Where To Cash Your Stimulus Check Without A Bank Account

[Celerity]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimwang/2020/05/02/where-to-cash-your-stimulus-check-without-a-bank-account

The IRS is rapidly issuing the CARES Act recovery rebate of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. While many are getting their checks by direct deposit, millions will be receiving a paper check in the mail. The IRS is mailing paper stimulus checks when the agency can’t make an electronic deposit. An FDIC survey in 2017 estimated that 25% of U.S. households are “unbanked” or “underbanked.” If this describes you or someone you know, what can you do? Where can you cash your stimulus check if you don’t already have a checking account? You have several local options to cash your stimulus check without opening a bank account or prepaid debit card.

Supermarkets
Cashing Fee: Between $0 and $6

Select supermarket chains can cash large balances including your stimulus check or tax refund. Your best option can be the Kroger KR +2.2% family of supermarkets with a Money Services desk. The Kroger family supermarkets are in many cities across the United States.

These Kroger company brands will cash your stimulus check for free:

Kroger
Fry’s
King Sooper’s
Smith’s
City Market
QFC
Ralph’s
Gerbes
Bakers
Dillons
Pay Less
Fred Meyer
Pick ‘N Save
Metro Market

You may only be able to cash check balances up to $5,000 at the above stores. Call ahead if your stimulus check is larger than this amount. Other stores may charge a check cashing fee as high as $6 on your stimulus check. Some grocery stores may only cash checks smaller than $500. Most stores should give you the option of receiving your check amount as cash. You have the flexibility of buying groceries or paying for other essentials.

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[Hoyt]

1. Thanks. I think we are supposed to be boycotting Kroger, or something.

Seriously, Good tip.

[Celerity]

2. Cashing a cheque is hardly violating a boycott, unless they charge you

We have no Krogers in Sweden, and I made far too much to qualify for any of the cheques, so no moral quandary for me.

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

3. A casino.

At least where I live people cash their checks at casinos if they do not have a bank. I might be wrong as it has been a couple of years since I talked to some people who did that with their Soc-Sec checks.

Just a thought. Maybe I am wrong about that now.

[pstokely]

13. don't they charge high fees?

their ATMs have them

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

20. In the casino where I live you go up to the window where you trade your money for a machine card

or get your winnings and it was free. It has been a couple of years since I have talked to the people who do that or did that. It could have changed. They even let you spin a wheel to try and win more money.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Wait. I just got a $1400 direct deposit that was stimulus.

I'll be getting another $1200 also?

[Celerity]

7. look at the date of the article nt

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. Oh. Thank you.

I wish people wouldn't post old articles like that.

[Celerity]

21. It isn't particularly tied to a fixed point in time, as the subject matter is still valid,

ie. places to cash your cheque at if you are unbanked. Also, thousands of articles older than this one (in terms of duration between the publish date and the date of posting here) have been posted on DU.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

22. You are right. How to cash a check if you are unbanked is an ongoing problem

for those people.

Because I didn't look at the date, I was confused by the amounts given. Completely my fault.

Sometimes articles several years old are posted as if they are about something that has just happened, and that can be quite annoying. This article is not one of those, and I'm the one who should have been paying more attention.

[Celerity]

23. no problem, and thank you for the kind reply

[Mr.Bill]

5. In years gone by it was common for people to cash payroll checks at their

local grocery store or other retail outlet. Even bars and liquor stores used to cash them, all free of charge. It was good business for them because people tended to spend some of that cash right there. It also relieved them of some of the burden of having large amounts of cash to deal with before credit and debit cards were common.

[Jeebo]

6. I don't understand. Why can't you take it to a bank?

I thought that was what banks were for.

-- Ron

[Celerity]

8. many banks will not cash a cheque if you do not have an account with them

[pstokely]

14. many banks and credit unions might not be doing walk up services at this time

and many of them have closed branches

[sparkzebra]

9. For the love of Thor!!

just open a frickin' bank account!!! There are so many banks that offer free checking there is no excuse.
This is elementary school financial literacy. Stop letting "Checks Cashed" loan sharks feed off your foolishness

[Celerity]

10. I agree. NT

[North Shore Chicago]

11. I believe there are challenges

to opening an account with a bank. For an example, if you have dubious credit, they probably will deny you. There may be others.....

[DLevine]

12. Not everyone can get approved for a bank account.

So, there actually are legitimate excuses for not having one.

[Elessar Zappa]

15. Studies show many

minorities don't have bank accounts. They shouldn't be forced to open an account.

[pstokely]

16. just find a credit union with no fees near you

https://co-opcreditunions.org/locator/?_ga=2.160413437.1354693829.1616758721-2112824866.1616758721

[FSogol]

19. +1 This n/t

[FSogol]

18. Even better, open an account at the Credit Union. They have even less fees. n/t