The check number on a cashier’s check is typically printed in the upper right corner of the check face. On many cashier’s checks, the same number also appears a second time along the bottom edge, embedded in the line of machine-readable digits after the account number. Knowing where to look helps when you need to record the number for your own records, track a payment, or report a lost check to the issuing bank.
Where to Find the Number
Look at the top right corner of the cashier’s check first. That is the most common placement, and the number is usually printed in a standard font that is easy to read. It may be labeled “Check No.” or simply appear as a standalone sequence of digits near the date line.
The same number often appears a second time at the very bottom of the check, printed in the specialized MICR font (the blocky, slightly unusual characters banks use for automated processing). The bottom line of any check contains three groups of numbers separated by small symbols: the bank’s routing number, an account number tied to the bank’s cashier’s check account, and then the check number at the end. On a cashier’s check, the order of these groups can vary by bank, but the check number is usually the shortest sequence and sits at the far right of that line.
Why It Looks Different From a Personal Check
A cashier’s check is drawn on the bank’s own funds rather than on your personal account, so the layout differs from the checks in your checkbook. The account number on the bottom line belongs to the bank, not to you, which can make the numbers at the bottom feel unfamiliar. The check number itself, though, serves the same purpose it does on a personal check: it uniquely identifies that specific payment so the bank can track it through the clearing process.
Design details vary from one bank to another. Some banks print the check number in bold or in a colored font to make it stand out. Others tuck it into a line of smaller text near the top. If you are having trouble spotting it, look for the shortest standalone number on the face of the check. The routing number is always nine digits, and the bank’s internal account number is usually longer than the check number, so the check number tends to be the easiest to distinguish by length alone.
Why You Should Write It Down
Once you hand a cashier’s check to someone, you no longer have the physical document. If the check is lost, stolen, or never cashed, you will need that check number to ask the issuing bank for a replacement or to place a stop payment. Many banks charge a fee for reissuing a cashier’s check, and the process moves faster when you can provide the exact check number up front.
Before you give away the check, take a photo of the front and back, or at least jot down the check number along with the date, the payee’s name, and the dollar amount. Your purchase receipt from the bank may also include the check number, so keep that receipt in a safe place as a backup.
Check Number vs. Other Numbers on the Check
A cashier’s check can have several numbers printed on it, which is where confusion usually starts. Here is what each one represents:
- Routing number (9 digits): Identifies the issuing bank. It appears at the bottom left of the check, bracketed by small symbols that look like vertical lines or colons.
- Account number: Refers to the bank’s internal account used to fund cashier’s checks. This is not your personal account number.
- Check number: The unique identifier for this specific check. Found in the upper right corner and often repeated at the bottom right.
- Dollar amount: Printed both numerically and written out in words on the face of the check.
If you are filling out a form that asks for the “check number” or “reference number,” use the number from the upper right corner. That is the one the bank will use to look up your transaction.