A Beginner's Guide to Filling a Bank Cheque Without Mistakes
Avoid rejected cheques — date, amount in words, signature and crossing explained.
1. Write the date correctly
Write the date in DD/MM/YYYY format in the boxes at the top right. A cheque is valid for 3 months from this date. Never leave it blank, and don't overwrite — corrections can cause rejection.
2. Payee name
Write the receiver's full name exactly as it appears in their bank account on the 'Pay' line. Draw a line after the name so no one can add extra words. For self-withdrawal write 'Self'.
3. Amount in words and figures
In words: 'Rupees Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Only' — always end with 'Only'. In figures: '12,500/-' written close to the ₹ symbol with no gaps. Both amounts must match exactly or the cheque bounces.
4. Sign like your bank record
Sign in the bottom-right corner exactly as your specimen signature registered with the bank. If you make any correction elsewhere on the cheque, sign next to it — better still, use a fresh cheque.
5. Crossing for safety
Draw two parallel lines on the top-left corner and write 'A/C Payee' between them. This makes sure money goes only into the payee's bank account and can't be cashed over the counter by anyone else.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using a gel pen that smudges, folding across the MICR strip at the bottom, signing a blank cheque, and post-dating without tracking it. Keep a record of each cheque number, date and amount in the counterfoil.
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