The UK Payment Industry

Northern Irish Cheque Checker

The tool on this page will help you work out the maximum timescales for each of the following key stages after you pay in a cheque:

  • when you start to earn interest on the money;
  • when you are allowed to withdraw the money;
  • when the money is definitely yours.

Date cheque paid in:

: : :

:

Thursday 17th May 2012 Day 0: Cheque paid inYou can pay in a cheque in a number of ways - across a branch counter, at a cash machine, by post or at a post office. This may affect when your bank actually receives the cheque. You may also need to deposit a cheque before a specified cut-off time, so if certainty is important to you, you should check with your bank or building society.
Friday 18th May 2012 -
Saturday 19th May 2012 -
Sunday 20th May 2012 -
Monday 21st May 2012 Day 2: Interest earnedIf your account pays interest on credit balances it is also the point at which this money will reduce the balance on which overdraft interest is charged.
Tuesday 22nd May 2012 -
Wednesday 23rd May 2012 Day 4: Withdrawal allowedOn Day 4 your bank will allow you to withdraw the funds
Thursday 24th May 2012 -
Friday 25th May 2012 Day 6: The money's yoursAt the end of this day you can be certain that the funds will not be taken back from your account without your consent, as long as you have not been a knowing party to fraud.


This tool uses the industry-wide maximum time limits that exist for each of the above stages in the cheque clearing process. Banks and building societies will compete to offer shorter timescales for interest and withdrawal so your bank or building society may beat these guaranteed time limits.

The way you pay in your cheque and the type of account you pay into will also affect how quickly your cheque clears. Withdrawal times for savings accounts are longer and withdrawals can only be made if you have an account that allows you to make them. Make sure you always use an account best suited to your needs.

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