Introduction
This power point presentation is titled writing checks.
The intended audience for this presentation is high
school students but it could be used for anyone who
doesn't know how to correctly write a check. The goal
of this presentation is for students to learn the proper
way to fill out a check and understand what to do if a
mistake is made when preparing a check. The
presentation gives the audience tips for writing a check
and then proceeds to explain each step that needs to
be taken in order to correctly complete a check. A
mini demonstration follows each step in the completion
process.
Writing Checks
When writing a Check:
Your telling your financial institution to take a
certain amount of money out of your account.
You should be careful to write checks
correctly to avoid costly and embarrassing
mistakes.
A blank check has a space for quite a bit of
information. When you write a check, you will
want to fill in each of the spaces correctly.
Tips for writing a check:
Always use black ink.
Date the check the day it is written,
even if it’s Sunday or a holiday.
Do not postdate a check, financial
institutions will not cash a check before
the date that is written on the check.
Most businesses will not accept a
postdated check as payment.
Who is the check for?
In the blank after
the words “Pay to
the order of” write
the name of the
payee.
Spell it correctly, and
do not use any
abbreviations that
may cause
confusion.
Click on picture to see it!
How much is the check for?
Record the amount
of money to be paid
clearly in the space
after the dollar sign.
Never leave a space
between the dollar
sign and the
numerals (this may
allow someone to
alter the amount).
Click on picture to see it!
Write amount in words…
On the next line, write
out the amount of
dollars in words.
Then write the word
“and,” followed by the
number of cents written
as a fraction of 100.
Start with writing at the
extreme left of the
blank.
Fill in any leftover space
with a line.
Click on picture to see it!
Write yourself a note…
Most checks have the
word “for” or “memo”
and a blank in the lower
left-hand corner.
You do not need to fill
in this blank, but doing
so will help you keep
clearer records.
When you write a check
for a purchase, make a
note of what you have
bought.
Click on picture to see it!
Sign It!
Finally, there is a blank
for your signature.
Always use the same
signature you filed with
your financial
institution.
Be sure you have
written the name of the
payee and the amount
to be paid before you
sign the check.
Click on picture to see it!
Don’t forget…
Immediately after writing a check,
make a note of it in your check stub or
in your register.
Write the check number, the date, the
payee, and the amount in your register.
This is necessary for complete and
accurate records.
Make a mistake?
Oh no! I made a mistake.
Can you figure out what’s
wrong?
You are right! The check
needs to be signed Amy
Nelson not Andrew Small!
Do not change or cross out
any part of a check.
If you make a mistake, write
the word “VOID” across the
check and tear it up.
Then start again with
another check.
Be sure to make note of the
void check on the check stub
or in your check register.
Click on picture to see it!
Here is what the check should
look like…
References
Ryder, V., Harter, M.
Contemporary Living,
Illinois: The GoodheartWilcox, Company Inc. (1990)