How long are cheques valid for?

Found an old cheque? Find out if it's still valid.

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Rachel Wait

Updated

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Very few of us pay by cheque these days. But it’s still a valid form of payment – even if many companies refuse to accept them.

Key takeaways

How long do cheques last?

Cheques don’t have an official expiry date. But you’ll usually find that banks won’t accept cheques that are older than six months – this is based on the date on the front of the cheque.

If you’ve found a cheque that’s older than this, it’s best to ask the issuer to write you a new one and rip up the old one.

How to pay in a cheque online

Thanks to mobile banking, paying in cheques is much easier than it used to be. You no longer have to pop down to your local bank branch to cash in your cheques. Instead, you can use cheque imaging with your bank’s app.

To do this, you’ll need to take a photo of both sides of the cheque in the app with your smartphone. The app then reads the details of the cheque. You can review whether this is correct and agree to deposit the cheque into your account. You should keep hold of your cheque until the money has been paid into your account.

As well as being much easier to do, the cheque imaging clearing process is much quicker. If you pay in a cheque at your bank, it can take up to 6 days for the cheque to clear. If you pay it in online, the funds can be in your account by the end of the next working day.

Just be aware that if you’re writing a cheque, this means you need to ensure you have sufficient funds in your account for the cheque to clear immediately. Learn more about which banks accept online cheque deposits.

Banks accounts that allow online cheque deposits

NatWest Select Account

NatWest Select Account

9 Excellent
Minimum opening balance£0.01
Account fees£0
Interest (AER)0% AER
See dealRead review
£200 switch reward.

With NatWest, you can pay in cheques of up to £1,500 per day, with an individual limit of £1,000 per cheque. To do this via the app, select the account you want to pay the cheque into and select the “Deposit a cheque” option. Under “Cheque amount”, enter the cheque amount and select “Continue”.

Next, select “Take a photo of your cheque” and allow access to your camera. You’ll then need to capture images of both the front and back of your cheque (even if the back is blank), review the details and then select “Deposit now”.

Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable.

Royal Bank of Scotland Select Account

Royal Bank of Scotland Select Account

8.4 Great
Account fees£0
Interest (AER)0% AER
See dealRead review
£200 switch reward.

With RBS, you can pay in cheques of up to £1,500 per day, with an individual limit of £1,000 per cheque. To do this via the app, select the account you want to pay the cheque into and select the “Deposit a cheque” option. Under “Cheque amount”, enter the cheque amount and select “Continue”.

Next, select “Take a photo of your cheque” and allow access to your camera. You’ll then need to capture images of both the front and back of your cheque (even if the back is blank), review the details and then select “Deposit now”.

Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable.

TSB Spend & Save Plus

TSB Spend & Save Plus

9.8 Excellent
Minimum opening balance£0
Account fees£3 per month
Interest (AER)0% AER
see deal Read review
Earn up to £60 cashback annually - ongoing £5 cashback every month with 20 debit card payments per calendar month (excludes cash withdrawals).

To pay in a cheque using the TSB app, select the “Payments” tab and then tap “Deposit a cheque”. Next, enter the name and amount as shown on the cheque and add a reference if you wish to. Tap “Continue”.

Next, tap “Take a photo” and hold your phone above the cheque. Your camera will take the photo automatically. Check the details, and if you’re happy, deposit the cheque by tapping “Confirm”.

Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable. Account fee of £3 per month.

Pros and cons of paying in a cheque online

Pros

  • Much faster and more convenient than paying in a cheque in a bank branch.
  • Your banking app has built-in security checks to make the process secure.
  • You'll be notified as soon as your cheque has cleared.

Cons

  • You can only deposit UK cheques
  • There's a risk the cheque could bounce if the issuer doesn't have sufficient funds in their account
  • There might be a limit to the amount you can pay in via your app

Bottom line

Cheques are no longer as popular as they once were, but there’s no sign of them being completely phased out. However, if you receive a cheque, it’s important to pay it in within six months to avoid it becoming invalid. Fortunately, mobile banking has made this much easier to do from the comfort of your own home.

Our “Best for” picks highlight top options in specific categories based on our independent evaluation (see our full methodology), while “Promoted” tags indicate sponsored placements. Selected products may not suit everyone. We track selected market offers, which may not cover every product. Products are listed in no particular order unless specified, and inclusion or ordering may be influenced by popularity or commercial agreements. Most comparison table data is provided by Defaqto or sourced directly from providers. Always evaluate your own circumstances and consider independent advice before making major financial decisions.
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Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time. See full bio

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