We have a check drawn on Suntrust Bank made payable to our customer who wants to deposit the check. It doesn't state that it's a Cashier's check or Official Check or Teller Check. Teller wants to place a case by case hold and only give $200 availability next day. I'm thinking that we still have to treat the check like a Cashier's check and give the first $5,000 availability next day and place a large deposit exception hold on the check.

What is the correct way to handle this check?

Thanks!

The check does not have to be labeled as a cashier's check to be one. It only has to meet the definition. If it is a check that is signed by an officer or employee of the bank on which it is drawn, a direct obligation of the bank, and provided to a customer of the bank or acquired from the bank for the purpose of making a remittance, it's a cashier's check.

Some banks don't issue cashier's checks (or treasurer's checks). Instead, they may issue teller's checks, which are essentially the same as a cashier's check, except that it's issued by one bank but drawn on its account with another bank or payable through a bank.

While most banks use some sort of label to distinguish their cashier's or teller's checks, the label is not required.

If it is not labeled cashier's or teller check, how far are we required to research?

Just look at the face of the check. If the check doesn't have a customer's name preprinted on its face (as it would if it were drawn on a business's checking account), and only identifies the bank, it's more than likely a cashier's check. If it looks like the bank is the account holder, but the check is drawn on another bank, it's likely a teller's check.

Furthermore, if your bank requires that customers identify deposits of cashier's or teller's checks or other next-day checks other than those that can be picked up by your system from the routing number (Treasury, Federal Reserve Banks, etc.), by using a special deposit ticket, you make those special deposit tickets accessible to customers (you can keep them behind the teller line if you tell customers to ask for one), and the customer doesn't claim he's depositing a cashier's or teller's check by using a special deposit ticket, you don't have to figure it out. You can treat it like any other check.

I've seen some businesses use the term "cashier's check" on their checks, which I feel is deceptive, but it's not unlawful.

Thank you John - a perfect explanation.