A check is a written order directing a bank to pay a specific amount from one account to another. The payer writes the check, signs it, and gives it to the payee. The payee deposits it or cashes it. The bank verifies the signature and the available balance, then transfers the funds. It is a simple system that has been around for centuries and is slowly dying.

A check has several parts. The date tells when it was written. The payee is who gets the money. The amount is written in numbers and words, and the words control if they differ. The memo line is for reference. The signature authorizes the payment. The routing number identifies the bank, and the account number identifies the account. The check number helps with tracking.

Checks are not instant. When you deposit a check, the bank may place a hold on the funds until the check clears. That can take one to five business days, depending on the amount and the bank's policy. Check fraud is a persistent problem. Forged signatures, altered amounts, and counterfeit checks cost banks and businesses billions each year. Positive pay systems, where the bank matches checks against a list provided by the business, help prevent fraud.

Check use has fallen sharply. In 2000, Americans wrote about 42 billion checks a year. By 2021, that had dropped to about 12 billion. Debit cards, credit cards, and electronic transfers have taken their place. But checks persist for rent, small business payments, and gifts. Some habits die slowly.