Checks

How to choose the right checks for your business and personal accounts

Bank checks are often overlooked as an important piece of your business or home transactions. Whether you rent or own your home or business, chances are you write out a few checks each month to pay for utilities, food, supplies and upkeep.

Though the increase of online bill pay, Internet payments and credit card debits have diminished the dependence on checks, you may find you still can't get along without them. Choosing the right checks for your business and personal accounts shows a piece of your personality and announces to the world whether you cheer for the Longhorns, snuggle with Pomeranians or swoon for James Dean.

Consider the type, style and accessories that go with ordering checks, as well as the following:

1. Add your company logo to your business checks.

2. Choose whether to order checks online or through your bank.

3. Pick the style and design that works best for your account.

 

Choose the right business checks for your company accounts

When considering business checks, you want to make sure anything you order shows the professionalism and personality of your company. Choose something on the plain side with a simple business logo or colored border.
Try: Visit VistaPrint, Check Advantage, NEBS and CheckWorks.com to order or reorder checks online. Also read the Work.com Guide to Choosing and Buying Business Checks for more information on this subject.

Customize personal checks

When looking for personal checks, you can find almost anything you could ever want. Order checks with your favorite sports team, television show, recording artist or animal. Show your spirit with American flags and military seals or be playful with retro art and bright colors.
Try: Find a variety of colors, styles and designs from your local bank or online. Order or reorder personal checks from Bradford Exchange Checks, 4checks.com, Wal-Mart or Disney Personal Checks to find options that fit your personality.

Order travelers checks or cashiers checks

Take vacations without having to worry about carrying cash or exchanging funds by using travelers checks. Introduced by American Express in 1891, these checks are often used when traveling internationally on vacation. The great part is that each check has a number attached to it, so if your check gets lost or stolen you can simply cancel the check and order a new one--something you can't do with cash.
Try: Consider ordering travelers checks the next time you travel out of the country. Both American Express and AAA offer this service for paper checks. The Visa TravelMoney card is an electronic version, used like a debit card.

Choose extra options when ordering business or personal checks

Picking the design is only a piece of the process in check writing. You can also order accessories and various types of checks to make your spending easier. Consider top versus side perforation, check covers or wallets, duplicate checks and top registers versus separate ones.
Try: Browse check ordering websites to find accessories. Look at Deluxe and Image Checks for storage boxes, registers, binders, checkbook covers and corresponding address labels. Search Checks in the Mail for top register checks and Checks Unlimited for side tear versions.

 

• Make sure all your information is correct on your bank checks before ordering or using them. Look at your name, address, account and routing number and the style to make sure it's what you meant to order.

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