 TITLE: How Do Certified Checks Work? CONTENT: What Are Other Alternatives to a Certified Check?\n-------------------------------------------------\nA certified or cashier's check isn't the only way to securely transfer money, and some of the alternatives may be better suited for certain situations:\n*   **Money orders**: A money order is similar to an official check, but there's often a limit (such as $1,000), and you can buy money orders from a post office, retail store or supermarket in addition to banks. You'll have to specify the recipient when you purchase the money order and pay a small fee in addition to the money order's amount. It could be a good alternative to an official check if you don't have a checking account or would otherwise have to pay high fees for an official check.\n*   **Bank transfers**: You may be able to directly transfer money from one bank account to another with an electronic transfer using the automated clearing house network. These transfers often take several days, and may be free or cost the person initiating the transfer several dollars.\n*   **Wire transfers**: A wire transfer is another option if you want to move money between two accounts. The wire transfer is often quicker than an electronic bank transfer, but there may be higher fees. Also, some banks charge fees to both send and receive wire transfers.\n*   **Money-transfer apps**: You could use a third-party payment service, such as PayPal, Venmo (owned by Paypal) or Zelle. You can often use these to make quick and secure transfers to friends or trusted companies for free.\nWhile you can use many secure forms of payment to send or receive money, always be on the lookout for scams. These can range from fake certified checks to complex schemes that play out over several days, weeks or months. Electronic services aren't immune either, as transactions can be reversed, and money can be taken out of your account. END