Question: I just unearthed a check, probably 15 months old from my car insurance, issued by Bank of America. I presume I can still deposit it? It's only $30, so no big.

Question: I just unearthed a check, probably 15 months old from my car insurance, issued by Bank of America. I presume I can still deposit it? It's only $30, so no big.

It might go through depending on the bank, but didn't they pass some sort of law in the last decade or so about this? Certain business used to print "not valid after 60/90 days" on the check itself, but now I think the same rule governs all checks. But then I think it is up to the bank to decide whether they will honor it or not.

OK, I guess I'll wait to deposit it when I can go into a physical bank and ask. Or call.

When I got home today, I looked up the actual law on stale checks. It turns out that a bank can pay or return an old check as it sees fit. According to the United States Uniform Commerical Code, a bank is not obliged to pay a check more than six months old. Here’s the full text of the guideline:

"A bank is under no obligation to a customer having a checking account to pay a check, other than a certified check, which is presented more than six months after its date, but it may charge its customer’s account for a payment made thereafter in good faith."

In other words: the bank isn’t required to pay a check more than six months old. But it can if it wants. The bottom line? If you have a stale check outstanding, contact your bank to determine their policy.

On another site I found, a former teller suggested going in when it was really busy, like late on a Friday, but that seems sleazy to me.

Skipping and poking head to note that, according to the Buffista Calendar, roday is Aims and Miracleman's anniversary.

Also, IIRC, it's also Scrappy and her DH's anniversary, so a good day for Buffistaversaries, all around.

Happy days and great years to all!

Why sleazy? Assuming it is a good check, acting in a way that makes it less likely the bank will decide to be a hardass doesn't hurt anybody - it's not like they won't suck it back out of your account if the check doesn't end up going through on the other end.

Happy Miracleborniversary!!!

It's the Miracleborniversary too? This is a day with some good wedding karma, we should all make a note of it. Well, the single all.

Happy anniversary to the Empress and her MiracleDude!

Timelies all!

Thanks for the anniversary wishes!

Happy Anniversary to Aimee and Miracleman, and to Scrappy and her DH.

We took my folks down to the Smithsonian to see the Jim Henson exhibit. This evening we're having dinner with G's dad and stepmom, then going to see "Big River".