Purpose

• Bank customers write checks to themselves when they cannot withdraw the money from their accounts via other methods. Banks typically issue debit cards to customers so they can use ATM machines to withdraw funds from their checking accounts. If you lose your debit card, your bank may require that you write a check to yourself to withdraw funds. Because the monetary amount on the check is drawn from your account at the bank, the cash is immediately available to you.
  
  

Method

• To write a check to yourself, fill out the check as if you were writing it to another person, but put your name on the "Pay to the Order of" line. Write out the amount you need to withdraw on the line below that, include the amount in numeral form in the appropriate space to the right, date the check and write a memo in the designated space, if needed. Sign the check at the bottom and flip the check to its back side. On the space that says "Endorse," sign your name. Even though the check is made out to you and has your name and contact information printed on it, you still must endorse the check to yourself to allow the bank to issue the cash.
  
  

Restrictions

• You cannot write a check to yourself if you do not have the necessary funds available in your checking account. For example, if you need $100 but have only $50 in your checking account, you cannot write a check to yourself for $100, deposit it and receive the cash. Some ATMs have check deposit features that advance the amount of the check to your account before the check processes. If you use an ATM with this feature, but do not have the cash in your account, you will overdraw your account.
  
  

Penalties

• If your bank cashes a check that you write to yourself and you do not have the funds available in your account, the bank will impose overdraft penalties on your account. Additionally, if the bank has reason to believe that you are trying to withdraw money fraudulently with self-written checks, it may close your account and seek legal action. Most states in the U.S. have laws that prevent check fraud. If you violate one of these laws you could face a fine, jail time or both.