened your bank account, note that Walmart doesn’t accept starter checks (as previously reported). See our related research for more stores that take checks.
To find out more about Walmart’s personal check writing policy, we contacted the retailer’s corporate customer service department and stores in Delaware, Tennessee, and Washington.
Requirements
To write a check at Walmart, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:[1]
You must provide identification.
You’ll need to show a government-issued, valid photo ID. The cashier may also ask for your phone number.
Walmart accepts the following forms of ID:
- Driver’s licenses
- State ID cards
- Military IDs
- U.S. passports
- Foreign passports (at the manager’s discretion)
Your name must be on the check.
To prevent check fraud, Walmart will only accept your check if the name on the check matches the name on your ID.
If your name is on the account but doesn’t appear on the check, you won’t be able to use it. Exceptions can be made for business checks, but not personal checks.
Your check must pass third-party verification.
Walmart stores use TeleCheck or Certegy to assess risk when accepting checks. The third-party verification system may deny your check, in which case you’ll need to pay with a different method.
Note that it makes no difference whether you’re paying with an in-state or out-of-state check. If you’re traveling outside of your home state and need to use a check at Walmart, the requirements and process will be the same as in your state of residence.[1]
Limits
There is no maximum number of checks that you can write per day at Walmart.[1]
However, note that your bank or credit union might impose a limit. Some accounts have check-writing limits or daily spending limits in their account agreements; banks may also freeze your ability to write checks as a fraud protection measure.[3][4]
Limits vary by account, but in general, if you plan to write more than five checks in one day, it’s best to check with your financial institution ahead of time.
Verification
As noted above, Walmart will use either TeleCheck or Certegy to verify your check — most locations use TeleCheck.[5]
These companies are the largest providers of check verification services for retail, so if you often pay by check at stores, you likely have an active TeleCheck and/or Certegy file.
Walmart will run every check you write through third-party verification. By paying with a check, you consent to have your check processed this way.
TeleCheck or Certegy will run the check information (account number, routing number, transaction amount, etc.) against its database to determine whether the check would be risky for the retailer to accept.[6][7]
Check verification helps Walmart avoid accepting bad checks and reduces check fraud, but TeleCheck or Certegy may also decline your check for reasons not related to fraud.
For example, a bank account number not seen by TeleCheck before can lead to a decline.[8]
If Walmart does decline your check after verification, both TeleCheck and Certegy offer declined check lookup services online so you can find out why.
Cash Back
Walmart allows you to get up to $20 cash back when paying by personal check.[1]
Make the check out for up to $20 more than the purchase price; after the cashier verifies the check, you’ll receive $20 cash back.
Before writing your check, you may want to ask the cashier to be sure there’s enough cash on hand at that specific register.
If you need more than $20 cash back, it’s best to pay with a debit card. See our related research for more on getting cash back at Walmart.
Processing
When Walmart processes your check electronically, the money may deduct from your bank account the same day;[1] however, the funds will usually transfer from your bank account within one to two business days.[9]
Walmart doesn’t accept postdated checks.[1]
Returned Checks
If there isn’t enough money in your bank account at the time you write a check, you’ll be charged a $35 returned check fee. Walmart will deduct both the returned check fee and the original payment amount from your bank account electronically.[1]
You agree to this policy when you sign your receipt at the checkout, so you’ll be responsible for the fee (and any fees charged by your bank) if you write a bad check.
I wrote a check at Walmart in another state. I live in TN, wrote the check at a VA Walmart. It’s been 2 days and it’s still not been taken out of my checking account (that I’ve noticed). Is it because I was in another state? I hate thinking I have more money than I actually do. How long will it take to take those funds out of my checking account?
Courtney,
It usually does take only one to two business days for funds to be withdrawn from your account, no matter where you write your check. I recommend contacting TeleCheck at (800) 710-9898 if you’d like to inquire about your specific check. I hope this helps!
I cashed my payroll check issued by my employer at walmart on Friday. Well, this morning my company’s payroll department stated they cancelled the check. What happens now considering I already cashed the check? Will I owe Walmart?
Shae,
Unfortunately, due to the volume of comments that we receive, we’re not able to help with specific, individual requests. I recommend calling TeleCheck, Walmart’s check processor, at (800) 366-2425. I hope this helps!
Will an expired and clipped ID work to verify a check with my name?
Hi Cassi,
Unfortunately, an expired and clipped ID will generally not be accepted as proof of identity. You will need a current, valid, government-issued ID to cash a check. A passport will work if you have one of those, or a social security card and a separate photo ID. I hope this helps!
Hi! my concern is that I had a good Samaritan to pay the balance owed on my credit card account by check. I contacted Walmart customer service department to see when my the check will clear and also how long will it take for a credit to show up on my account. I was told by a supervisor in customer service that it could take 21 days for the check to clear due to the large amount and that it was in my credit card policy. I’ve NEVER heard of or seen this in my policy. I’ve heard of 7 to 10 days but not 21. Please clarify. Thanks
Hi Tara,
Just to clarify, is this in regard to your Walmart store credit card? The length of time that it takes a payment to post will really be entirely dependent on the processing time of the credit card company — so if customer service has stated that the payment may not post for 21 days, unfortunately there’s very little that can be done to speed the process along. 21 days does seem excessive for the processing time for a credit card payment, but checks in a large amount (particularly if they’re coming from an account that hasn’t made a payment on your card before) could definitely result in a delay in processing. It’s very possible that the customer service agent gave the 21 days as an outside estimate, and the payment may post sooner than that — so it’s worth checking up on your account to see if the credit appears earlier. As far as the policies for your credit card account, you would have to get in touch with customer service and ask an agent to cite the specific place where the “21 days” policy is outlined, as different customers can have different agreements and cardholder’s statements. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring you a more specific answer, but please let me know if you have any further questions!
Today’s my birthday, my mom is out of town but she signed a check and made it out to Walmart for ca use i wanted a apple laptop,can I go and purchase my laptop
Hi Tia,
Unfortunately, unless your name also appears on the check or you are an authorized user on your mother’s checking account, you won’t be able to use a check printed with your mother’s name at a Walmart store. Sorry I couldn’t bring you better news (but happy birthday)!
I am visiting a family from out of time and lost my debit card, can I write a check for items needed if I live in another state.
Hi Frank,
It may be worth giving the local Walmart store a quick call before you head over to do any shopping, as individual stores may have varying policies — but typically, as long as you can present a valid ID with a name that matches the name printed on the check, it shouldn’t be a problem that your ID and bank account are from out of state. I hope this helps!
I tried to cash my payroll check at Walmart (I work for a well known large corp.) They said that my son was coming up as another name and couldn’t cash it. There is nothing g on my credit report and no fraud that I’m aware of. Is there a way to check with walmart home office about someone else name coming up in their system under my ssn?
Hi K,
I’m sorry to hear about the issue you’ve had with your check! Most likely, the system that is pulling a different name isn’t really Walmart’s system but TeleCheck, a separate company that electronically processes checks at a number of retailers. You may have the most luck getting in touch directly with TeleCheck. The Fraud, Identity Theft, and Forgery department contact number for TeleCheck is 1-800-710-9898. The general Declined Check Information for Check Writers number is 1-800-366-2425. You can also reach the Walmart corporate office directly at 1-800-WALMART (1-800-925-6278). Best of luck getting this resolved!
Payroll checks are not declined by TeleCheck. Walmart’s check cashing verification service is through Certegy.
Hi Todd,
After some additional research, it seems that there are numerous reports of customers having their checks declined at Walmart by both TeleCheck and Certegy. It appears that Walmart may utilize both companies for check verification. I’ve amended the article to state that either Certegy or TeleCheck may be used to verify a check at Walmart. Thanks for bringing this issue to our attention!
I wrote a check at Walmart electronic check it bounced but there is funds now will they run the electronic check again(a second time?)
Hi Mona,
Most customers report that Walmart will present a check for payment up to three times — so yes, Walmart will likely run the check a second time. You’ll be charged the original amount of the purchase, plus a $35 returned check fee. If you’d like, you can also typically arrange with the Walmart store where the purchase was made to pay off the outstanding balance in cash. I hope this helps!
I went shopping at Walmart late friday evening. I transferred money to my checking account Monday morning, however Walmart had already presented to the check. This has never happened to me before. What will happen?? Will they put it through a second time?
Hi Susan,
Walmart does not publish an official policy on this situation, but customers report that if the check did not clear the first time, the company (technically TeleCheck) will try to run the check up to three times. A $35 returned check fee will also be charged. As long as you currently have enough funds in your account to cover both the original payment and the $35 fee, you should be in the clear once TeleCheck processes the transaction. It’s worth noting that you won’t be able to write checks to any retailers that use TeleCheck (which is quite a lot of them) until this issue has been resolved. To expedite the process, you can likely arrange with the Walmart where you made the purchase to pay off the outstanding balance in cash. You’ll need to work with that store directly about further steps for this process; you can find the phone number for your local Walmart through the Walmart location finder. I hope this helps!
Hi I have a question I get my paycheck on the 27 of Dec.But I wanted to Get Christmas presents for my kids so can I use my check to Get the presents
Hi Luis,
Most customers report that when paying by check at Walmart, the transaction will post to your checking account approximately 36 hours later. This means that if you write the check before you have the funds available, the payment will likely post within the following day or two and your account will either be overdrawn, or the check will bounce. Unfortunately, unless you want to face a returned check fee from Walmart and possibly an NSF fee from your bank as well, you won’t be able to write a check if funds aren’t available in your account for a purchase before Christmas. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring you better news!
Would I be able to write a check out today and put the funds in the bank tomorrow?
Hi Tyler,
Typically, TeleCheck does not verify account balance before accepting or rejecting a check. Most customers report that it usually takes about 36 hours from the time a check is handed to a cashier at Walmart until it posts to their bank account. It’s always better to have the funds in your account any time you write a check, but theoretically, you may be able to write a check and deposit the funds the following day (it will help if it’s a cash deposit, which will show up immediately in your account balance — a check deposit will take longer to clear). Keep in mind that TeleCheck does take into account many other variables and risk factors, and some customers are denied even when they have enough funds in their account based on banking history, so it’s still possible for TeleCheck to reject your check payment for another reason. I hope this helps!
need to pick up a few more thanksgiving dinner items but I don’t get paid until Friday. I am hoping I can I write a check at Walmart to cover the purchase? I am not sure how fast Walmart does their banking in order to know if my check will be “safe” until Friday. Am I allowed to write over the amount?
Hi Judith,
Walmart will use TeleCheck to run your check as soon as you present it for payment. It may take up to 1-2 business days for the money to be deducted from your account, but TeleCheck may decline your check if there aren’t sufficient funds at the time of payment. If the check is accepted at the checkout but later bounces, you’ll be charged a $35 returned check fee — so it’s probably not worth the risk.
Question. I was in Walmart the other day and purchased a laptop in that back at the electronics section. I had other purchases I made but went to the front to check out. My debit card had put a limit on my card because of the laptop purchase and it was declined though I know I had more than enough money to cover my purchases. So I wrote a check out to Walmart from a different account but there was insufficient funds and the check was declined by my personal bank and returned. Am I able to contact or go up to Walmart and stop payment on the check and pay in cash the balance of my purchase plus the returned check fee? Not really sure what to do. I never meant for the check to decline. Wasn’t aware there was insufficient balance to cover the cost of my purchase. Just let me know. Thank you.
Hi Adriana,
You should be able to visit the customer service desk at the Walmart where you made the purchase to pay the returned check fee (likely around $25 or so) and the outstanding balance for the purchase. It’s not a bad idea to call ahead to that Walmart and ask about the best way to go about resolving the situation, since there may be a preferred process for handling a bounced check at that particular location, but very likely the representative will ask you to come in and pay in cash. I hope this helps!
Hello I need to get ahold of corporate office regarding a check that was cashed at Walmart with telecheck and was presented to our bank for payment then 4 days later the actual check was presented for Payment to our bank and it cleared our bank second time once as a telecheck and once with original check. how could this happen?
Who should I contact?
Hi Nancy,
That does sound like a very strange and frustrating situation! You may want to start by getting in touch with your bank directly to have someone there investigate the situation. The bank may be able to provide details about when and where the check was cashed the second time. If you’d like to contact Walmart as well, I would recommend calling into Walmart customer service (the website states that you can use this number “ask a question about your local store or our corporate headquarters.”) That number is 1-800-WALMART (1-800-925-6278). If you’d like to email instead, you can visit the Walmart contact page. I hope this helps, and best of luck getting things resolved!
I paid by check this morning and came home. To my suprise my mother bought what I needed so I need to return the laptop and printer.. it’s already deducted from my bank account so is it possible to make the return and get the money back same day even if it’s cash
Hi Kevin,
I wasn’t able to find anything in the Walmart return policy about this particular situation, but other customers have reported that they were able to get cash after returning an item purchased by check. Since your purchases probably came to a relatively high dollar amount with the laptop and printer, they may issue you a store credit instead of cash.
Does Walmart except school founding personal checks?
Hi Serena,
I’m not sure what you mean. Could you be referring to a third party check (a check that’s been signed over to you from someone else)? Unfortunately, Walmart won’t cash third party checks or accept them as payment.
Do the checks try to go through twice if they bounce or do I need to call immediately after the first bounced try?
Hi Emily,
Walmart’s official policy is that the returned check fee and the original payment amount will be deducted from the account by EFT or bank draft, so that does sound like they will try to cash the check a second time (after the first time incurs the returned check fee). I couldn’t find out anything from Walmart directly about how they would handle such a situation, but some other customers have reported that Walmart will try to deposit a bounced check up to three times. If you have the funds available, the best thing may be to go directly to the customer service desk at the Walmart in question and pay the amount owed in cash. If you don’t have the funds available, you will probably want to put a stop payment on the check (although that will cost you too — typically about $30 or so, although this varies by bank). Best of luck getting this resolved!
I work for the state Government and they send me to purchase stationary and other items as needed with a check made payable to Walmart. When I present the check for payment, the cashiers refuse saying they cannot use it to make the payment. Sometimes they cash the check. Can you please let me know what is the Walmart procedure in handling such checks.
Thanks
Hi,
Walmart’s official policy is to only accept checks if the person presenting the check is an authorized user on that account. Unfortunately, that means that unless you’re listed as an authorized user on your employer’s bank account, Walmart may not accept your check as payment. Sorry I couldn’t bring you better news!
I unfortunately have a rep payee on my checking account. Would this prevent me from paying with a check even though my name is on the check?
Hi Benjamin,
Interesting question. Walmart actually doesn’t have a written policy on this topic. Though if your name is on the check and you provide ID, you should be able to write a check without a second party’s authorization.
My wife just came back from a local Wal-mart where she tried to pay using a check for around $230 and was declined. After a lot of angry embarrassed phone calls to our bank and Wal-mart, it finally came out that telecheck had declined her check based on “not having enough information in her profile”. This was her first time writing a check at Wal-mart and it seems from the conversation that we had with the telecheck rep that they build a profile based on a persons previous check history with Wal-mart to establish trust. Since my wife had no trust, they declined the check without even attempting to draft the account. This has to be the worst business practice that I’ve ever seen from an institution dealing with money and has my wife trying to swear off shopping at Wal-mart ever again. This is a policy that needs to be clearly spelled out right up front.
if i’m writing a check tuesday for a tv but wont have money in my account until wednesday night will it work?
Hi James,
Probably. But there’s no lag between when the check is used and when the bank examines your funds. TeleCheck (the check authorization service used by Walmart) will ‘ask’ your financial institution if it’s okay to approve the check. So it’s up to your bank and your specific account if this can happen. Most financial institutions allow overdrafts between $100-$1,000. You’ll pay an overdraft fee of around $30. Or if you have overdraft protection, you won’t pay this overdraft fee. So this answer is highly variable based on your situation. Your best move would be to call the bank ahead of time and see if you have overdraft protection and if not, see if you can quickly get it or just pay the $30 fee.