I needed a voided check to verify a bank account, which presented a minor problem: I don’t have any checks.
Apparently, even though we can transfer money electronically, deposit checks with a phone, and open bank accounts without walking into a branch, some employers and financial institutions still want an old-fashioned voided check.
That led me to PrintVoidCheck.com, a free online voided check generator that creates a printable PDF using your routing number, account number, and account-holder information.
Create a Voided Check Without Owning a Checkbook
The site is fairly straightforward. Enter your nine-digit routing number, and it attempts to identify and fill in your bank’s name automatically. You can then add your account number, check number, name, business name, address, and other information you want displayed on the check. All of the fields are optional, so you only have to include the information required by whoever requested the voided check.
The generator includes several formatting options:
- Personal or business check sizes
- Full-color printing on plain white paper
- Printing on preprinted check stock
- Top or bottom check placement
- Several background color themes
- An adjustable VOID watermark
- An optional “FOR ACH ONLY” stamp
Once everything looks right in the preview, the site generates a letter-size PDF that you can download and print. It recommends printing at 100% or “Actual Size” rather than using “Fit to Page,” which could change the dimensions of the check.
Your Bank Information Stays in Your Browser
The most important concern with a tool like this is what happens to the banking information you enter.
According to the site’s privacy policy, the check is generated through client-side processing inside your browser. Your routing number, account number, name, address, and other check information are not transmitted to or stored on the site’s servers. Closing the browser tab removes the information from the generator.
There is one qualification worth mentioning: the site asks for an email address before allowing you to download the PDF. The email address is stored separately and may be used for an occasional marketing email. It does not store the routing or account numbers with that email, and every marketing message is supposed to include an unsubscribe link.
So, “no account required” is accurate. “No information collected at all” would not be.
What Is a Voided Check Used For?
A voided check displays the banking information needed for an electronic transaction while the large VOID marking prevents the document from being used as an ordinary check.
Common uses include:
- Setting up payroll direct deposit
- Linking an external bank account
- Establishing automatic ACH payments
- Verifying an account and routing number
- Providing banking details to a payroll processor
PrintVoidCheck.com says its documents are intended for legitimate direct-deposit, automatic-payment, and account-verification purposes. It is not affiliated with any bank.
Will a Printed Voided Check Be Accepted?
The generator produces a professional-looking check with the normal account and routing number layout, but that does not guarantee that every employer, bank, or payroll provider will accept it.
Some institutions may instead require a bank-issued direct deposit form, an account verification letter, a bank statement, or an actual check from your checkbook. Before entering your information, it is worth confirming exactly what the requesting organization will accept.
A Useful Solution to a Strangely Outdated Requirement
PrintVoidCheck.com solves a very specific problem: somebody wants a voided check, but you either don’t have a checkbook or don’t want to waste one of the checks you have.
The generator is free, provides a live preview, works with plain printer paper or check stock, and keeps the actual banking information inside your browser. Just be aware that an email address is required for the final download.
For a requirement that probably should have disappeared years ago, this is a convenient workaround.
Source: PrintVoidCheck.com
