What Is A Wallet Check

If you’ve been in business for some time, perhaps you’ve heard the expression wallet check already. But what is a wallet check?

To put it simply, it’s a checkbook you keep in your wallet. True, it might be cumbersome enough to keep the entire booklet into today’s slim wallets; nevertheless, if you have a bigger trifold wallet or any other type of big wallet, wallet checks will fit in there.

Now that you know what they are, there are a few other things you should consider as well as a few questions you should ask yourself before deciding whether or not you should get one.

Do You Need A Wallet Check?

Perhaps the main question to ask yourself. Today, most companies use computerized business checks to pay for their expenses. Privates have this option too.

Should you be wealthy enough to need a check to pay for your goods or services, you can simply send an electronic check from your mobile banking or directly through your bank.

However, there are still circumstances when having a paper wallet check with you might be beneficial.

For instance, you might find yourself in a situation that asks for immediate payment of a higher amount of money. If you don’t have access to your mobile banking or the possibility to get in touch with your bank, you might lose a deal.

On these moments, having a paper wallet check at hand can save the day.

If you believe you’ll ever need a wallet check, you should learn what options you have and where to get one.

I’ll cover these aspects below, so you’ll know exactly what to ask for when going to your bank or check provider.

Types of Wallet Checks

The first thing to do once you decided you need wallet checks is to decide what kind of wallet checks you need. There are two types, single and duplicate checks.

• Single checks: Are simple checkbooks with no duplicate pages. You simply write a check, tear it out of the booklet, and give it to the merchant. That’s it. While single checks cost less than duplicate ones, they come with an important drawback. You will have to record each payment again in a different place if you want to keep your expenses under control. Otherwise, you might lose track of the cash outflow and find yourself wondering what you spent your money onto.
• Duplicate checks: Give you the possibility to record all your expenses in one go, as you’re writing the check. Indeed, these checks have the main sheet you have to hand over to the merchant and a second, carbon sheet behind each check. When you remove the printed sheet, the carbon copy stays behind. You won’t have to do double work, as everything you need for your records will be already registered on your checkbook.

Where to Get Wallet Checks From?

The next thing you might want to know is where to get your wallet checks from. The most logical answer is your financial institution. But there are other options too. Here are a few ways to get a wallet check.

From your bank

The easiest way to get wallet checks is from your financial institution. Some banks will give you wallet checks as part of your account. Others will ask you to pay a fee when ordering your checks.

Those banks that charge a fee will usually give you the possibility to choose from various colors or will let you customize your check with the company’s logo and contact information.

The only downside is that getting your checks directly from your bank can be expensive.

From a check printing company

The second – and often more affordable – option is to get your checkbook from a check printing company.

There are several companies out there that offer this kind of services.

Like you would expect, the checks will still be linked to your bank account, but you’ll be able to choose from various styles and colors banks usually don’t offer.

Most printing companies also give you the possibility to include your logo or other company information on the checks, so there are definitely a wealth of customization options you can choose from.

How to Use A Checkbook Cover?

What Information to Include On Your Wallet Checks?

If you decide to take the printing company route, you’ll usually have quite a few customization options. Make sure to tell the service provider what you want to include on your wallet check, or you might receive standard checks with no information about your business.

Here is a quick cheatsheet:

Your/Your Company’s Name and Mailing Address

Handing out a standard check with no information on it is not only unprofessional; it may leave people wondering who they should contact if there are any issues with the check.

Depending on the type of checks you have – personal or business – you must include at least your or your business’ name and mailing address. If it’s a business, you could also include your website, so you can help people find you easier.

Company Logo

Having a company logo on your checks is not necessary, but it gives them a more professional look.

Most check printing companies and even some banks give you the possibility to include the company logo for an additional charge.

Signature Requirements

One of the most important things to include. On most checks, one signature suffices. If you or your financial institution have different requirements, such as requiring two signatures, make it clear on the check.

For instance, you can leave two blank signature spots instead of one. If the design doesn’t allow it, you can always write under the blank space that two signatures are required.

If you fail to do this, vendors won’t know about this requirement and the check might be rejected. And this leads us back to the name and contact information printed on the check, so they can get in touch with you.

A Word About Design

Whether you order the wallet checks from your financial institution or from a check printing company, a thing to pay attention to is the design.

Keep in mind that every time you hand over a paper check, people will make an impression about you or your business. The selection of colors, fonts, and disposition of elements matter towards the final result.

To keep your checks professional, select a neutral color. If you believe white is too boring, pale green or light blue are two excellent options.

You must also choose a font that matches your company’s logo, but make sure it’s a standard font. Stay away from any artistic fonts. Options like Arial or Times New Roman are your best bets.

While the theme and design must be consistent with your company’s message, you must still keep the checks clean and professional.

Wrapping It All Up

A wallet check is nothing but a paper checks booklet designed to keep in your wallet. Each time you have to pay for goods or services, you can write a check, tear it off, and hand it to the vendor.

It may seem like a thing of the past, but there are circumstances when you may still need one.

So, what do you say? Would you use wallet checks or stick to the more modern payment methods?

Share your thoughts in a comment below; I’d love to hear from you.

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