 TITLE: How Do Certified Checks Work? CONTENT: Is a Certified Check the Same as a Cashier's Check?\n---------------------------------------------------\nCertified checks and cashier's checks are both types of official bank checks. The main difference is that with a cashier's check, you pay the bank or credit union upfront and it guarantees the check will clear. In contrast, a certified check is a personal check you guarantee, putting the onus on you.\nBoth certified and cashier's checks give sellers a higher level of security versus a regular personal check. Of the two, however, a cashier's check may be safer because a financial institution backs it, so some sellers may require a cashier's check rather than a certified check. END