Cashier’s Check vs. Certified Check
5 Min Read | Published: October 10, 2025
This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.
Compare a certified check vs. cashier’s check. See how to get one, when to use them, and how they offer secure payment alternatives to personal checks.
At-A-Glance
- Cashier’s checks are issued using a bank’s own funds and offer a strong payment guarantee, while certified checks are written from your personal account and are verified by your bank.
- Cashier’s checks may be preferred for formal, high-value transactions like a down payment on a house, while cashier’s checks could make sense for personal payments that need to be traceable, like buying a car from a private owner.
- Both check types are secure alternatives to personal checks, but a cashier’s check may offer added protection in situations where payment certainty is critical.
If you have a checking account, you’ve probably written a check at some point, whether it was to pay a bill or gift money to a loved one. And personal checks are largely sufficient for smaller day-to-day transactions. But when you need to send someone a large amount of money, you might seek alternative options that are a bit more secure.
Cashier’s checks and certified checks are two secure alternatives to personal checks for larger transactions. Here’s what to know about the two and when to choose each option.
What Is a Cashier’s Check?
A cashier’s check is issued by a bank from its own funds. You purchase the check from the bank with the money in your account, and then the bank writes the check to the payee. For this reason, cashier’s checks may be considered a better guarantee of payment than certified or personal checks, which pull the funds from your account.
You can get a cashier’s check at a bank or credit union. When you get a cashier’s check, there are certain safety features baked in, like watermarks on the check and sometimes a requirement that employees sign the check.
Did you know?
You may also be able to redeem your American Express Membership Rewards® points as a cashier’s check. Before you redeem, be sure to check how much your Membership Rewards points are worth.
What Is a Certified Check?
A certified check is issued by a bank from the funds in your personal checking account. By creating the check, the bank is certifying that the funds are available in your account.
To get a certified check, you’ll need to go to your bank’s brick-and-mortar location and confirm they offer certified checks. If they do, you write the check in front of a bank teller, who then signs or stamps the check to verify that you have sufficient funds in your account at the time of writing. The bank teller also takes a step to earmark those funds in your account so they can’t be used for another purpose, thereby guaranteeing that the money will be available when your recipient goes to cash the check.
When to Use Each Type of Check
A cashier’s or certified check can make sense for certain large transactions. Here’s how to choose between the two.
You might prefer a cashier’s check for:
- Paying a down payment on a house
- Getting a new car
- Paying a contractor for a major home renovation
These situations are more formal transactions where the payee needs assurance that the money is available that day. If the money were unavailable, it could cause complications with the transaction going through.
While a certified check may be better for:
- Putting down a deposit on a rental
- Buying a car from a private seller
- Paying a deposit on a wedding venue
These situations are more personal transactions where the payee needs to know the funds are available in your account, and you both want a way to trace the payment.
Pros and Cons of Cashier’s Checks
There are several pros and cons of both cashier’s and certified checks to consider before choosing which to use.
Pros of Cashier’s Checks
- Guaranteed form of payment backed by the bank.
- It may be easier to replace if lost or stolen.
- Funds are immediately taken out of your account and won’t show in your available balance.
- Allows you to keep your personal bank account information private.
Cons of Cashier’s Checks
- The bank may charge a fee to issue the check, often $5 to $15, depending on the bank.1
- May need to visit the bank in person to deposit a cashier’s check.
- Cashier’s checks can be fraudulent and used by scammers to fake high-value transactions.
Pros and Cons of Certified Checks
Pros of Certified Checks
- It’s a guaranteed form of payment verified by the bank.
- It may be less expensive than a cashier’s check to purchase.
Cons of Certified Checks
- The money shows in your account until the check clears with the payee, but it can’t be used since it’s earmarked for the transaction.
- It can be difficult to stop payment or replace it if lost or stolen, similar to a personal check.
- The bank may charge a fee to issue the check, often $15 to $20, depending on the bank.2
How to Deposit Your Certified or Cashier’s Check
If you receive a certified or cashier’s check, you can deposit it in your checking account as you normally would. Depending on your bank, you may be able to use mobile deposit to take photos of the check, deposit it in an automated teller machine (ATM), or you may be required to deposit it in person with a bank teller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing between a certified check or cashier’s check comes down to the purpose of the transaction, the amount, and the level of security required. For a large, formal purchase, like a down payment on a home, a cashier’s check may be preferred since it is guaranteed by the bank or financial institution and may be less prone to bouncing.3
Cashier’s checks may take a day or multiple business days to process. If the bank suspects check fraud, they may hold the transaction for longer.
A cashier’s check may be considered the safest check to accept because a bank or credit union guarantees the amount backed by its own funds. For this reason, cashier’s checks decrease the chances of a check bouncing.
The Takeaway
Both cashier’s checks and certified checks can help you securely pay for a large purchase. But because a cashier’s check uses funds backed by the bank, it may be a preferred option when security is top of mind, like sending a down payment for a house. As with any financial transaction, you can take steps to protect yourself from fraud by always verifying the source of a check before cashing it.
1,2 “What’s the difference between a cashier’s check and a certified check?,” Bankrate
3 “Deposit Accounts,” Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Brooke Joly is a writer on a mission to unravel the mysteries of personal finance and make them accessible to the everyday reader. When she’s not behind the keyboard, you can find her enjoying the outdoors in Charleston, SC.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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