Getting a check cashed is not as easy as it once was. If you need proof, ask anyone who has recently tried to cash a check at a bank. There is usually a hold of several days during which time the money will sit in your bank account, but you won’t be able to access a cent of it.  There are reasons for this, of course.  A bank needs to protect itself from check fraud, which is far more common than one may believe.  It takes time to process a check with many banks requiring confirmation from the bank that issued the check that there are sufficient funds in the account to cover the amount the check is made out for.    

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Check cashing stores are stores that offer check cashing services to those who have found it difficult to get a check cashed in a traditional bank. This is a far more common problem than many believe, and if you need proof, try cashing a non-government check at your local bank.  It is almost certain that if the check was drawn from a bank other than the bank you do business with, you are likely going to find there is at least a hold put on that check that will last anywhere from three to five business days depending on the bank.  This holding period tends to be implemented to allow the bank time to process the check and ensure the account the check was drawn from has the funds to cover the amount.

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