Most ATMs cannot cash checks — they can only deposit them
The short answer is that most ATMs will not give you cash for a check. What they do instead is deposit the check into your account, and then you withdraw cash separately if you need it. This is different from cashing a check, which means exchanging the check itself for cash on the spot.
Some ATMs made by specific banks — mainly Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and a few others — have added check-cashing features in recent years, but these are not yet common. Even at those banks, the feature only works during certain hours and only for checks drawn on that same bank.
If you need cash right now and do not want to deposit the check first, your options are to go inside the bank during business hours, visit a check-cashing store, or ask the person who wrote the check to write you a different form of payment.
Key Takeaways
- Most ATMs deposit checks into your account rather than cashing them — you then withdraw cash separately if you want it.
- A small number of ATMs at major banks can cash checks, but only checks drawn on that same bank and only during daytime hours.
- If you need cash immediately without depositing first, you will need to go to a bank branch, a check-cashing store, or ask for a different payment method.
- Depositing a check at an ATM usually takes one to two business days to clear, so the cash is not available right away.
How depositing a check at an ATM actually works
When you use an ATM to deposit a check, you are sending the check to your bank's processing center, not cashing it on the spot. You insert your card, select "Deposit," choose "Check," and the machine either scans the check or asks you to place it in an envelope. The ATM reads the check information and credits your account — but not immediately.
The check then goes through a process called clearing, which means the bank that issued the check (the one printed on the front) verifies that the account has enough money and transfers the funds to your bank. This usually takes one to two business days, sometimes longer. Until the check clears, the money is not actually in your account, even though the ATM may show a pending deposit.
Once the check clears, you can withdraw that money as cash, transfer it, or leave it in your account. If the check bounces — meaning the account it was drawn on does not have enough money — your bank will reverse the deposit and may charge you a fee.
When an ATM can actually cash a check
A small number of ATMs at Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and a few regional banks now have a check-cashing feature built in. These machines can give you cash for a check without depositing it, but only under specific conditions: the check must be drawn on that same bank, and the ATM must be at a branch location. You cannot use this feature at an off-site ATM in a grocery store or gas station.
These machines are also limited by time. Most operate only during the bank's business hours — typically 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. — and some have daily limits on how much you can cash. If you try to use the feature outside those hours or at a different bank's ATM, the machine will not offer it as an option.
Even if your bank has this feature, it is not may provide to work every time. The machine may be out of cash, offline for maintenance, or unable to read your check. If the feature fails, you will need to go inside the branch or use a different method.
Going to a bank branch to cash a check
The most reliable way to cash a check at an ATM's parent bank is to walk inside during business hours and ask a teller. You hand them the check and your ID, they verify the account has funds, and they give you cash on the spot. This takes a few minutes and works for any check, regardless of which bank issued it.
You do not need to have an account at that bank to cash a check there, though some banks have started charging a fee for non-customers. The fee is usually $5 to $10. If you have an account at the bank, cashing a check is free.
Most bank branches are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some open on Saturday mornings. A few banks offer extended hours or Sunday service, but this varies by location. You can check your bank's website or call ahead to confirm hours before you go.
Check-cashing stores and other options
If you do not have a bank account or cannot get to a branch, a check-cashing store will cash your check for a fee. These stores are designed for exactly this purpose — they verify the check and give you cash immediately. The fee is usually 1 to 3 percent of the check amount, though it can be higher for larger checks or checks from out of state.
Some grocery stores and pharmacies also cash checks at their customer service desk, usually for a lower fee than a dedicated check-cashing store. Walmart, for example, cashes checks for a flat fee of around $3 to $6 depending on the check type. Call ahead to confirm they offer this service and what their current fee is.
If the person who wrote you the check is still available, you can also ask them to write you a different form of payment — a money order, a cashier's check, or a direct transfer to your bank account. This avoids the fee and the wait time entirely.
Why checks take time to clear at ATMs
When you deposit a check at an ATM, the money does not appear in your account right away because the bank has to verify that the check is real and that the account it was drawn on actually has the money. This verification process is called check clearing, and it involves multiple banks communicating with each other.
Here is what happens: your bank receives the check image from the ATM, sends it to a clearing house (a central processing center), which sends it to the bank that issued the check. That bank verifies the account and signature, confirms there are sufficient funds, and transfers the money back through the clearing house to your bank. Only then does your bank credit your account.
This process was designed decades ago when checks were physical pieces of paper that had to be physically transported. Even though most checks are now scanned and processed electronically, the timeline has not changed much — it still takes one to two business days. Weekends and holidays add extra time, so a check deposited on Friday may not clear until Tuesday.
What to do if you need cash before the check clears
If you deposit a check at an ATM on Monday but need the money on Monday evening, the ATM cannot help you. The check will not be cleared by then. Your options are to use a different payment method, ask the check writer for cash instead, or go to a check-cashing store.
Some banks offer a feature called early availability or next-day clearing, where they credit a portion of the check to your account before it fully clears. This is usually limited to checks under a certain amount (often $200 to $500) and only for checks from major banks. You would need to ask your bank whether this is available on your account.
Another option is to ask the person who wrote the check whether they can write you a cashier's check instead, which clears much faster — usually the same day or next business day. A cashier's check is issued by the bank itself rather than an individual, so there is no risk it will bounce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash a check at any ATM, or only at my bank's ATM?
Most ATMs only deposit checks; they do not cash them. If your bank has a check-cashing ATM, it will only work at that bank's branch locations and only for checks drawn on that same bank. For other checks or other banks, you need to go inside a branch or use a check-cashing store.
How long does it take for a check to clear after I deposit it at an ATM?
Most checks clear within one to two business days. Weekends and holidays do not count as business days, so a check deposited on Friday may not clear until Tuesday. Some banks offer early availability for smaller checks, which can make the money available sooner.
What happens if I deposit a check that bounces?
If the account the check was drawn on does not have enough money, your bank will reverse the deposit and remove the money from your account. Your bank may also charge you a fee, usually $10 to $15, for the bounced check. The person who wrote the check may face fees from their own bank as well.
Can I deposit a check at an ATM if it is written to someone else?
No. A check must be deposited into an account in the name of the person it is written to. If a check is written to you but you want to deposit it into someone else's account, that person would need to sign the back of the check (called an endorsement) and deposit it themselves, or you would need to go to a bank branch and ask about a third-party deposit, which many banks no longer allow.
Is there a limit to how much I can deposit at an ATM?
Most ATMs have a daily deposit limit, usually between $5,000 and $10,000, though this varies by bank. If you are depositing a larger check, you may need to go inside a branch. Some ATMs also limit the number of checks you can deposit at once — usually three to five per transaction.