You can get a voided check by writing “VOID” across the front of a personal check, or by downloading a digital equivalent through your bank’s online banking portal. Most employers and billers asking for a voided check simply need your bank’s routing number, account number, and account type to set up direct deposit or automatic payments. If you don’t have a checkbook, several alternatives will get you the same result.
How to Void a Physical Check
If you have a checkbook, pull out any unused check and write the word “VOID” in large letters across the front. You can write it once in big letters spanning the entire check, or write it smaller across the date line, payee line, amount box, and signature line. The key rule: don’t write over the routing number or account number printed along the bottom edge. Those numbers are exactly what the recipient needs to identify your bank and account.
Don’t sign the check or fill in a payee name or dollar amount. A voided check can’t be cashed, but leaving those fields blank adds an extra layer of protection. Once it’s marked, hand it to your employer’s payroll department or whoever requested it. You can also scan or photograph it if they accept a digital copy.
Download a Voided Check From Online Banking
Many banks and credit unions let you download a PDF that works just like a voided check. The document typically includes your routing number, account number, and account type, formatted specifically for payroll or direct deposit setup. Log in to your bank’s website or mobile app, navigate to your checking account details, and look for an option labeled something like “void cheque,” “direct deposit form,” or “account information for payroll.” The exact menu location varies by bank, but it’s usually found under account settings or account management.
Some banks go a step further and offer a prefilled direct deposit form you can print and hand directly to your employer. Wells Fargo, for example, lets you generate a customized direct deposit guide through its mobile app that includes your routing number, account number, and account type already filled in. Check your bank’s app or website before assuming you need a paper check.
Get a Counter Check From Your Bank
If you don’t have a checkbook and your bank doesn’t offer a downloadable option, you can visit a branch and ask for a counter check. These are checks printed on the spot with your name and account information. A teller will verify your ID and print the checks in just a few minutes. You can then void one of those checks the same way you’d void a regular one.
Counter checks typically cost $1 to $3 each, and banks usually limit how many you can get in a single visit. Call your branch ahead of time to confirm they offer this service and ask about any fees. Online-only banks won’t have this option since there’s no physical branch to visit.
Alternatives When You Don’t Have Checks
Many employers and billers accept substitutes that provide the same banking information a voided check would. Before going through the trouble of ordering checks or visiting a branch, ask what else they’ll take.
- Direct deposit authorization form: Your employer’s payroll department often has a standard form where you simply fill in your routing number, account number, and account type. No check needed.
- Bank verification letter: Your bank can provide a letter on official letterhead confirming your account details. Some employers accept this in place of a voided check. You can usually request one at a branch or by calling customer service.
- Bank statement or online banking screenshot: A recent bank statement or a screenshot of your account page showing your name, routing number, and account number may be accepted. Ask first, since not every employer allows this.
Where to Find Your Routing and Account Numbers
If you’re filling out a direct deposit form yourself, you need two numbers. Your routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies your bank. Your account number identifies your specific checking account. Both are printed along the bottom of any check: the routing number is the first set of nine digits on the left, and the account number follows it.
If you don’t have a check handy, both numbers are available in your online banking portal or mobile app, usually on the account details or account summary page. You can also find your routing number on your bank’s website by searching for their routing number page, since most banks publish it publicly. Your account number, for security reasons, will only be available after you log in.
How Long the Process Takes
Voiding a check or downloading a digital substitute takes less than five minutes. Getting a counter check at a branch is similarly quick once you’re at the teller window, though you’ll need to factor in travel time and any wait. If you need to request a formal bank verification letter, allow a few business days for processing, depending on your bank’s procedures.
Once your employer or biller receives the voided check or equivalent, direct deposit setup typically takes one to two pay cycles to go into effect. Some employers run a small test deposit first to verify the account before routing your full paycheck.