Bank accounts with cheque books
Cheque books are becoming increasingly rare, but there are still some bank accounts that offer them.
Key takeaways
- Some major banks still offer cheque books to existing customers, but most no longer provide them for new accounts.
- Some banks charge per cheque or impose deposit and balance requirements.
- Due to online and mobile banking, cheques are becoming a much less common form of payment in Australia.
According to the latest report by the RBA, the use of cheques was down 22.6% in November 2024 compared to November 2023. But if you’re looking for an everyday transaction account that allows you to write cheques, there are still a number of options available, particularly with the bigger banks.
Major Banks offering cheque books
| Provider | Do they offer cheque book? | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) | Yes | Existing accounts with prior cheque access retain this feature, but replacement cheque books are not issued automatically; customers must request them by contacting the bank or visiting a branch. |
| ANZ | Yes | Existing accounts with prior cheque issued before 16 June 2024 retain this feature, but replacement cheque books are not issued automatically; customers must request them by contacting the bank or visiting a branch. |
| Westpac | Yes | From 19 May 2025, replacement cheque books won’t be automatically reissued on transaction accounts, but you can still order a replacement when you need one. For new accounts from this date, cheque books won’t be available as an option. |
| NAB | Yes | If you have an existing account with cheque book access, you can re-order a cheque book in NAB Internet Banking by clicking. NAB cheque books are no longer available for new accounts or for existing accounts that don't already have a cheque book. |
| Bankwest | Yes | From 20 March 2024, cheque books are no longer available to Bankwest customers. If you still have an active cheque book after this date, it can still be used. |
| Hume Bank | Yes | From the 2nd of December 2024 Replacement cheque books are no longer be issued automaticallyIf you need a bank cheque or a new cheque book for an existing account, simply request one by visiting one of Hume Bank's 15 branches or calling to Contact Centre. |
| The Mutual Bank | Yes | The Mutual Bank will phase out cheques by 31 December 2025. |
| Bendigo bank | Yes | Customers with existing chequebooks will be able to retain these. Chequebooks will no longer be reissued or available to reorder on all new or existing accounts. |
| Bank of Sydney | No | From 16 February 2024, Bank of Sydney no longer provides Cheque Services. This means: You will be unable to deposit cheques from Bank of Sydney or any other financial institution into a Bank of Sydney account. |
| ME Bank | No | From 21 February 2024, ME Bank is no longer providing new cheque facilities or issuing new cheque books to customers with existing cheque facilities. |
| Bank Australia | No | From 28 March 2024, All cheque services are unavailable at Bank Australia |
How cheques work
Cheques provide a simple and secure way to make payments using the money in your bank account. Once you write a cheque, the person you make the cheque payable to can deposit it into their bank account.
The cheque is then returned to your bank to be verified and approved, in order to make sure you have enough money in your account to cover the transaction. If everything is okay, your bank will then withdraw the necessary funds from your account and authorise payment to the person who deposited the cheque.
This system makes cheques a much more secure payment method than cash in many situations, but it also means payment takes much longer than other modern methods. Cheques take a minimum of a few business days to clear after being deposited in your account, so they're not ideal if you're looking for fast payment.
Benefits of cheque books
- Reliable. If you live in an area where electronic banking services are not always available, having a cheque book linked to your account provides a reliable way to access your funds.
- Send payments by post. Cheques offer a more secure option than sending money in the post.
- No need to carry large sums of cash. Paying by cheque removes the need to carry a large amount of cash, providing extra safety and peace of mind.
- Traditional method of banking. If you don’t feel comfortable taking care of your everyday banking needs online, using cheques provides an easy solution.
Downsides of cheque books
- Extra fees. As they're being widely phased out, many banks now charge a fee to cash a cheque.
- Not widely available. A lot of banks no longer offer cheque books.
- Slower to clear. Cheques take longer to clear and have the money settled in comparison to electronic payments, which are mostly instant.
- Not common knowledge. A lot of people, particularly those in their 20s, 30s and even 40s, would have never seen a cheque and won't know how to use them.
- Easy to lose. As it's just a piece of paper, a cheque is really easy to misplace.
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