Yes, Walmart does cash checks. To cash a check at Walmart, you don’t need to purchase anything, register with the store, or even have a bank account.
When cashing a check, there are many factors that you’ll need to consider. Convenience is undoubtedly one of the top items on the agenda. With this in mind, completing this task during an upcoming trip to your local Walmart is quite attractive. It certainly sounds better than high-street alternatives. After all, there’s a good chance you’ll be using that money in the store.
Given their national presence from coast to coast, it’s likely that Walmart will be your nearest and most accessible point of service. So, what do you need to know about cashing a check at the world-famous hypermarket? Here’s all you need to know.
Walmart Check Cashing Checklist
Before heading to your local Walmart, you must ensure that the check being cashed adheres to the general legal requirements. Sadly, attempting to cash an incorrect check can bring serious consequences. Therefore, you must ensure that the sender is trustworthy and has filled out the necessary parts correctly. This includes bank details as well as proper names and data.
Endorsing the check via a signature on the back (on the appropriate line) is crucial. However, it would help if you only did it before arriving at Walmart or any other vendor. This makes it much harder for someone else to cash it should it become lost or stolen. It’s only a precautionary measure, but it’s certainly one that’s worth taking.
Walmart Check Cashing When & Where?
Cashing a check at Walmart is particularly easy and can be done at the checkout lane. However, if you want to cash a large sum, you may need to use the customer service desk or Money Center. Moreover, no purchase is necessary to use those facilities.
Many Walmarts stop cashing checks once the Money Center or service desk is closed. In most locations, that means the doors are open seven days a week from 6:00-11:00. Most people naturally know the opening times of their local store. If unsure, however, the company website will provide all the necessary information for each store.
Walmart Money Center Hours
- Walmart check cashing hours are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Sunday. Be sure to call your local store to confirm.
Reasons To Use Walmart for Check Cashing
The convenience of cashing a check while doing the weekly shopping is just the start. In truth, there are several reasons to choose Walmart instead of other services. Perhaps the most obvious selling point is that you can instantly get your hands on the cash. You are no more waiting for funds to clear, as can be the case with some vendors. Better still, those facilities remove the need for a bank account. Millions don’t have access to traditional banking, so this solves a common issue.
Moreover, there is no need to register. This does Walmart a lovely service for people who only deal with checks on an infrequent basis. Therefore, it can be beneficial if you’re cashing a birthday gift, reimbursement, or payment for a one-off job. Once again, if convenience is the aim of the game, this is a brilliant choice. Furthermore, those long opening times keep the options open when banks and other services aren’t available.
It is also possible to load your money into a Walmart MoneyCard. Given that most households have one of these, this is another benefit that other options cannot match. Essentially, it removes the temptation to waste money. Instead, you’ll be forced to spend it on the things you need in the store.
If those incentives don’t inspire you to choose Walmart’s cash checking services, the low fees will almost certainly will.
Walmart Check Cashing Fees
Check cashing services at Walmart branches offer very pleasing handling fees. If the value of the check is $1,000 or less, you’ll pay a maximum service charge of $3. That works out to 0.3% on one grand check. The fee does increase when you cash a check over the $1,000 mark. However, the $6 cap is still very, very reasonable.
Walmart does carry an upper limit of $5,000 per transaction, though. However, this increased to $7,500 between January and April. A $6 fee on the latter works out at just 0.08%, a rate you will struggle to beat at other vendors. Not least those that offer immediate payments on those checks. Besides, you’d probably use the bank if you plan to go over the $7,500 limit.
It is, however, worth noting that those transaction fees are per check. So, if you have three checks of $1,000 each, you will pay $9 in processing fees rather than $6. Still, those costs are far lower than other merchants on the market.
Walmart’s Check Cashing Policy
As with any reputable financial service provider, Walmart has set standards across the company. First and foremost, you need to know whether your type of check can successfully be cashed at one of its lanes of customer desks.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. accepts the following types of checks:
- Payroll checks
- Government checks
- Tax checks
- Cashiers’ checks
- Insurance settlement checks
- 401(k) checks
- MoneyGram money orders
On the other hand, Walmart will not accept handwritten checks personally. Furthermore, it does not include cash checks that are either expired or over 180 days old. In addition, savings bonds and money orders from servers other than MoneyGram are rejected as part of the policy. Also, checks can only be cashed by the person who is being paid to.
Finally, it will be rejected if the TeleCheck system cannot read your check due to tears or smudges. Employees cannot type the numbers in manually, so if the scanner fails to accept it, you’ll need to take it elsewhere. Furthermore, the computerized network can reject checks as a precautionary measure if it suspects the funds won’t clear. It’s an unlikely scenario, but one that needs respect regardless.
What’s Needed To Cash A Check At Walmart
Walmart is quite lenient in the sense that you needn’t sign up or register for a membership. Nonetheless, the company still needs to verify you and the check. As such, the business conducts standard procedures. While none are time-consuming, you must be aware of them first. Sadly, forgetting key details will stop you from accessing the funds.
Anyone looking to cash a check at Walmart needs identification. This can come via a driver’s license or passport. Meanwhile, you may be asked about your social security number. Of course, this doesn’t always happen, but you should be prepared for that question.
Additional Walmart Check Cashing Info
TeleCheck services can build a profile of you based on previous check-cashing activities. Therefore, it can pay dividends to start cashing several checks here in the future, especially if you don’t have a bank account. Some Walmart stores operate using a smaller computer network, but the model is identical.
Walmart is not a bank and does not make its decisions internally. If your check is rejected, it is not their fault. While your check will still be valid elsewhere, any arguments over the service in Walmart are futile.
Cashing a Check at Walmart Verdict
When bank facilities are available and convenient, they are the best choice. However, for convenience and affordability, Walmart cash checking is a great alternative. It’s quick, simple, and boasts longer opening times than most services. Better still, they accept most types of printed checks.
It can be a little frustrating that handwritten solutions are off-limits. Nonetheless, the ease and reliability of Walmart make it a winning option. If nothing else, using such a reputable company provides you with a sense of security and satisfaction too. Whether a one-off activity or a regular theme, you cannot go far wrong at $3 for $1,000.
Visiting Walmart to Cash Checks Conclusion
Walmart is an excellent alternative to banks for check cashing services. All Walmart stores offer these services, even if they don’t have a designated center.