If you need a voided check and don’t have a checkbook handy, you have a few options: download or print one from your bank’s online portal or mobile app, ask a teller at a branch for a counter check, or use an official alternative such as a direct deposit form or a signed bank letter. Which route works depends on your bank, since not every institution offers the same tools.
Get One Through Online Banking or the Mobile App
Many banks let account holders pull a check image or a direct deposit form straight from the online portal or mobile app. You download the file, print it, and hand it to your employer or the company setting up the withdrawal. No branch visit required.
Availability varies by bank. Some offer a downloadable check image; others provide a direct deposit form pre-filled with your routing and account numbers. Check the account services or forms section of your bank’s app or website to see what yours provides.
Request a Counter Check at a Branch
If you’d rather handle it in person, walk into a local branch and ask a teller for a counter check or starter check. Tellers can usually print one on the spot. Bring a government-issued ID; staff will verify your identity using bank-approved methods before issuing the check.
Expect a small fee. Convenience fees for counter checks typically run from $1.00 to $5.00, and the exact amount is set by your account disclosures.
Alternatives When You Don’t Have a Check
A voided check isn’t the only way to prove account details. Many employers and billers accept other documentation, though you should confirm what the recipient will take before you submit anything. Common substitutes include:
- A direct deposit form or formal letter from your bank
- Online banking account details or screenshots
- A bank verification letter signed by a representative such as a branch manager, which may require a brief waiting period
A direct deposit form isn’t a standardized federal document, but it carries the same routing and account information a voided check would.
How to Void a Check You Already Have
If you already have a paper check, voiding it is straightforward. Use a permanent blue or black ink pen so the marking is clear, and write VOID in large capital letters across the front of the check. The writing should cover:
- The date line
- The payee line
- The signature line
Keep the pre-printed numbers at the bottom clear so they can still be scanned. Writing VOID shows you intend to cancel the check and do not want it used for payment.1Legal Information Institute. U.C.C. § 3-604
One boundary worth knowing: voiding a single check affects only that piece of paper. It does not close your account, stop other checks you’ve written, or cancel automatic debits already scheduled against the account.
Send It Safely
A voided check still shows your bank’s routing number and your account number. Someone with those details could attempt unauthorized withdrawals, so treat the document like sensitive financial information.
Send it through secure channels only: an employer’s official payroll portal, an encrypted upload link, or in person. Avoid standard email and other unprotected channels. If the recipient allows it, you can ask whether any fields on the check can be redacted before you send it.
For recurring electronic payments, federal rules require the authorization to be in writing and signed or similarly authenticated, and the company collecting the payment must give you a copy. If you later need to stop a scheduled transfer, you can generally do so by notifying your bank at least three business days before the payment date.2Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 12 CFR § 1005.10