You need to cash a check right away but can’t do so at commercial banks during their business hours. Maybe you can’t access your bank account or have to work the whole day.
Fortunately, some grocers and convenience stores offer check-cashing services late at night, and most wouldn’t even require linking bank accounts. You can cash checks even without commercial banks.
However, don’t just drive up to the nearest Walmart. Check-cashing service providers typically follow varying guidelines, and not every branch will cash personal checks 24/7—especially if you don’t have a bank account.
Don’t worry if you find yourself lost on where to cash your check. We reviewed various check-cashing services in the US to identify which ones stay open all day (even on Sundays) and accommodate different types of checks.
Go through all our recommendations. Check out the ones that will cash your check ASAP, and take note of locations that might help you with your future check-cashing needs.
Stick with us until the end to verify which locations are open now. Wasting time driving around town aimlessly looking for 24-hour check-cashing services will only add to your frustration.
Let’s look into some convenience stores and grocery stores that cash checks 24/7!
24-Hour Check Cashing Places You’ll Find Near You
There are thousands of convenience and grocery stores in the US, but which locations offer check-cashing services outside of traditional banking hours?
Here’s a list detailing the most widely known and trusted check-cashing service providers around.
1. Walmart
Walmart stands as the most widely known and trusted check-cashing grocery store. It’s a reputable institution backed by six decades of industry experience, so you can rest assured that your money is safe.
Most Walmart stores cash checks through the Money Center. It offers various financial services and accommodates a broad range of checks, including:
- 401k and retirement disbursements
- Cashier’s checks
- Government checks
- Insurance settlement checks
- Payroll checks
- Pre-printed checks
- Stimulus checks
- Tax
24-Hour Availability
Although Walmart stays open 24/7, many branches reduced their operating hours due to the pandemic. Nowadays, most locations close at 11 PM or 12 AM.
Double-check the store’s operating hours online so that you don’t waste your time driving to random local Walmart stores.
Transaction Fees
$1,000 checks and below have a $4 fee, although the maximum fee caps at $8 if you exceed this threshold.
Available Locations
There are 4,700 plus Walmart locations in the US, so you’re bound to find a local branch near you.
Requirements
You can cash your endorsed check at Walmart’s Money Center with nothing but your valid government-issued I.D. card.
2. WinCo Foods
WinCo Foods is a privately owned supermarket chain backed by six decades of industry experience. It mostly consists of employee-owned locations, but branches typically follow the same store guidelines regarding various grocer services, including check-cashing.
Also, most branches only accept payroll checks. Only a handful of locations, if any at all, will cash insurance settlement checks and two-party checks.
24-Hour Availability
Although several WinCo Foods branches reduced their working hours after the pandemic, most branches still operate 24/7.
Transaction Fees
Payroll checks under $500 have a $5 fee, while those worth more cost $10 to cash. However, note that most locations only accommodate payroll checks up to $1,000.
Available Locations
WinCo Foods has 130+ branches in the following states:
- Arizona
- California
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
Requirements
You only need to present one valid government-issued ID, but WinCo Foods only allows drawees to cash two payroll checks under $1,000 within one-week periods.
3. Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee is a widely known chain of employee-owned grocery stores in the Southern and Midwestern U.S. They’re not a countrywide staple like Walmart. However, they still have a solid following of regular and repeat customers in their respective states.
24-Hour Availability
What makes Hy-Vee interesting is that each independently owned location has varying policies. Some branches close at 5 AM, while others stay open 24/7. We suggest calling your local Hy-Vee store beforehand to avoid a wasted trip.
Transaction Fees
Checks under $1,000 have a fixed $3 fee, while checks worth upward of $1,000 will cost you a maximum of $6.
Available Locations
Hy-Vee has more than 280 employee-owned locations in the following states:
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
However, reports indicate that Hy-Vee plans on working with independent owners interested in managing locations in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Requirements
All Hy-Vee locations only require drawees to present a valid ID. However, each branch might follow different check-cashing limits, ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.
4. Albertsons
Albertsons is another widely known grocer that provides check-cashing services. It doesn’t accommodate personal and handwritten checks, but it cashes government and payroll for competitively low fees.
24-Hour Availability
Unfortunately, Albertsons never adopted 24-hour operations. However, you can rest assured knowing that most Albertsons branches accept check-cashing requests until midnight.
Transaction Fees
Cashing in a $1,000 to $2,000 check could cost you up to $6, depending on the type of check.
Available Locations
Albertsons has more than 2,200 locations spread across nearly every state.
Requirements
Although check-cashing policies vary per location, most Albertsons branches only accept checks up to $1,000 to $2,000. However, you’ll only need one government-issued ID.
5. Kroger Company Stores
The Kroger Company has dozens of subsidiaries scattered across the country, and most of these locations offer check-cashing services. You can cash the following checks:
- Business checks
- Government checks
- Insurance settlement checks
- Payroll checks
- Tax refund checks
24-Hour Availability
Unfortunately, most 24-hour Kroger stores reduced their operating hours in line with the pandemic. They might follow their old schedules back soon. However, in the meantime, most locations close their doors at midnight.
Transaction Fees
Kroger has relatively low transaction fees. Cashing a $2,000 to $5,000 check only costs $3 to $5.50, which is about 100% cheaper than other widely known competitors.
Available Locations
The Kroger Company is one of the largest grocery chains in the U.S. It serves as the parent company for over a dozen stores, including:
- Baker’s
- City Market
- Dillons
- Food 4 Less
- Foods Co
- Fred Meyer
- Fry’s
- Gerbes
- Jay C Food Store
- King Soopers
- Kroger
- Mariano’s
- Metro Market
- Pay-Less Super Markets
- Pick’n Save
- QFC
- Ralphs
- Ruler
- Smith’s Food and Drug
Requirements
Kroger requires clients to bring their valid government-issued ID and Kroger Shopper’s Card. Only members can cash checks.
6. Food City
Food City accommodates a broader range of checks than most rival check-cashing service providers. You can cash the following:
- Government checks
- Payroll checks
- Rebate checks
- Stimulus checks
24-Hour Availability
Sadly, Food City doesn’t operate 24/7. However, most branches stay open until midnight, which might help underbanked clients who can’t visit banks during traditional banking hours.
Transaction Fees
Food City charges a 3% processing fee and cashes up to $1,000, so the fee caps at just $30.
Available Locations
There are 140+ Food City branches in the following states:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Requirements
Food City only requires drawees to bring a government-issued ID. However, note that you can only cash payroll and rebate checks from specific entities. Contact your local Food City beforehand to learn more about their approved list of signees.
Alternative Ways to Cash Your Cheque Quickly
If you don’t like the steep fees or stringent limitations of check-cashing services, consider the following alternatives:
Cashing at the Check-Issuing Bank
Although banks don’t cash checks for non-customers, they’ll cooperate if the check was issued by an account holder.
For instance, let’s say your employer signs you a check from their Chase bank account. Even if you don’t have a bank account from Chase yourself, you can still get your money over the counter since the check signee is a Chase customer.
Expect to pay around $5 to $10 in fees.
Check-Cashing Mobile Apps
If you have a bank account but don’t have enough branches in your area or can’t visit one during the day, opt to use a check-cashing mobile app. Just take a picture of your check and it will send the funds straight to your account. However, the funds might take a day to reflect.
Some widely known and reputable check-cashing mobile apps include:
- Brink’s Money (iOS | Android)
- Western Union Netspend (iOS | Android)
- PayPal (iOS | Android)
- Netspend (iOS | Android)
- Ingo Money (iOS | Android)
- Green Dot (iOS | Android)
Sign Your Check to a Friend
Consider signing your check to a trusted individual. Doing so lets you avoid check-cashing service fees and cash checks at commercial banks even without a bank account.
However, note that the person you sign the check to might find this request troublesome. They’ll have to withdraw the funds themselves, after all.
Opening Second-Chance Checking Account
If you can’t cash your check because of bad banking records, look into second-chance checking accounts. This account lets delinquent clients rectify their relationship with their bank.
Your account might have steeper transaction fees and more stringent limitations, but you can use this opportunity to improve your long-term financial health. Once you’ve proven your creditworthiness, you’ll have access to other banking services again.
Pros and Cons of Check-Cashing Services
People who don’t have bank accounts or can’t leave work the entire day might find check-cashing services convenient. After all, they cash checks almost 24/7.
However, they also have their downsides. If you have an active bank account or can perform over-the-counter transactions at commercial banks, reconsider the pros and cons first before rushing to the nearest Food City or Walmart.
Pros
- Accepts Unbanked/Underbanked Individuals: Check-cashing service providers accommodate people who can’t cash their checks because they don’t have a bank account or terrible banking history.
- Provides Fast Cash: Unlike commercial banks, check-cashing stores can cash your checks immediately. You don’t have to wait for the checks to clear.
- Closes Late: Many stores that offer check-cashing services stay open until midnight, if not 24 hours. Meanwhile, most commercial banks close at 5 P.M. People who have to work all day might find this feature convenient.
- More Branch Options: You’ll find a lot more grocery and convenience stores than commercial banks.
Cons
- Steep Transaction Fees: Cashing payroll and government checks can set you back by 3% to 5%, and cashing personal checks can spike up to 10%. Are you really fine paying $100 for every $1,000 check?
- Upselling Agents: Many unbanked clients using check-cashing services can’t take out commercial bank loans, so sneaky agents take this chance to sell steep payday loans. Their convenience might sound appealing. However, they come with super-steep fees and negatively impact your credit score.
- No FDIC Protection: Cashing checks at FDIC-protected banks insures your account for up to $250,000. Unfortunately, check-cashing stores don’t have federal protection.
- Remaining Underbanked: With the convenience of check-cashing services, many underbanked and unbanked individuals no longer need to fix their bad banking records. Doing so will prevent you from improving your financial health. You’ll save a lot of fees and yield more benefits by maximizing commercial banking services.
Cash Checks 24/7/365 Even Without Bank Accounts
If you still feel unsure about whether your local grocer or convenience store cashes checks, call their hotlines first. Save yourself the hassle of unnecessary trips.
Trust us—wandering around the neighborhood and going into various grocery stores will only make the situation more stressful. It’s best to have multiple options for cashing checks.
Also, bookmark this post for easy access. That way, you’ll know what to do the next time you need to cash a check without a bank account after business hours.
Aidan has been writing about personal finance for over 6 years. Prior to this, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst where he specialized in Due Diligence, Company Valuations and more. He is a CFA charterholder.
