It is widely known that banks and other financial institutions require some form of identification before facilitating check cashing for the clients. The question, however, arises on what happens when one lacks the standard state-issued identification documents such as Photo IDs and driving licenses, or if they are minors of, say, 16 years of age? How do they go about the check cashing process if the only form of identification they have is a school-issued ID?
Well, you can cash a check using a school ID in some banks or check cashing agents across the US, as long the ID has a clear passport-size photo, address, and date of birth. This is also subject to some conditions that you would have to meet which may also include having an ID that has not yet expired. This has been handled in detail here below including the various conditions one has to meet to be able to cash the checks.
School ID for Cashing Checks
In most cases, school IDs have limited validity in the banking arena. So if you have a child and he or she wishes to perform bank transactions such as check deposit or cashing they may face some challenges.
However, that notwithstanding the school ID may be used in some cases to cash checks especially where one lacks a primary government-issued photo ID or where school ID is to be used as a supporting ID document.
In banks and check cashing agents that allow the use of school Identification documents as proof of identity.
This, therefore, means that the school ID should have the following before it can be used for the check-cashing transaction in such institutions
- Not yet passed the expiry date: School IDs are time-bound and they tend to expire after the graduation date/year.
- Address: In the US, nearly everyone has an address and it is important to provide one in before performing critical transactions for easier follow-up in the future, in case an issue arises in your banking transactions
- Photo ID: This refers to the close up photo that is also included in other forms of ID documents and which show one’s face. This can be used to compare with government records if an issue were to arise.
- Date of Birth: A school ID must have a date of birth to qualify as a check-cashing document in most financial institutions. This would help determine if the user is of the right age to engage in such financial transactions.
Challenges faced when using a school ID to cash checks
Several issues can arise when you try to use a school Id to cash checks Some of the issues are inevitable and you can do nothing about them because it is just the way the banking industry works.
They include those listed below.
- School IDs acceptance as a valid document for cashing checks is very limited. Therefore if you intend to use one finding suitable check cashing location, street or bank that accepts it can be hectic
- School IDs may be owned by those who are still underage, in legal terms. Therefore for such a group of people, other conditions would have to be met to cash checks or the whole process be abandoned. This has been discussed in a different section in this article.
- School IDs can easily be forged. The problem with school IDs is that it easy to develop a fake one because the process of making the ID is usually not controlled as is the case with other forms of IDs. Therefore this is probably one of the reasons why most check cashing agencies do not accept them.
- Casing checks using school IDs may necessitate additional Identification documents. Since the validity of the school ID for banking transactions is in most cases not guaranteed most institutions and agencies tend to ask for an additional or supporting identification, This may include a workplace ID or even a birth certificate.
READ MORE: Can you cash a check with an expired ID at an ATM?
Can a 16-year-old cash a check?
The question on whether a minor or a child that is 16 years old can cash a check if they visit some of the check cashing banks or centers. This is a controversial issue because it is believed that minors tend not to have government-issued IDs.
Check-cashing among minors aged below 16 years or below is only possible if the minors have opened bank accounts with someone money in them. However, this is rarely the case and it is, therefore, advisable to have a 16-year-old to be accompanied by their parents during the check-cashing process.
The other alternative method to achieve this is to have the beneficiary endorses the check to have it cashed by an adult they trust. The endorsement should only be done if the beneficiary has absolute rust with a person whose bank allows the cashing of third party checks.
This is why we always come to the fact that for most people the only person they trust most must be a family member such as a parent or an older sibling.
This is mainly because an endorsed check can be cashed by anyone who gets hold of it, and I am sure you do not wish that person to be the one you trust the least.
If you are 16 years old minor who shares a joint bank account with your parents or any other adults, you may still be able to cash the check as long as you provide the signatures of the other three signatories and in some cases their photo IDs.
READ MORE: Where can I cash government checks?
