Can You Still Get Travelers Checks? How to Redeem or Replace Them

You can’t still get traveler’s checks from any major issuer. American Express, the last big name that sold them, has stopped issuing new checks and now only handles redemption of ones already in circulation.¹ Visa and Mastercard-branded traveler’s checks are no longer produced either. If you’re planning a trip, you’ll need to use a different tool. If you already have traveler’s checks in a drawer, they’re still valid and still worth their face value.

Why You Can’t Buy Them Anymore

American Express states plainly on its website that “Travelers Cheques are no longer issued and so cannot be purchased.”¹ Other issuers stepped away years earlier. Credit cards, debit cards tied to global ATM networks, and mobile payment apps took over the job of moving spending money across borders, and demand for paper checks dropped far enough that banks and credit unions phased them out.

The checks that are still in people’s hands remain negotiable instruments under the Uniform Commercial Code, which defines a traveler’s check as an instrument payable on demand, drawn on or through a bank, and requiring a countersignature that matches a specimen signature already on the check.² That’s why old checks can still be cashed.

What to Do With Traveler’s Checks You Already Have

American Express traveler’s checks don’t expire. The company confirms that existing checks “remain backed by American Express” no matter when they were purchased.¹ A check you bought for a trip 20 years ago is still worth its full face value today.

You have a few ways to turn them into money you can actually spend.

Redeem Directly Through American Express

American Express offers online redemption for checks denominated in U.S. dollars, euros, Canadian dollars, British pounds, Australian dollars, and Japanese yen. You can also redeem by phone by calling customer service at 1-800-221-7282.¹

Deposit Them at Your Bank

Many banks still accept traveler’s checks for deposit into an account. Call your bank first; policies vary and some charge a fee.¹ Currency exchange offices worldwide also accept them, though commissions differ by country.

Checks From Visa, Mastercard, or Smaller Issuers

Visa- and Mastercard-branded traveler’s checks are still valid and can generally be cashed at large banks or through the original issuer. If the check came from a small bank or credit union that has since merged or closed, the successor institution usually still honors it. When a local branch balks, going to the parent company or successor bank is typically the most reliable route.

Don’t Count on Using Them at a Store

Paying a merchant with a traveler’s check is difficult now. American Express advises holders to check with the merchant before trying.¹ Most staff aren’t trained to process them and many registers can’t handle the transaction. Convert the checks to cash or deposit them first, then spend from that.

If the Checks Are Very Old

State unclaimed property laws can affect long-dormant checks. Every state sets an abandonment period, typically between 3 and 15 years of inactivity, after which the issuer may be required to hand the funds to the state. If that has happened to your checks, you’d file a claim with the state’s unclaimed property office rather than with American Express. The process and dormancy period vary by state.

If They’re Lost or Stolen

American Express states that lost or stolen checks may be refunded, subject to terms and conditions, provided you can show identification and proof of purchase. Report the loss by calling 1-800-221-7282 with the serial numbers of the missing checks. Without those numbers the process gets much harder, which is why the original purchase receipt was always meant to be stored separately from the checks.¹ You’ll also need a valid photo ID, details about how the checks were lost, and a completed refund claim form. Checks that were already countersigned before the loss are harder to replace, because someone else could potentially cash them.

What to Use Instead for a Trip

Modern alternatives cover most of what traveler’s checks used to do, and they’re generally easier to use abroad:

Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. Widely accepted, with fraud protection and the right to dispute unauthorized charges. Look for cards that waive the standard 1% to 3% foreign transaction surcharge.
Debit cards on global ATM networks. Withdraw local currency at your destination. Check your bank’s international ATM fees and daily withdrawal limits before you go.
Prepaid travel cards. Load them before the trip and use them at merchants and ATMs. Some let you lock in exchange rates on multiple currencies in advance.
Mobile payment apps. Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted in many countries and don’t share your card number with the merchant.

Carrying two payment methods from different banks gives you a fallback if one card is lost, stolen, or frozen by a fraud filter. Telling your bank your travel dates before you leave helps prevent surprise blocks at the register.

If You’re Carrying Old Checks Across the Border

One boundary worth knowing: federal law treats traveler’s checks as monetary instruments for the $10,000 border reporting rule. If the combined total of cash, traveler’s checks, money orders, and other covered instruments you’re carrying into or out of the United States exceeds $10,000, you have to report it.³ The report is filed on FinCEN Form 105.⁴

Failing to file, or filing false information, can lead to seizure and forfeiture of the entire amount,⁵ plus additional civil or criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment.³ The rule applies to U.S. citizens and foreign visitors alike.

1
American Express. Travelers Cheques | Travel | American Express US
2
Cornell Law School / Legal Information Institute (LII). Uniform Commercial Code 3-104 – Negotiable Instrument
3
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Money and Other Monetary Instruments
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 31 USC 5316 – Reports on Exporting and Importing Monetary Instruments
5
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 31 USC 5317 – Search and Forfeiture of Monetary Instruments