Cashier's check vs certified check
A cashier's check is written by the bank, from the bank's own funds, after you pay the bank the amount. A certified check is your own check, which your bank stamps and signs to guarantee that the money is there and set aside. Both are safer for the person receiving them than a regular check; cashier's checks are more widely accepted.
Side by side
| Cashier's check | Certified check | |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes it | The bank | You, on your own check |
| Whose money | The bank's (you pay first) | Yours, held by the bank |
| Signed by | A bank officer | You, plus the bank's certification stamp |
| Fund availability | Generally the next business day when deposited in person into the payee's account | Same rule |
| Availability | Almost every bank and credit union | Fewer banks still offer it |
| Common uses | Home closings, car purchases, rental deposits | Same, when a cashier's check isn't available |
Banks charge a fee for both; ask yours. Some account types include a few free official checks.
How to get one
- Go to your bank or credit union (some let you order online for mail delivery).
- Bring ID and the exact payee name and amount.
- The bank takes the money from your account and prints the check. Keep the receipt; you'll need it if the check is lost.
Fake cashier's check scams
Fake cashier's checks are a classic scam: someone "overpays" you with a cashier's check and asks you to send back the difference. The check bounces days or weeks later, and you're on the hook.
- Never send money back from a check you just received.
- Call the issuing bank to verify the check, using a phone number you look up yourself, not the one printed on the check.
- "Funds available" in your account doesn't mean the check has cleared.
Is a regular business check enough?
For paying vendors, rent and contractors, a regular business check is fine and costs nothing extra. You can print your own on blank stock, with the MICR line your bank needs, and protect the account with positive pay.
Paying vendors every week? Print regular business checks instead of buying preprinted ones: payee, amount in words and MICR line, from blank stock.
Print a checkQuestions
Which is safer, a cashier's check or a certified check?
Both are guaranteed by a bank when real. A cashier's check is drawn on the bank's own funds, which is why most sellers and title companies ask for one.
Can I stop payment on a cashier's check?
Generally no, because the bank is the one paying it. If it's lost or stolen, the bank has a claim process that can take up to 90 days.
Do cashier's checks expire?
Not like personal checks, but uncashed funds eventually go to the state as unclaimed property. See how long a check is good for.
Sources: Regulation CC, 12 CFR 229.10 (next-day availability); UCC ยง 3-312 (lost cashier's checks); FTC consumer advice on fake check scams. Checked October 31, 2026. General information.