does the bank go by the digits you wrote or the letters you wrote for the amount on a check?

Answer 1

LEGALLY the written amount on the check is what the LEGAL paid amount is...

However...checks are not processed by humans anymore, they are immaged and run by computers, those computers take the digits you write and process the check that way. If a question comes up later (ie you go to the bank and say that check was written for $10.00 not $100.00 and you guys took $100 out of my account!) then they pull the image of the check and review the hand written amount. If there is a descrepancy then they are legally required to go by the handwritten amount.

PS...EVERYONE ON HERE WHO SAYS IF THE AMOUNTS DON'T MATCH THE BANK DOES NOT HONOR THE CHECK IS 100% WRONG. I have worked at banks for years, human eyes in 95% of cases never see the checks that are deposited (lets say the grocery store or church brings in 150 checks every day, we don't go thru each check and make sure they are all made out properly). The checks go in a pile that goes into an imager and the whole processing is done by a comuter. I at least once a week have to pull an image because a customer says they didn't write the check for the amount that is on the check. We credit or debit their account and then the bank that the depositer does business is with is notified and they adjust the depositers account and notify them why (lets say they took a check for $10 and your bank gave them $100, your bank would give you back the $90 and his bank would take away the $90, the check was honored for the amount it was written for not the eronious amount). The only time the check is not honored is IF the check was forged for a much higher amount than you wrote it for, usually the error come because you made an error filling out the check.

Answer 2

The digits primarily when entered. The long-hand text is to make sure that the person who received the check didn't modify the amount by adding a zero at the end *or another digit somewhere* before attempting to deposit it.

The writing will be checked, along with a correct date and signature, not by the teller per se, but by the deposits clerk when the teller's cash is 'cleared'

Answer 3

The bank I deal with goes by the written amount.

Answer 4

They go by what you write. And if there is a discrepancy, between the digits and what you wrote, they will NOT cash the check. They will send it back.

The digits can be changed by someone...ie $102.00 can be made into $1102.00 very easily just by adding a 1.

Answer 5

Checks are cashed based on the written (letters) portion not the numeric (digits) portion. The numeric portion is there for verification of amount only.

Answer 6

I believe they go by the numbers. Often peoples handwriting isnt so legible. But numbers should be easily distinugished. In the even someone cashes a check and you are disputing the ammount. Call your bank. They can help you.

Answer 7

They'll look at both, but the written amount is what they'll go by if the two differ. This is because the written amount is harder to alter than the numerals.

Answer 8

Both. If the two are different, your check will be sent back to you because the bank has no way of knowing what you intended.

Answer 9

It is the written amount and if they can't read it they will go by the numbers. If both are hard to read then they check both to see if they can figure out what you really wanted to pay.

Answer 10

digits primarily, but they check it by the letters you write.