How to cash a cheque in the UK

Cheques may not be as common as they once were, but they’re still a valid and widely accepted form of payment in the UK. Organisations such as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) still send cheques for things like tax refunds and overpayments.

But, with fewer high street bank branches and more people banking online, it’s not always obvious where or how to pay a cheque in.

Here are the main ways you can cash or deposit a cheque.

Paying in a cheque digitally

Many UK banks now allow you to deposit cheques through their mobile banking app using your smartphone camera.

This is called cheque imaging. You simply:

• open your bank’s app
• select the option to pay in a cheque
• take photos of the front and back of the cheque
• submit the images through the app

The app reads the cheque details and deposits the money into your account.

Most banks place limits on how much you can deposit this way, so it’s worth checking your bank’s rules before using the service.

Paying in a cheque in person

Not everyone uses mobile or online banking. If you’d rather speak to someone face to face, you can still pay cheques in at many Post Office branches and Banking Hubs across the UK.

Post Office branches

Thousands of Post Office branches offer banking services for customers of most major UK banks.

To pay in a cheque:

• pick up a paying-in envelope at the counter
• follow the instructions on the envelope
• place your cheque and paying-in slip inside
• seal the envelope securely
• hand it to the cashier and keep the receipt you’re given

You can usually deposit both cheques and cash into personal or business accounts this way.

Banking hubs

Cash Access UK banking hubs are shared banking spaces designed to replace services lost through high street bank closures.

Operated by the Post Office in partnership with major UK banks, banking hubs offer more services than a standard Post Office counter.

At a banking hub, you can:

• deposit cheques and cash
• withdraw money
• speak to someone from your bank
• manage services such as direct debits and payments

Banking hubs are opening across the UK regularly, so check here to see if there's one near you. 

How long is a cheque valid for?

• cheques are usually valid for six months from the date they were written
• many banks will refuse to process cheques older than six months
• if your cheque is out of date, contact the person or organisation that issued it and ask for a replacement

What's a ‘bounced’ cheque?

A cheque ‘bounces’ when the person who wrote it doesn’t have enough money in their account to cover the payment.

If this happens:

• the cheque will not clear
• the money will not be paid into your account
• the cheque may be returned unpaid by the bank