 TITLE: How to Cash a Check CONTENT: Where to Cash a Check Without a Bank Account\n--------------------------------------------\nIf you need to cash a check and you don't have a bank account, check out the following options. Quick tip: It's important to know what type of check you have—payroll, personal, government or certified—before choosing a place to cash it, as some check-cashing services will only accept certain types of checks.\n*   **Issuing Bank.** When someone writes you a check, they are essentially writing on a piece of paper how much money they want to give you from their checking account. As such, the bank the money is coming from is called the \"issuing bank.\" If you don't have a bank account, sometimes the issuing bank will cash your check—because they can see the exact balance of the account being debited. While not all issuing banks do this, some do, and typically for a fee of a few dollars. Call ahead to ask the issuing bank whether you can cash a check without being an account holder.\n*   **Check-Cashing Store.** A check-cashing store is one of the easiest—and most expensive—locations to cash a check without a bank account. All you need is your ID, in some cases two forms of ID, and you can walk out with your money after paying a fee. Check-cashing stores typically charge anywhere between 1 percent and 4 percent of the check's value, and some charge additional flat rates on top of that. Check-cashing stores typically do not cash personal checks. Sometimes stand-alone stores also offer payday loans and other cash services. Find out the fees and check out alternatives before using these sources.\n*   **Grocery Stores and Big-Box Retailers.** Stores like Walmart, Kmart, and even some supermarkets have on-site check-cashing services. These retailers often charge much less for their services and can be good alternatives to stand-alone check-cashing stores. Kmart cashes government and payroll checks of up to $2,000 and two-party personal checks of up to $200 for a fee of only $1. Make sure to have your ID ready when cashing a check at a retailer. END