');--input-focus-border-color:Highlight;--input-focus-outline:1px solid Canvas;--input-unfocused-border-color:transparent;--input-disabled-border-color:transparent;--input-hover-border-color:#000}@media (forced-colors:active){:root{--input-focus-border-color:CanvasText;--input-unfocused-border-color:ActiveText;--input-disabled-border-color:GrayText;--input-hover-border-color:Highlight}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:required,.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton input:required,.annotationLayer .choiceWidgetAnnotation select:required,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation input:required,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation textarea:required{outline:1.5px solid selectedItem}}.annotationLayer{--scale-factor:1;left:0;pointer-events:none;position:absolute;top:0;transform-origin:0 0}.annotationLayer section{box-sizing:border-box;pointer-events:auto;position:absolute;text-align:initial;transform-origin:0 0}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.pushButton>a,.annotationLayer .linkAnnotation>a{font-size:1em;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.pushButton>canvas{height:100%;width:100%}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.pushButton>a:hover,.annotationLayer .linkAnnotation>a:hover{background:#ff0;box-shadow:0 2px 10px #ff0;opacity:.2}.annotationLayer .textAnnotation img{cursor:pointer;height:100%;position:absolute;width:100%}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input,.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton input,.annotationLayer .choiceWidgetAnnotation select,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation input,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation textarea{background-image:var(--annotation-unfocused-field-background);border:2px solid var(--input-unfocused-border-color);box-sizing:border-box;font:calc(9px*var(--scale-factor)) sans-serif;height:100%;margin:0;vertical-align:top;width:100%}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:required,.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton input:required,.annotationLayer .choiceWidgetAnnotation select:required,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation input:required,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation textarea:required{outline:1.5px solid red}.annotationLayer .choiceWidgetAnnotation select option{padding:0}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton input{border-radius:50%}.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation textarea{resize:none}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input[disabled],.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton input[disabled],.annotationLayer .choiceWidgetAnnotation select[disabled],.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation input[disabled],.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation textarea[disabled]{background:none;border:2px solid var(--input-disabled-border-color);cursor:not-allowed}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:hover,.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton input:hover,.annotationLayer .choiceWidgetAnnotation select:hover,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation input:hover,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation textarea:hover{border:2px solid var(--input-hover-border-color)}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:hover,.annotationLayer .choiceWidgetAnnotation select:hover,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation input:hover,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation textarea:hover{border-radius:2px}.annotationLayer .choiceWidgetAnnotation select:focus,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation input:focus,.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation textarea:focus{background:none;border:2px solid var(--input-focus-border-color);border-radius:2px;outline:var(--input-focus-outline)}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox :focus,.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton :focus{background-color:transparent;background-image:none}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox :focus{border:2px solid var(--input-focus-border-color);border-radius:2px;outline:var(--input-focus-outline)}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton :focus{border:2px solid var(--input-focus-border-color);outline:var(--input-focus-outline)}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:checked:after,.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:checked:before,.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton input:checked:before{background-color:CanvasText;content:"";display:block;position:absolute}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:checked:after,.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:checked:before{height:80%;left:45%;width:1px}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:checked:before{transform:rotate(45deg)}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input:checked:after{transform:rotate(-45deg)}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton input:checked:before{border-radius:50%;height:50%;left:30%;top:20%;width:50%}.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation input.comb{font-family:monospace;padding-left:2px;padding-right:0}.annotationLayer .textWidgetAnnotation input.comb:focus{width:103%}.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.checkBox input,.annotationLayer .buttonWidgetAnnotation.radioButton input{-webkit-appearance:none;appearance:none}.annotationLayer .popupTriggerArea{height:100%;width:100%}.annotationLayer .popupWrapper{font-size:calc(9px*var(--scale-factor));min-width:calc(180px*var(--scale-factor));pointer-events:none;position:absolute;width:100%}.annotationLayer .popup{word-wrap:break-word;background-color:#ff9;border-radius:calc(2px*var(--scale-factor));box-shadow:0 calc(2px*var(--scale-factor)) calc(5px*var(--scale-factor)) #888;cursor:pointer;font:message-box;margin-left:calc(5px*var(--scale-factor));max-width:calc(180px*var(--scale-factor));padding:calc(6px*var(--scale-factor));pointer-events:auto;position:absolute;white-space:normal}.annotationLayer .popup>*{font-size:calc(9px*var(--scale-factor))}.annotationLayer .popup h1{display:inline-block}.annotationLayer .popupDate{display:inline-block;margin-left:calc(5px*var(--scale-factor))}.annotationLayer .popupContent{border-top:1px solid #333;margin-top:calc(2px*var(--scale-factor));padding-top:calc(2px*var(--scale-factor))}.annotationLayer .richText>*{font-size:calc(9px*var(--scale-factor));white-space:pre-wrap}.annotationLayer .caretAnnotation,.annotationLayer .circleAnnotation svg ellipse,.annotationLayer .fileAttachmentAnnotation,.annotationLayer .freeTextAnnotation,.annotationLayer .highlightAnnotation,.annotationLayer .inkAnnotation svg polyline,.annotationLayer .lineAnnotation svg line,.annotationLayer .polygonAnnotation svg polygon,.annotationLayer .polylineAnnotation svg polyline,.annotationLayer .squareAnnotation svg rect,.annotationLayer .squigglyAnnotation,.annotationLayer .stampAnnotation,.annotationLayer .strikeoutAnnotation,.annotationLayer .underlineAnnotation{cursor:pointer}.annotationLayer .annotationTextContent,.annotationLayer section svg{height:100%;position:absolute;width:100%}.annotationLayer .annotationTextContent{color:transparent;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;-webkit-user-select:none;user-select:none}.annotationLayer .annotationTextContent span{display:inline-block;width:100%}code[class*=language-],pre[class*=language-]{word-wrap:normal;background:none;color:#000;font-family:Consolas,Monaco,Andale Mono,Ubuntu Mono,monospace;font-size:1em;-webkit-hyphens:none;hyphens:none;line-height:1.5;tab-size:4;text-align:left;text-shadow:0 1px #fff;white-space:pre;word-break:normal;word-spacing:normal}code[class*=language-] ::selection,code[class*=language-]::selection,pre[class*=language-] ::selection,pre[class*=language-]::selection{background:#b3d4fc;text-shadow:none}@media print{code[class*=language-],pre[class*=language-]{text-shadow:none}}pre[class*=language-]{margin:.5em 0;overflow:auto;padding:1em}:not(pre)>code[class*=language-],pre[class*=language-]{background:#f5f2f0}:not(pre)>code[class*=language-]{border-radius:.3em;padding:.1em;white-space:normal}.token.cdata,.token.comment,.token.doctype,.token.prolog{color:#708090}.token.punctuation{color:#999}.token.namespace{opacity:.7}.token.boolean,.token.constant,.token.deleted,.token.number,.token.property,.token.symbol,.token.tag{color:#905}.token.attr-name,.token.builtin,.token.char,.token.inserted,.token.selector,.token.string{color:#690}.language-css .token.string,.style .token.string,.token.entity,.token.operator,.token.url{background:hsla(0,0%,100%,.5);color:#9a6e3a}.token.atrule,.token.attr-value,.token.keyword{color:#07a}.token.class-name,.token.function{color:#dd4a68}.token.important,.token.regex,.token.variable{color:#e90}.token.bold,.token.important{font-weight:700}.token.italic{font-style:italic}.token.entity{cursor:help}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Averta Web;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/Averta-Regular-fd1297bf462e95eea6aa118597d8ef9e.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Averta Web;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/Averta-RegularItalic-a93ae4a14814b0363207932e2c55e7bb.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Averta Web;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;src:url(/content-platform/static/Averta-Semibold-3cbea55cef956724c095d3faa96ac883.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Averta Web;font-style:italic;font-weight:600;src:url(/content-platform/static/Averta-SemiboldItalic-7962116f4e3c788c3df34f71cb41f4c1.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:"PT Serif";font-style:normal;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/PT_Serif-Web-Regular-a12d02e92a52545c0e252cb52e59a199.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:"PT Serif";font-style:italic;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/PT_Serif-Web-Italic-fbc44e1e589cb892ee02348b2a8a348c.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:"PT Serif";font-style:normal;font-weight:600;src:url(/content-platform/static/PT_Serif-Web-Bold-f86a6a1831027140ee56a79917cdd50d.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:"PT Serif";font-style:italic;font-weight:600;src:url(/content-platform/static/PT_Serif-Web-BoldItalic-dc0d330f07cb434d3df2ada512eeb3b3.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Simplon Mono;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/SimplonMono-Regular-f7db758b4f03c8b9179c1d8fe0bb44f8.woff2) format("woff2"),url(/content-platform/static/SimplonMono-Regular-4873b89276459e0daae704dc30e2966d.woff) format("woff")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Haffer;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/HafferXH-Regular-5aabd3cd7105e25df233f608f2d66bc2.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Haffer;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/HafferXH-RegularItalic-8cc7af3f0d75ba1b610a1b1878ea5eee.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Haffer;font-style:normal;font-weight:500;src:url(/content-platform/static/HafferXH-Medium-dae5509349255a527ba6223b40257a7c.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Haffer;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;src:url(/content-platform/static/HafferXH-SemiBold-64a01291b8f7380359bb3642c1b1e00a.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Haffer;font-style:italic;font-weight:600;src:url(/content-platform/static/HafferXH-SemiBoldItalic-869dd4deb4c6e290c1aaf1e6a8670036.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Nudge;font-style:normal;font-weight:100;src:url(/content-platform/static/VCNudge-Thin-09f2315fb254f9dc017f0e4983166415.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Nudge;font-style:normal;font-weight:300;src:url(/content-platform/static/VCNudge-Light-dc44d09f0564da3a5f46801b8bb26cd8.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Nudge;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/VCNudge-Regular-be0a147c918c6bec670c17f5204784bb.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Nudge;font-style:normal;font-weight:700;src:url(/content-platform/static/VCNudge-Bold-822d17e33e72d439ad42d99a75ae6df0.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Nudge;font-style:normal;font-weight:800;src:url(/content-platform/static/VCNudge-ExtraBold-a2d0723b460f32bc659ad1670a00ae22.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Nudge;font-style:normal;font-weight:900;src:url(/content-platform/static/VCNudge-Black-9e870be920be60c228f9a4affa885f8d.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Para;font-style:normal;font-weight:300;src:url(/content-platform/static/Para-Central-Light-b0a58901815efc51b2b07b595eca45f7.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Para;font-style:italic;font-weight:300;src:url(/content-platform/static/Para-Central-Light-Italic-48e4a958a048c612c6a0927f538018b8.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Para;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/Para-Central-Regular-03a3a49a91a9bbf991dd6263feab3975.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:Para;font-style:normal;font-weight:700;src:url(/content-platform/static/Para-Central-Bold-3107caa8a871d45bb00cb084bcc8ffc1.otf) format("opentype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:DM Mono;font-style:normal;font-weight:300;src:url(/content-platform/static/DMMono-Light-2cf6d0b2de012ff294ce86eecb4263e5.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:DM Mono;font-style:italic;font-weight:300;src:url(/content-platform/static/DMMono-LightItalic-0e20bf0432fcf702ef0306184759a593.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:DM Mono;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/DMMono-Regular-15edd89a6460acfb1a86017399e47a1f.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:DM Mono;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;src:url(/content-platform/static/DMMono-Italic-6b7b77e96ef2aa8ec8fffe2e28239719.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:DM Mono;font-style:normal;font-weight:500;src:url(/content-platform/static/DMMono-Medium-50d7af0bb966bc0570a212128d7ab24d.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-display:swap;font-family:DM Mono;font-style:italic;font-weight:500;src:url(/content-platform/static/DMMono-MediumItalic-85bff8703124566bb1a660afda35365b.ttf) format("truetype")}body,html{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;padding:0}
How Does the Check Clearing Process Work? | GoCardless Skip to content menu Open site navigation sidebar For use case
Our customers
For enterprise
For small business
Help and support
News and resources
Log in Sign up How Does the Check Clearing Process Work?
Written by GoCardless The GoCardless content team comprises a group of subject-matter experts in multiple fields from across GoCardless.
The authors and reviewers work in the sales, marketing, legal, and finance departments. All have in-depth knowledge and experience in various aspects of payment scheme technology and the operating rules applicable to each.
The team holds expertise in the well-established payment schemes such as UK Direct Debit, the European SEPA scheme, and the US ACH scheme, as well as in schemes operating in Scandinavia, Australia, and New Zealand. See full bio Last editedDec 2021 — 2 min read
Check clearing process Check clearing process in the USA Writing a check Receiving a check Check clearing refers to the process of moving funds from one account to another in order to settle a check payment. It’s often referred to as the “clearing cycle”. But how does the check clearing process work exactly? In this post, we’ll take you through the check clearing process steps, what’s involved and how long it usually takes.
Check clearing process As already mentioned, check clearing is the process through which funds are transferred from one account to another. The bank belonging to the account holder making out the check is known as the drawing bank, while the bank of the account holder receiving the funds is known as the depositing bank. The check will move from the deposit bank to the drawing bank as part of the check clearing process.
The process starts when a check is deposited to a bank. The bank will then set about contacting the drawing bank. The check is cleared when the depositing bank has received the check and funds from the drawing bank.
Initially, banks sent physical checks to each other, but now they typically send scans and images of checks to make the bank check clearing process more efficient.
Usually, the check clearing process is completed in up to five working days. However, in the instance that there are insufficient funds in the check-writer’s account at the time of payment, the check cannot be cleared.
The bank check clearing process can be much faster if both the payee and the receiver have accounts with the same bank. Transfers of this nature can be processed as swiftly as a single working day.
The Check 21 Act from 2004 has also helped to make check clearing a more streamlined and time efficient process.
Check clearing process in the USA The check clearing process in the USA is very clear with regards to the law and it is illegal to write a check knowing that you have insufficient funds on your account for it to clear successfully. In fact, this fraudulent practice is known as check kiting . You therefore must ensure that you have enough money on your account before trying to make payments using your checkbook.
Writing a check After writing a check, you will usually see the money taken from your account within two to three days of the recipient taking the check to the bank. Until this time, it is essentially just an “I owe you”. However, as soon as you write a check you must consider the funds as already subtracted from your account and refrain from spending it and therefore impeding the check clearing process. If you are writing a number of checks and you are unsure how much of the money on your account is available to spend, it is advised that you balance your checking accounts. This can be done either electronically or on paper.
Before the money physically leaves your account, it may be marked as “outstanding”, “in process” or “upcoming” on your account. It is sometimes still possible to spend the money at this point, but if you do you are committing fraud and may find yourself unwittingly entering into an overdraft. Taking advantage of the float in this way can also lead to the check bouncing.
Receiving a check A check that somebody has written you has technically cleared as soon as the deposit bank has transferred the money to the drawing bank (i.e. your bank) and the funds are marked as available on your account.
Sometimes the money is available for you to spend and withdraw before the check has fully cleared. If you have already spent some or all of the money and the check ends up ultimately bouncing, then you will be responsible for paying that money back. It’s less risky, therefore, to wait until the check clearing process steps are complete before spending the money, unless you have complete trust in the source of the check.
We can help GoCardless helps you automate payment collection, cutting down on the amount of admin your team needs to deal with when chasing invoices. Find out how GoCardless can help you with ad hoc payments or recurring payments .
Over 85,000 businesses use GoCardless to get paid on time. Learn more about how you can improve payment processing at your business today.
All Categories Interested in automating the way you get paid? GoCardless can help Contact us
Seen 'GoCardless Ltd' on your bank statement? Learn more
GoCardless Inc., 111 Congress Avenue, Suite 500, Austin, TX 78701
GoCardless Inc. (a Delaware Corporation, NMLS ID 2123932), is a FinCEN-registered money services business, registration number 31000261158426, and a licensed money transmitter in certain U.S. states.