What Kind of Checks Does Walmart Cash or Do Not Cash?

In this age, people are steadily seeking less stressful and quick ways to obtain cash. While there are many places to cash a check in the United States, big-box retail stores with money centers are some of the coolest. Walmart is renowned for lower prices than traditional grocery or department stores, making it a notable choice among budget-conscious shoppers.

While Walmart allows consumers to cash their checks and have money in their hands instantly, it also tends to be very strict with the kinds of checks they accept as check fraud is constantly an issue. Walmart cash centers will cash personal checks and other types of checks up to the Walmart check cashing limit.

Have it in mind that Walmart will not cash checks over $5,000 from May to December. Howbeit, they will accept checks up to $7,500 from January to April. You will be charged around $4 to $8, depending on the check amount. You can cash a check at Walmart without a bank account. To cash a check, you only require a valid form of identification.

Types of Checks Walmart Cash

Your local Walmart will cash many different types of checks, and they include;

1. Payroll Checks

A payroll check is a check issued in payment of wages or salary. This tends to cover a scheduled pay period, which could be on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly basis.

2. Business Checks

This is a check that is written against a business checking account, which means that it is based on a company’s assets rather than an individual person’s.

Note that they serve as monetary instruments business owners can use to issue funds from their business bank account. Just like personal checks, business checks are linked to a bank account that gets debited when a written check is cashed.

3. SSI Payment Checks

In the United States, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program tends to make available monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness who have income and resources below certain stipulated financial limits.

These payments are also made to individuals age 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial qualifications. Note that this sort of payment check can be cashed at Walmart, but you will most often need a government-issued ID.

4. Government Checks

This simply refers to a U.S. federal, state, or local government payroll, expense reimbursement, tax refund, or benefit/assistance (i.e., Social Security, disability, child support) check. For this sort of check, Walmart will work with a government ID that has a photo of the bearer.

5. Insurance Settlement Check

This is another type of check that can be cashed at a Walmart center. Note that in personal injury cases that involve a settlement check, the defendant’s insurance company issues out a check to your attorney.

Your lawyer collects the check and then deducts the percentage of money agreed upon before sending you the balance in the form of another check. The check can take up to six weeks to be paid out once your personal injury case has been awarded.

6. 401(k)/Retirement Disbursement Checks

In the United States, there are two types of 401(k) disbursements, retirement disbursements, and early retirement distributions. Retirement disbursements are quite easy to understand. Once you turn 59½, the IRS permits you to start taking distributions from your 401(k) as income during retirement. Note that this check can also be cashed at Walmart centers.

7. Cashier’s Checks

This is another type of check that can be easily cashed at Walmart. Cashier’s checks, also referred to as teller’s checks are checks that draw on the bank’s own funds to make the payment. Have it in mind that they are as good as money in the bank, especially since they are the bank’s money. Once a bank creates a cashier’s check, the bank guarantees to pay the amount printed on the check.

8. Tax Refund Check

A tax refund is a reimbursement to taxpayers who must have overpaid their taxes, often due to having employers withhold too much from paychecks. According to detailed reports, over three-fourths of taxpayers are over-withheld, resulting in tax refunds. These checks can also be cashed at Walmart as long as you have the necessary identifications.

9. Two-Party Personal Check

This check is made out to either an individual using the word “or” and can be cashed by two persons. Note that if the check was made out to both people using the word “and,” then it has to be cashed by both parties. Walmart will cash your two-party check, up to $200 per check, and charge you $6 each.

Have it in mind that most retailers and grocery stores charge up to $10 to cash a 2-party check, making Walmart a wonderful option.

10. Pre-Printed Checks

These are checks already printed with the payer name/address, bank name/address, fractional routing number, void after a period, and bank routing and account number. These checks are perfect for home users who want regular personal style checks. Note that they are exactly like the ones you obtain from a bank.

Types of Checks Walmart Do Not Cash

As of 2022, Walmart cashed a good number of personal checks at their stores; however, there are exemptions too. They include;

1. Starter Checks

According to Walmart’s check chasing policy, they do not cash temporary checks or personal checks. Starter checks could be considered basic bank checks gotten from your bank once you open a brand new checking account in addition to your ATM and debit card.

These checks do not include personal information such as address or customer’s name. Most often, they come with a low check number which also identifies them as a starter check.

2. Third-Party Checks

Walmart does not cash personal third-party checks. Just as was noted above, they only accept two-party checks that do not exceed the $200 max limit.

Third-party checks are quite different from starter checks because starter checks are most often blank and do not have a return address associated with the check. Third-party checks are not made payable to you but to someone else. They require a two-step process to cash them involving two endorsement signatures.

3. Handwritten Checks

Walmart does not cash handwritten checks (even from business accounts) because there is a higher chance of fraud and insufficient funds in the account. To avoid taking any of these risks, they have put in place a policy to only accept pre-printed (electronically printed) checks.

Walmart will only cash a check if it has been printed and features the name of the company, telephone number, address, date issues, and the amount of the check (both alphabetically and numerically).

4. Checks Dated More Than 180 Days Prior

Walmart has a strict policy of 180 days for allowing checks and their issue date. It simply means that Walmart will only cash checks dated within the last 180 days. However, if the check is good for one year, there is a good chance that the check will be cashed. However, it is always advisable you only visit Walmart with checks that are within six months old.

5. MoneyGram Money Orders Not Issued At Walmart

Walmart will only cash Moneygram money orders purchased at another Walmart, and the maximum money order sold at Walmart is $1,000. Although you can buy or cash as many money orders as possible a day, Walmart has a limit of $3,000 worth of money orders in one day.

Purchasing more than $3,000 triggers a SARS (Suspicious Activity Report). Aside from that, you will need to show a receipt for the money order and preferably still have the stub attached. Walmart must also call the company that issued the money orders and get an “OK to cash” number to cash the money order.

Conclusion

Walmart is very strict with the types of checks they cash via their check-cashing services. While no registration is required, you will be expected to provide an endorsed check along with a valid form of government-issued ID with your photo (e.g., state ID card, driver’s license, U.S. passport, etc.). In addition, you may be asked to provide your Social Security number.