Starter checks are given to new bank customers, but may not be accepted by merchants due to the risk of insufficient funds. They are often used for regular payments and can be replaced with personalized checks once depleted.
Every time a new bank customer opens a new checking account, they often receive a small supply of plain checks, commonly known as starter checks. These checks rarely contain personal customer information, but will contain all checking account routing information necessary for processing. The new account holder may need to fill out the normally printed areas with their personal address, phone number, driver’s license number, and other identifiers.
Initial checks are considered by the bank to be negotiable instruments, not unlike personalized paper checks that customers request at a later date. However, many recipients may be wary of accepting them as payment, especially if the check number is below a certain amount, typically 300. Because a checking account may be very new and the customer may not have started regular banking practices , there is a risk that the presented check could bounce due to insufficient funds. Some merchants have specific policies for not accepting such checks from unknown customers.
However, this reluctance to accept certain initial checks doesn’t mean the new account holder is out of luck. Many people use them primarily for regular payments, such as utility bills, rent, and loans. Companies that receive a significant number of checks on a regular basis are generally less concerned that checks of this type will be returned for insufficient funds.
Once the supply has been depleted, the customer can request personalized checks containing all essential routing and personal contact information. Some initial checks do not even have preprinted check numbers, so the user must be especially diligent in writing and recording them in order. New printed checks should have sequential check numbers, but there may be a gap between the last initial check number and the first printed check.
Initial checks may still have that “new car smell” for checking account holders, but it’s usually best to only pay past-due bills and wait a few weeks for a new package of paper checks to arrive before paying for other things. by check.
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