When do checks go through

Let's say the wrong amount was deducted from your checking account. Or maybe you've discovered a payment that you never authorized.

No matter how your check was processed, you should contact your bank right away. The bank might be able to clear up the problem quickly. Even without a cancelled check, you can prove you made a payment with your bank statement, which shows the date and amount of the payment.

You also might have a receipt from a retail transaction. In any case, the law does not require you to have the original paper check, or even a copy of it, to resolve a problem with a bank.

Generally speaking, you will not be held responsible for processing errors or transactions you did not authorize. Different laws and rules apply, depending on how your check was processed. Rules that govern EFT payments will apply if you make an ATM withdrawal, or if you use a debit card check card , debit card number, or your checking account number without writing a paper check. You could also make a payment through a "demand draft" or "remotely created check" RCC by authorizing someone to withdraw money from your account without your signature.

For example, you could authorize your credit card company over the phone to make an RCC for payment on your credit card account before the monthly deadline. While RCCs can be useful, you must trust the person or company you allow to create an RCC because the RCC does not include your signature, and proving that you did not authorize the payment could be hard.

Contact your bank first. You might also contact the recipient of the payment. If you are unable to resolve the problem through the bank, and a national bank is involved-a national bank has the words "National," "National Association," or "N. For complaints about state-chartered financial institutions , contact the relevant state attorney general or state banking department.

Links to state attorneys general can be found on the Website of the National Association of Attorneys Generals. The Conference of State Bank Supervisors lists state banking department links.

If you have a problem with the recipient of your check —an entity other than a financial institution, such as a department store—contact the Federal Trade Commission toll free at FTC-HELP 1 More information about contacting the FTC is on the Web. What are you searching for in OCC. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Search OCC Website.

About About Overview. Topics Overview. Share This Page:. Does it matter if my check is processed more quickly? What are the different ways my check can be processed now? Can I tell how my check is being processed? May I choose the processing method for my check? Can I get my cancelled checks with my bank statement? What if something goes wrong?

What if I made the payment another way? The account has repeated overdrafts in the past six months. For any deposit, the clock starts on the business day a check is received, before the institution's cutoff time. Some banks and credit unions make funds available faster than the two-day standard. Here are some of the larger institutions with same-day or next-business-day availability on personal checks.

Alliant Credit Union. CST on a business day. Bank of America. Cutoff times are 2 p. Cutoff times for mobile deposit are 9 p. Capital One Cutoff is branch closing, or 9 p. Business day cutoff time is p. Eastern time for all ATMs.

Consumers Credit Union. Same-day availability for in-branch deposits made during regular business hours. Non-Consumers ATM deposits may take up to five business days. PNC Bank. Cutoff is 10 p. Wells Fargo. Cutoff time varies by branch but is generally 9 p. Union Bank. Cutoff time is close of business or 9 p. Pacific time for ATMs. If the account is at another financial institution, the check is typically sent to a clearinghouse that handles the request.

The process can take a few days. I attempted a withdrawal later that day and was told I could not withdraw until tomorrow. Can the bank do this? Should I enroll in direct deposit? I get my paycheck by direct deposit. When can I withdraw the funds? Learn more about bank accounts. Search for your question Search for your question. Was this answer helpful to you?