3 ways to get money from a checking account

They say “Cash is king,” but these days, it seems like people are swapping cash for any of the many readily available digital payment options. Still, while it may feel like we’re headed for a cashless society, having a few dollar bills on hand is always a good idea.

The good news is that you have options for withdrawing cash. When you keep money in your checking account, you can quickly access your funds in several convenient ways, including by using a debit card and an ATM network. In this article, we’ll go over how to withdraw money from a checking account in three easy ways whenever you need cash.

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1. Use an ATM

One of the easiest ways to quickly withdraw cash from the bank is to use an automated teller machine (ATM). Not sure how to withdraw money from an ATM? Insert your debit card into an ATM and verify your identity by entering your 4-digit security PIN to access your funds. Remember that while most ATMs accept all cards, withdrawing from an ATM outside your bank’s network usually comes with a small fee, and your bank likely has a maximum daily limit on withdrawals from those machines.

Avoid paying ATM fees by only withdrawing cash from machines affiliated with your financial institution. Use your bank’s ATM locator to find machines closest to you, or look for no-fee ATMs at local retailers or gas stations. Discover^® customers can access over 60,000 no-fee ATMs and easily find affiliated machines through the Discover mobile banking app.

2. Cash a check

If you receive a check from an employer or someone else, you can cash or deposit it in several ways. The easiest way to cash a check with no fees is to deposit it into your checking account and wait until the funds are available to withdraw the cash. With a Discover Cashback Debit account, you can do this from anywhere—usually in less than a minute—via mobile check deposit.

Wondering how to withdraw money from the bank immediately? You can “cash” that check—versus making a deposit and then withdrawing cash from your account—if your bank has a convenient brick-and-mortar location. Simply present the endorsed check and your ID to the teller, and you’ll be able to cash either the entire check amount or a portion of it. Warning: If that check doesn’t clear the issuer’s account, your bank will reverse the transaction.

Alternatively, you may be able to cash the check at the bank that issued it—although, depending on the bank, there may need to be enough money in the account to cover the check; you may also have to pay a fee. Some large grocery stores or retailers will exchange a check for cash, but again, you’ll likely have to pay a fee for the convenience. 

Another way to receive cash immediately is to write a check for cash withdrawal against your checking account. In this case, you write “cash” on the payee line of one of your checks and hand it to a teller at your bank. You can also write a check to purchase a prepaid debit card, but keep in mind the fees associated with a prepaid card can be steep.

3. Use a debit card to get cash back at stores

Depending on who you bank with and where you shop, you can also withdraw money from your checking account when you pay with your debit card in person. First, confirm which retailers and grocery stores offer cash back at checkout, then verify how much cash you can withdraw for no additional fee.

If you often shop with your debit card, consider a card that rewards you each month for your purchases. By using your Discover Cashback Debit card, you can earn 1% cash back¹ on up to $3,000 of debit card purchases every month and have access to our network of more than 60,000 no-fee ATMs.

Never be caught without cash on hand again

Digital payment methods like credit cards and mobile services may be growing in popularity, but cash will likely be a widely accepted form of payment for the foreseeable future. With a checking account and debit card readily available, you can withdraw cash from your bank account when you need it and avoid extra fees.

Make cash withdrawals even easier and stay free of extra fees when you open a Discover Cashback Debit account today.

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¹ Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See Deposit Account Agreement for details on transaction eligibility, limitations, and terms.