• Home
• Checking Accounts – Everything You Need To Know

Different Types of Checks (And How They’re All the Same)

Ever opened a checking account and received free checks? Me too! Ever wondered what sort of checks you’d get because they had a weird name? Same here.

“Imprinted checks,” “standard image checks,” “wallet-style stock checks”–Common sense suggests that the fancier the check name, the fancier the check, but is that actually the case?

Short answer: no.

Over the last week, I called a number of banks and asked some in depth questions about the checks they offer. From what I found, the myriad names given to checks refer to either basic checks or to the so-called designer checks, for which “designer” may mean “Looney Tunes” or “Harley Davidson.” Most checks–even those “wallet-style stock checks”–are just basic checks. These checks are usually green, yellow, or pastel blue, may have a border, and just might have the bank logo on them. Any customization beyond that, they’re called ‘designer,’ and you start paying for them. Speaking with people at over a dozen banks, I found that there’s a limited number of check-printing companies, and even smaller number of check types offered by banks and credit unions. Here are a few other things to consider when choosing checks:
 

Check Tipsheet

 
Safety Checks – It turns out “safety” checks offered by Susquehanna Bank are actually safe. These checks will discolor if someone uses chemicals to remove your signature. But this anti-counterfeiting measure is a standard feature across all checks–so while it’s a legitimate “safety” precaution to have checks as cool-sounding as “safety” checks, they’re virtually identical to Beneficial Bank’s “Wallet Checks” and to Fifth Thirds Bank’s “custom” checks, which is just a misleading name for standard checks, if you ask me.

Single and Duplicate Checks- A “single”-style checkbook is a book of only checks, while “duplicate”-style checkbooks provide carbon copies of checks for your records. For those of you who’ve never written a check, this recording technology is similar to the transaction history in online banking, except it’s on paper. Most people want these carbon copies as proof for the checks they’ve written. Single style check names run the gamut from “wallet-style stock checks,” at Banner Bank in Walla Walla, WA, to the ever-so-fancy “basic check”, at RBC Centura in North Carolina.

Introductory Pack of Checks – The number of checks in an introductory packs of checks can vary greatly. An “introductory” set of checks from Harris Bank include a whoppin’ 125 checks, while the “initial” checks at Bank of Internet and “starter” checks from 1st National Bank of Texas each include a measly 50 checks. If first impressions really are everything, Harris Bank would definitely be taking me out for dinner and a movie tonight.

Basic or Fancy? – The difference in price between the two types of checks depends on the bank and the check-printing company, ranging from about $2-$20 extra for the designer checks. If you think it’s worth it to drop a couple extra dollars for the check set with beautiful mustangs, no one should hold you back, but keep in mind just how frequently you use checks. I’d say historically, 90% of the checks I’ve written were for rent. By sticking with free introductory checks and, later, a free box of basic checks, I’ve never paid for checks in my life!

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.