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Certified checks work by freezing guaranteed funds at the bank
Unlike personal checks, a certified check has the bank confirm the funds are available and freeze the amount until the check is cashed.
Certified checks are a secure payment option for large purchases, because the issuing bank guarantees that the funds are available and that the check signature is authentic, according to Yahoo Finance.
A certified check is similar to a personal check, but it is more secure because the bank verifies there are enough funds in your account and then freezes that amount until the certified check is cashed.
With a personal check, the recipient does not get paid until the check clears and money leaves the account, which means the check could bounce if there are insufficient funds, leading to fees.
Yahoo Finance notes that situations like down payments or cases where a buyer previously wrote a bad check may require certified checks, since intentionally writing a bad check can be a crime depending on circumstances.