last reviewed: AUG 25, 2020
Each bank or credit union has its own rules as to when it will let you access money after you deposit a check, but federal law establishes the maximum length of time a bank or credit union can make you wait.
Generally, if you deposit a check or checks for $200 or less in person to a bank employee, you can access the full amount the next business day. If you deposit checks totaling more than $200, you can access $200 the next business day, and the rest of the money the second business day.
If your deposit is a certified check, a check from another account at your bank or credit union, or a check from the government, you can withdraw or use the full amount on the next business day if you make the deposit in person to a bank employee.
If you make a check deposit at an ATM at your bank, you can withdraw or use the full amount on the second business day.
Your bank or credit union has a cut-off time for what it considers the end of the business day. If you make a deposit after the cut-off time, the bank or credit union can treat your deposit as if it was made on the next business day. A bank or credit union’s cut-off time for receiving deposits can be no earlier than 2:00 p.m. at physical locations and no earlier than noon at an ATM or elsewhere.
The amount of time a bank or credit union holds funds you deposit by check is sometimes referred to as a “deposit hold” or “check hold”. Some banks or credit unions may make funds available more quickly than the law requires, and some may expedite funds availability for a fee. If you need the money from a particular check, you can ask the teller when the funds will become available. A receipt showing your deposit does not mean that the money is available for you to use.
It may take longer for you to access your deposit for a few reasons:
- If you have a new account or if your account has been overdrawn too many times in the past six months;
- If you make a deposit over $5,000;
- If you make a deposit at an ATM owned by someone other than your bank or credit union; or
- If the bank or credit union reasonably believes the deposited check may be uncollectible.
- If you or your bank redeposit a check that has been returned unpaid
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The digital age has transformed banking as we know it. Still, there are plenty of occasions when people may use physical paper checks to send and receive payments. However, payments from checks aren’t normally available immediately. Understandably, you may be wondering, “How long does it take for a check to clear?”
When do checks clear?
By law, banks are required to make at least the first $225 of a personal check deposit available for use by the next business day. Note that certain checks may take additional time, particularly if it’s an international transfer as those may take longer to verify. Procedures for check verification typically vary from bank to bank.
Certain types of checks are designed to clear faster, often being available in full by the next business day. These include:
- Checks from federal and other government agencies
- Checks where both accounts are held by the same institution
- Certified checks
- Cashier’s checks
What is a business day?
Keep in mind the distinction between business days and calendar days. Calendar days generally denote any 24-hour period from midnight to midnight. Business days, on the other hand, refer to days when the bank is open for business — weekends and bank holidays are not considered business days.
A business day typically ends at the same time the bank's business hours do, and some institutions may even have an earlier cutoff time for check deposits. Deposits made past that time will usually be part of the next business day's transactions.
Do checks clear on Saturdays?
Business days don’t typically include weekends or holidays. That means a check deposited Friday night after business hours will be treated as if it were deposited Monday morning (if it isn’t a holiday).
Some financial institutions may advertise extended business hours or days. This is at their sole discretion and may not always apply. You may wish to consult with your local bank for their policies on this.
Do checks clear on bank holidays?
As the name implies, banks and other financial institutions are normally closed on bank holidays. As such, bank holidays typically don’t count towards a check’s clearing time.
Why is my check delayed?
There may be times when clearing a check takes longer than usual. This normally happens when the bank needs to take extra steps verifying the transaction. Common causes of delay include:
- Depositing a large amount (more than $5,525) in checks in a single day.
- Making check deposits into accounts that are less than 30 days old.
- Having multiple recent overdraft charges on the account in question.
- Suspecting that the check won’t be paid.
In summary
Let’s return to our original query, “How long does it take for a check to clear?” As you see, the answer typically depends on a combination of factors: when the check was deposited, what type of check it is, and where it came from.