Are you wanting to learn how to write a check? You’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re wondering how to fill out a check for the first time, or it’s just been a while, First Merchants is here to help. We’ll walk you through the basics, including what it means to endorse a check, how to find your routing number and bank account number on a check, and other basics.

A personal check is a slip of paper used to make payments from your personal checking account. Even now, when credit card transactions and contactless payments are more common than checkbooks, it’s helpful to know how to fill out a check to pay for certain expenses.

While writing a check is uncommon for day-to-day purchases, you may still be asked to submit one when registering for utilities, submitting a security deposit, paying rent, or dealing with other, larger purchases.

When you flip through your checkbook you’ll see a few things, including a data sheet to help you balance your checkbook, and blank checks – typically backed with contact paper to provide you with a “receipt” of each check you write.

You may notice that each check contains several lines to fill out – but don’t worry, we’ll walk you through writing a check step-by-step. 

In the top right-hand corner, you’ll notice a line for the date. This section determines the date the check becomes valid, so be sure to fill this out for today’s date, or for a specific day in the future. 

You’ll find this section below the date, on the lefthand side of the long, center line. This is the place on where you detail who check is to –the person, organization, or business you want to pay. You may have heard others call this step “making out a check.”

Be sure you have the name correct! Many banks will not allow a recipient to cash a check unless it is made out to the name listed on the recipient’s bank account – so be sure to avoid nicknames, alternative names or other shortenings that might cause confusion. 

Next, you’ll need to find two places on the check where you’ll write the amount you’re paying. In a small box on the right-hand side of the check, you’ll write the dollar amount numerically (i.e. $249.76). 

On the line below the name of the recipient, you’ll write out the dollar amount (i.e. two hundred forty-nine). Once you’ve penned in the full dollar amount, you’ll need to indicate if it is a whole dollar amount, or if there are any cents. You do this by writing out “and” followed by a fraction after the dollar amount. If your payment is a whole dollar amount, you’ll add 00/100 after the dollar amount – ex., two hundred forty-nine and 00/100. 

If you need to write a check for an exact amount, including cents, you’ll write out “and” followed by a fraction showing how many cents out of 100 – ex., two hundred forty-nine and 76/100. 

Remember, one hundred cents make a full dollar!

Filling out this part of the check is critical because banks use it to confirm the payment total.

On the section labeled “memo,” you can write a note about what the check is for (i.e. January rent). This section is optional and is designed to jog your memory or help with record keeping.

The final step of filling out a check is to sign your name at the bottom on the line to the right of the memo section. A check is not valid unless you’ve signed it, so make sure not to neglect this part! With that, you’ve filled out the check, and it’s ready to be delivered to the recipient.

After writing a check, be sure to record the payment. Many checkbooks include a check register, where you can list the date, amount and what it was for.

If you’ve just received a check and plan to cash it, you’ll first need to endorse it. 

To endorse a check, turn the paper over so that the amount, signature and other information is facing downwards. On the back of the check, you’ll see a line that says, “Endorse here.” Sign this line with your full, legal name. This name must match the name listed on the check’s “pay to the order of” section in order to be processed correctly. 

Now that you’ve endorsed a check, it’s time to cash it! Take the check to your nearest banking center, visit an ATM, or use our helpful mobile banking app to add the funds to your account!

In addition to providing an easy way to access the funds in your checking account, checks also list important information such as your bank’s routing number and your checking account number. 

All personal checks include the bank’s nine-digit routing number. To find the routing number on a check, simply look at the bottom left-hand corner. There, you’ll see a long list of numbers. 

If you look closely, you may notice that these are actually two different strings of numbers, which are separated by a small black square, rectangle, colon, or other shape. The first string, or left-most one, is the routing number. 

On some checks, there may be one string of numbers in the bottom left-hand corner, and one in the bottom righthand corner. In this case, the routing number would be the one on the bottom left. 

Since routing numbers are printed on each check, you don’t need to write them anywhere when you’re filling out a check – though you may need this information when submitting a deposit slip, or when signing up for direct deposit for a job. For your records, First Merchants Bank routing number is 074900657. 

Personal checks also include the account holder’s account number. To find your bank account number on a check, look at the bottom left-hand corner where you found the routing number. Remember that the routing number is separated from a second set of numbers by a square or other shape – this second set of numbers is your account number. 

If your check has a string of numbers in the left-hand corner and one in the righthand corner, the account number can be found in the righthand corner. 

Like routing numbers, bank account numbers are printed on checks, so you don’t need to write them anywhere when you’re filling out a check. However, you may need this number when filling out direct deposit information, an AHC transaction, or when using a deposit or withdrawal slip at a bank.

When you write a check, it’s important to make sure you do so accurately to ensure it gets used the way you intended. Be sure to follow the steps outlined above. If you have any questions about checks or checking accounts, you can give us a call at 1.800.205.3464, visit one of our banking centers. or even order checks online.