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What happened to the checks that I deposited? When will this check become available? Where did the check go? why does my bank hold me check for so long? This has been our usual question whenever our checks are held by our bank.

Every check that is deposited or cashed in the bank are all verified by the Federal Reserve Bank and every bank has abide with this to protect the customers and also the bank itself. This is the reason why checks are held. Though, banks are making all the effort to avoid putting holds on the checks that are deposited, there still some instances where checks are held. Increasing of overdrafts in the account, history of previously returned items, reports that shows to have potentials that check can be return or even how long the account has been open can affects the decision on how long the check has to be held. In some instances, banks also hold checks to test for fraud or insufficient funds on the part of the check writer.

In U.S there are also checks that are checks that are no longer subject for hold. Checks issued by the government and commonly by Social Security -retirement benefits or child support and IRS- for tax refund. Most banks also allow customers to have a portion of the check deposited available depending on how the check was deposited. Example, since the bank encourage customers to take advantage of the ATM deposit service, they put an initial credit of $100 or a certain dollar amount when check is deposited before a certain cut- off time.

Each bank may have different procedures or rules when it comes to check availability so it is important that we understand our banks' specific policies regarding checks that are being held.