Canceling a personal check usually costs between $0 and $35, and at most large national banks the fee lands around $30 per request. What you actually pay depends on your bank, your account tier, and sometimes how you submit the request. Some banks and credit unions waive the charge for premium checking customers or as a standard feature, while cashier’s checks and recurring electronic payments follow different rules and can cost considerably more to stop.
Stop Payment Fees at Major Banks
Here is what several well-known institutions currently charge for a stop payment on a personal check:
- Bank of America: $30 per request, waived for Preferred Rewards members.1Bank of America. Bank Account Fees
- Chase: $30 when placed through a banker, or $25 when placed online, through the mobile app, or by automated phone system. Waived for Chase Sapphire Checking and Chase Private Client accounts.2Chase. Additional Banking Services and Fees for Personal Accounts
- Citibank: $30, waived for Citi Priority account holders.3Citibank. Explore Citi Relationship Tiers
- PNC: $33 per request.4PNC Bank. Consumer Schedule of Service Charges and Fees – Standard Checking
- U.S. Bank: Up to $35 per request.5U.S. Bank. How Much Does a Stop Payment on a Paper Check Cost?
- Wells Fargo: No fee for consumer and small business accounts.6Wells Fargo. Consumer and Business Account Fees
- Ally Bank: $15 per request.7Ally Bank. Online Checking Account: For Essential Spending
Credit unions generally charge less than the big national banks, with fees running from $0 to around $25 at many institutions. Before you place an order, look at your account agreement or fee schedule. Premium account tiers and loyalty programs at both banks and credit unions frequently waive or reduce the charge, and if you already qualify for one, the request may cost you nothing.
Online Versus Banker-Assisted Requests
Some banks discount the fee when you place the stop payment yourself through a website, mobile app, or automated phone system. Chase, for instance, charges $25 for a self-service request against $30 when a banker handles it.2Chase. Additional Banking Services and Fees for Personal Accounts Many banks charge the same amount regardless of channel, so this is worth checking on your own fee schedule rather than assuming.
Cashier’s Checks and Certified Checks Cost More to Cancel
Canceling a cashier’s check or certified check works differently and costs more. Because the bank has already guaranteed the funds, you cannot simply place a standard stop payment. Instead, you file a claim for a lost, destroyed, or stolen instrument and may have to purchase an indemnity bond, a type of insurance policy that protects the bank if the original check surfaces later and someone tries to cash it.8HelpWithMyBank.gov. Why Do I Need an Indemnity Bond to Replace a Lost Cashiers Check? These bonds usually cost a small percentage of the check’s face value, so on a large check the total can climb quickly.
There is also a waiting period. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, your claim on a lost or stolen cashier’s check, teller’s check, or certified check does not become enforceable until the later of the date you file the claim or 90 days after the check was issued.9Cornell Law School. Uniform Commercial Code 3-312 – Lost, Destroyed, or Stolen Cashiers Check, Tellers Check, or Certified Check During that window, the bank can still honor the original check if it is presented. Only after the 90 days pass, and if no one has cashed the original, is the bank required to pay you or issue a replacement.
Stopping Electronic and ACH Payments
Stopping a recurring automatic payment, such as a gym membership, subscription, or loan draft, follows different rules than paper checks. Federal law lets you stop any preauthorized electronic transfer by notifying your bank at least three business days before the scheduled payment date.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1693e – Preauthorized Transfers You can give notice by phone or in writing.
If you notify by phone, the bank may require written confirmation within 14 days. An oral stop payment order that is not confirmed in writing can expire after those 14 days.11eCFR. 12 CFR Part 205 – Electronic Fund Transfers (Regulation E) Banks are allowed to charge for stopping electronic payments, and the fee is often the same as for a paper check. Stopping the payment at your bank does not cancel your underlying agreement with the biller, so contact the merchant separately to avoid future charges or disputes.
How Long a Stop Payment Lasts and What Renewal Costs
Stop payment orders expire. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, a written order stays in effect for six months. An oral order placed by phone without written follow-up expires after just 14 calendar days.12Cornell Law School. Uniform Commercial Code 4-403 – Customers Right to Stop Payment; Burden of Proof of Loss If your bank allows you to confirm an oral request through the online portal or a written submission, do it promptly to keep the full six-month protection.
Some banks offer longer periods. U.S. Bank keeps a stop payment in effect for 24 months before renewal.5U.S. Bank. How Much Does a Stop Payment on a Paper Check Cost? Whenever an order expires, renewing it means paying the fee again at the same rate as the original. If the check is still outstanding and you are worried it could turn up, you will need to keep renewing to keep the protection in place.