How to pay in a cheque

Once a staple of everyday banking for Brits, cheques have steadily fallen out of vogue as consumers increasingly turn to online banking.

According to the latest data from trade body UK Finance, just 0.2% of all payments made in 2024 were by cheque – an 85% decrease over 10 years.

When you open a bank account, you often don’t even get a chequebook now.

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But while you may not use a cheque for day to day banking, there are some occasions where you may need to use them.

But with hundreds of bank branch closures over the last few years, including many arms of Halifax, Lloyds, Santander, and others shutting their doors, you may be wondering how to pay in a cheque.

We look at what you should do if you get a cheque, whether they are still valid in the UK, and if they are safe.

Are cheques still valid?

Yes. Despite not being used as often today, you can still transfer money using a cheque as a valid means of payment. This does not mean, however, that all cheques are valid all the time.

In the UK, businesses have the legal right to refuse payments of any kind (including by cheque) and only take payment in whatever form they find convenient.

So while some vendors may accept a cheque as a valid form of payment, not all of them will.

If you want to pay for something using a cheque, it is best to check with the vendor and see if they are accepted.

How to pay in a cheque

Most banks give you a few options for you to pay in your cheque. Bear in mind, however, that different banks have different rules so it is best to check with them first.

We run through some of the common ways you can pay in a cheque.

In branch

If you live close to a branch of your bank, you can cash your cheque there, either at the counter or at some cash machines.

Some banks also allow you to pay in your cheque at a participating Post Office.

By post

Some banks allow you to pay in your cheque by post.

This can often be done by filling out a form with your details then sending it and your cheque to an address specified by your bank.

By app

Most large banks and digital banks now allow cheques to be paid in via your banking app.

If your bank does let you cash a cheque via its app, you will likely need to take a photo of both sides of the cheque using your phone, review the details, and then submit it.

Here is a list of the most popular UK banks and how you can deposit a cheque.

Do cheques have a time limit?

While cheques do not have a specific expiry date, many banks will often reject a cheque if you try to cash it in more than six months after it was issued.

The best way to find out if your cheque is still valid is by asking the bank. You may have to ask the issuer to resend another payment if you did not bank it on time.

Are cheques safe?

Sending a cheque in the post is safer than putting cash in an envelope, but that does not mean that cheques are perfectly safe in all circumstances.

Like all forms of bank transfer, there are ways that criminals can defraud you by forging a cheque from your account.

To minimise your risk of being a victim of cheque fraud, banks recommend that when you write out a cheque, you draw a line through all unused space and that you keep your cheques in a secure place.

Are cheques legal tender?

Cheques are not considered legal tender. This is because the term ‘legal tender’ has a very narrow technical meaning that does not come up in everyday life.

According to the Bank of England, it means that if you offer to pay off a debt to someone using what is considered legal tender (and you have not agreed to pay in another way), you cannot be sued for failing to repay the debt.

The only forms of payment that are considered ‘legal tender’ in England and Wales are Bank of England notes, Royal Mint coins, and £1 and £2 coins.

Smaller coins are also legal tender, but only up to a certain amount – 1p and 2p coins for any amount up to 20p, and 5p and 10p coins only count for any amount up to £5.

Old £20 and £50 paper notes are no longer legal tender after they were replaced with the new plastic notes. We explain how to exchange old notes and coins in a separate article.