You can get checks for a savings account only if it’s a money market account, which banks classify as a savings deposit but which comes with check-writing privileges. Standard passbook, statement, and most high-yield savings accounts don’t offer a checkbook. If yours doesn’t, you’ll need to move money to a checking account first or pay with a cashier’s check, money order, wire, or ACH debit.
Which Savings Accounts Actually Come With Checks
A money market account earns interest like a savings account while also giving you check-writing privileges and, in many cases, a debit card and ATM access.1Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Is a Money Market Account? Federal banking rules classify money market accounts as savings deposits, so they carry the same protections and interest-earning potential as other savings products.2eCFR. 12 CFR 204.2 – Definitions
Traditional savings accounts, including passbook, statement, and most high-yield savings accounts, are built for deposits and withdrawals through electronic transfers, ATMs, or in-person transactions. A small number of banks offer check writing on non-money-market savings products, but that’s uncommon. If checks matter to you, confirm the feature before you open the account.
Money market accounts usually require a higher opening balance than standard savings, often around $2,500. Drop below the minimum and you may owe a monthly maintenance fee. In return, you get check writing, debit and ATM access, and interest that often runs higher than a regular savings rate.
How to Order Checks If Your Account Allows Them
Ordering a checkbook takes two pieces of information: your bank’s nine-digit routing number and your account number. Both appear in your mobile app, on a statement, or through customer service. The routing number identifies your bank in the payment system; the account number ties the check to your specific balance.3American Bankers Association. ABA Routing Number
You can order directly through your bank or through a third-party check printer. Going through your bank is usually the easiest route, and many let you place the order online or by phone. Third-party vendors tend to charge less. A standard box runs roughly $12 to $23, and some account tiers include free checks. When you order, you’ll confirm the name and address that print on each check and pick a starting check number so your records stay in sequence.
Withdrawal Limits That May Still Apply
Federal law used to cap savings accounts at six “convenient” transfers or withdrawals per month, including checks and online transfers, under Regulation D.2eCFR. 12 CFR 204.2 – Definitions In April 2020, the Federal Reserve deleted that six-transfer limit, effective immediately, so banks can now allow unlimited withdrawals from savings without the account losing its savings classification.4Federal Register. Regulation D: Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions
The rule change doesn’t force banks to lift their limits, though. Many institutions still cap monthly savings transactions, and going over can trigger a fee or push the bank to convert your account to a non-interest-bearing checking account. Repeated violations can lead to closure.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Why Am I Being Charged for Transactions in My Savings Account? Check your deposit agreement for the limits that apply to your account, because each check you write counts against them.
Fees You Can Expect
- Excess withdrawal fees. If your bank still enforces a monthly transaction cap, each check or transfer above the limit can cost $3 to $15. Some banks don’t charge this at all.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Why Am I Being Charged for Transactions in My Savings Account?
- Non-sufficient funds fees. Write a check for more than your available balance and the bank returns it unpaid, and you’ll pay an NSF fee, commonly around $35 per returned item.6FDIC. Overdraft and Account Fees
- Minimum balance fees. Money market accounts often require you to keep a set balance. Dropping under that floor, whether from a check or any other withdrawal, can trigger a monthly maintenance charge.
- Stop payment fees. Canceling a check before it clears generally costs $25 to $36. The order takes effect by the end of the next business day and expires after six months unless you renew it for another fee.
When Your Check Clears and When It Goes Stale
When someone deposits a check you wrote, their bank sends an electronic image to your bank for payment. The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act allows this electronic exchange, which has largely replaced the physical shipping of paper checks.7Federal Reserve Board. Frequently Asked Questions About Check 21 Your bank verifies the check against your available balance, confirms the signature, and debits your account. Most checks handled through the Federal Reserve’s electronic collection system settle within one business day.8Federal Reserve Board. Check Services
If the recipient sits on the check, timing changes. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, a bank is not obligated to honor a check presented more than six months after the date written on it.9Legal Information Institute. UCC 4-404 – Bank Not Obliged to Pay Check More Than Six Months Old The funds stay in your account until the check clears, but after six months the check is “stale-dated” and can be rejected. A bank can still choose to pay a stale-dated check in good faith, so don’t assume an old outstanding check will simply bounce. If you want certainty that it won’t clear, place a stop payment order before the six-month window closes. You’ll need the check number, amount, payee name, and date, and you can request the stop by phone, online, or at a branch.
Using Savings Account Numbers for Electronic Payments
Even without a checkbook, you can often use your routing and account numbers to set up ACH payments directly from savings. Many billers and payment services accept ACH debits from savings accounts, so you can pay bills or schedule transfers without a physical check.10Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Is an ACH Transaction? Each ACH payment counts as a withdrawal, so keep any bank-imposed monthly cap in mind. Not every biller accepts savings account numbers. Some platforms require a checking account. Try a small payment first to confirm it works before you point a time-sensitive bill at it.
Alternatives When Your Savings Account Doesn’t Offer Checks
- Cashier’s checks. Your bank draws a check on its own funds after debiting your savings account. Fees run around $10 per check. Because the bank guarantees payment, cashier’s checks are widely accepted for large transactions like security deposits and vehicle purchases.
- Money orders. Available at banks, credit unions, post offices, and retail locations, money orders are prepaid and usually capped at $1,000 each. Bank fees are typically around $5, with lower prices at post offices and retail stores.
- Wire transfers. For urgent or high-value payments, your bank can wire funds straight from your savings account. Domestic wires generally cost $25 to $40 depending on whether you initiate them online or in a branch.
- Internal transfers. If you also have a checking account at the same bank, moving money from savings to checking and writing a check or using your debit card is the simplest fix. Most banks process internal transfers instantly.