Cashier's Check vs Certified Check

Regulation CC says a certified check is a check the drawee bank certifies by the signature of an officer or other authorized employee. That certification is either that the drawer's signature is genuine and the bank has set aside funds equal to the check that will be used to pay it, or that the bank will pay the check on presentment. Chase says a certified check is a personal check the bank verifies as having sufficient funds. Bank of America says a certified check is a check for which the bank guarantees payment.

Fees, limits, and where to get one (US)

Chase's personal fee schedule, effective June 14, 2026, lists a cashier's check at $10 per check, purchased at a branch, for any amount and to a payee you designate. Chase says Premier Plus Checking and Private Client Checking do not pay a Chase fee for a cashier's check. Chase says a Sapphire Checking customer pays no Chase fee for a cashier's check, and that Sapphire Checking is no longer available for new account openings. Bank of America lists a $15 fee for a checking or savings customer, waived for customers enrolled in Preferred Rewards. Bank of America says it will not provide a cashier's check without a checking or savings account. Wells Fargo lists $10 for each cashier's check. Checking and savings customers can order one online for up to $2,000, or in person for a larger amount, with a $6,000 monthly limit per customer. Delivery of an online order to a U.S. address adds $8. Wells Fargo says it does not deliver to P.O. Boxes, and to allow up to 3 business days for Alaska and Hawaii. Wells Fargo says some accounts offer fee waivers. Confirm the fee with the bank.

Chase's personal fee schedule states a cashier's check fee and a money order fee. It does not state a certified-check fee. Bank of America's financial center FAQ states the $15 cashier's check fee and does not state a certified-check fee. Wells Fargo's fee schedule states the $10 cashier's check fee and does not state a certified-check fee. Confirm with the bank whether it will certify a check and what it charges.

When each one is used

Chase says cashier's checks tend to be used for larger transactions, and that certified checks may be best for smaller payments. On its types-of-checks explanation, Chase says cashier's checks are used for down payments for various assets, renovations, international payments, and legal settlements, and that certified checks are used for large purchases, down payments for various assets, and government transactions. Chase says both may provide extra assurance for large transactions. Cashier's check vs money order covers postal and bank money orders.

Safety and fraud

Chase says the bank's signature on a certified check guarantees payment, and that the bank sets the money aside so the check can be paid without a risk of bouncing. Chase says a cashier's check cannot be canceled the way a personal check can. Bank of America says a cashier's check will not usually bounce. Those statements describe a check the bank actually issued or certified.

The CFPB says a common scam uses a bad check for more than the price of something you are selling, then asks you to send the difference back. Do not send that money. Alert the bank or credit union. The CFPB says the bank can take the money back if the deposited check was fraudulent, even if the bank had made the money available and you had withdrawn it, and that the bank can charge an overdraft fee if the account is then overdrawn.

How to get one

Chase says a cashier's check is purchased at a branch, and that you may be able to get one online. Wells Fargo says checking and savings customers can order one online up to $2,000 or in person for a larger amount. Bank of America says a checking or savings customer gets one at a financial center. Chase says a certified check is your personal check, so certification may require a visit to the bank. Confirm the fee and whether that bank will certify a check before you go.

Replacing a lost one

Wells Fargo says a stop payment and reissuance of a lost, stolen, or destroyed cashier's check can be completed only in a branch, and that an indemnity agreement is required. For a cashier's check over $1,000, Wells Fargo says the waiting period is 90 days, 30 days in Wisconsin, and 91 days in New York. A surety bond can avoid that wait. The cost varies by the amount and the insurer. Chase says that, for the person receiving a cashier's check, it cannot be canceled the way a personal check can. Confirm the steps with the bank that issued or certified the check.