You finally received a check you've been waiting for, just to discover it is written from a bank to which you owe money. You plan to pay the bank off but currently, you need all the money you can get. If you are worried that the bank might not cash the check, don't. Banks usually cash checks drawn on their bank because they can immediately verify whether funds are available and they can also charge a fee for the transaction. However, whether or not they'll want you to repay what you owe is a different issue.
Check Cashing Procedure
When a check is presented at a bank for cashing, the bank can immediately verify whether funds are available in the account. As long as money is available in the account being presented, a bank will cash the check. All banks will require a valid picture identification such as a driver's license. Some banks might also require a second ID such as a Social Security card or military ID. Others will also require a fingerprint at the time of cashing the check.
Verify the Bank Policy
If you're trying to cash a check drawn on a bank where you owe the bank money, you should contact the bank first and ask them for its policy. For example, Wells Fargo will cash a check drawn on a Wells Fargo account even if an outstanding balance is owed on a separate account. Each bank is different, but most will charge a transaction fee.
Presenting a Check for Cashing
Do not sign the check or give it to the bank teller until you have determined that the bank will cash the check. This is your right. If the bank representative tells you that they'll need to deduct the amount you already owe them on another account, you have the right to refuse the transaction and keep your check until you resolve the issue.
Considerations
In the event that the bank will not cash the check because of another balance that you owe, you have other options. You can pay the amount you owe and then cash the check. You can also try and cash the check at a third party check-cashing business. The fees for this type of transaction can be expensive. If you owe the bank a large amount of money, or if the check you're trying to cash is for a large amount, you can talk to an attorney about your check cashing options.