Category Archives: Checks

What do Business Checks Look Like?

When it comes to managing your company’s finances, understanding the tools at your disposal is key, and business checks are one of those foundational tools. While they might seem mundane compared to digital payments, business checks offer an essential layer of professionalism, record-keeping, and security.

Let’s walk you through the defining features of business checks, how they differ from personal checks, and what to look for in terms of design and functionality. We’ll also share a side-by-side comparison of safety design elements in personal and business checks to help you make an informed choice.

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How Long Is a Personal Check Good For?

In the world of everyday banking, personal checks still hold a significant role, whether you’re paying rent, gifting money, or handling other personal expenses. But what happens if a check isn’t deposited or cashed right away? Knowing how long a check remains valid can help you avoid the hassle of bounced payments or missed deposits. Let’s break down how long a personal check is good for, what you should do with old checks, and how to avoid issues with stale payments.

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What are High-Security Checks?

Even as digital payment methods have grown in popularity over recent years, checks remain a standard form of payment for individuals and businesses. From paying bills and employee wages to making gifts or charitable contributions, checks offer a convenient and secure way to complete payments.

However, even though checks are an analog form of payment, they’re still susceptible to fraud, misuse, and abuse, just like digital methods. In fact, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) reported receiving 15,417 reports on mail theft-related check fraud last year, accounting for payments of more than $688 million.

To protect check payments amid the rising incidence of fraud, using high-security checks can be an easy swap for account holders. Continue reading below as we discuss the important features of high-security checks, who should use them, and whether they’re worth the extra cost.

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Creating a Festive Checkbook: Checks for the Holiday Spirit

For many, there’s no better time of year than the holiday season. To help yourself get into the festive spirit this year, try surrounding yourself with all things holiday-themed — including your checkbook!

Each time you go to write a check, you’ll be reminded of all the great things about this time of year — the gatherings with loved ones, bountiful feasts, gift-giving, and more. Take a look below at some of our favorite holiday-themed personal checks to place in your pocketbook as we head into the new year.

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A Nostalgic Look at Checks: How They’ve Evolved and Remain Relevant Today

The first iterations of modern-day checks emerged ages ago. The behind-the-scenes banking practices and legal precedence supporting check-writing have evolved over the years, though the basic concept of making a written promise of payment has remained the same.

As we close out yet another incredible year, let’s reflect back on the long and storied timeline of how we ended up with the modern version of checks we rely on today.

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How to Use Checks for Holiday Charitable Donations Effectively

This holiday season, you can spread some cheer by giving back to charities and causes that are near and dear to you. Making your donation using a festive holiday check is a simple, secure, and effective approach, which you can do by following these simple steps:

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Gift-Giving Made Easy: How to Write Checks as Thoughtful Presents

With the holiday season quickly approaching, you may have a long list of family, friends, and acquaintances that you plan to exchange gifts with. While you can take the time to conjure up ideas of the perfect gift for everyone on your list, there’s always a worry that you’ll gift someone something they already have, don’t like, or would rather pick out themselves.

Luckily, one thing nearly everyone can agree on is that receiving money as a gift is always welcomed. Plus, there’s a way to gift money in a thoughtful way that doesn’t lose the personal feel of holiday gift-giving — by using a personal check.

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Checks and Philanthropy: Simplifying Donations and Charitable Giving

Checks are still widely used in the modern economy despite the rise in electronic payment methods. To this day, checks remain a preferred method for making charitable donations, offering both donors and recipients simplicity and financial transparency. Continue reading below as we explain the advantages of using checks for philanthropic purposes.

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Checks in Estate Planning and Trust Funds

According to LegalZoom, over half of Americans, or 56%, think estate planning is important for end-of-life planning. So, even though this process can feel overwhelming, taking thoughtful steps now can ease the burden for your loved ones later on.

One way to make the process more straightforward is to organize your financial matters. This includes setting up clear methods for disbursing funds, like using paper checks. By being proactive with these details, you not only make the process easier but also give your family peace of mind, knowing that everything is in order.

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How to Balance Your Checkbook in the Digital Age

Balancing your checkbook is an important aspect of managing your finances. It allows you to review all transactions to see where your money goes each month and catch any bank errors or discrepancies. Above all, it provides transparency into your finances, giving you a clear understanding of your financial positioning at any given time.

In the digital age, there continue to be new ways to manage your finances online, including balancing your checkbook, as we’ll detail below.

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