Cheque FAQ's

Here’s everything you need to know about cheques.

Foreign currency cheques

After 12 December 2025, you’ll no longer be able to deposit cheques in a foreign currency or from outside the UK.

If you’re expecting any cheques in a foreign currency or from outside the UK after this date, please ask if they can send the money via an electronic payment instead.

Find out more about international payments.

Here are some good things to know about paying in a cheque via our App.

How to get the best image

For the best results:

place the cheque flat on a dark, unreflective background/surface
make sure the image is in focus and the whole cheque is visible inside the box on the screen
the cheque will then be captured automatically.

How much you can pay in

You can pay in up to £2,000 a day in cheques using our App, with an individual cheque limited to £2,000.

If your cheque is for more than £2,000 you can pay it in at:

HSBC UK branch with a counter*
Post Office
Banking Hub

Find more information about paying in cheques.

*Find your nearest HSBC UK with a counter.

What the timescales are

Cheques paid in using our App before 10pm on a working day will be in your account the next working day. Any paid in after that will be in your account within 2 working days.

The money can arrive anytime up to 11.59pm that day and will then be available for you to spend immediately. Providing it's not been returned unpaid.

If a cheque you've paid is returned or declined for any reason, it’ll show on your account as a credit and then a debit for the same amount.

If this happens we'll send you a letter within 7 days explaining why.

Frequently asked questions

I have a cheque(s) that’s more than £2,000. How can I pay it in?

If your cheque(s) totals more than £2,000 you can pay it in at:

an HSBC UK branch with a counter*
Post Office®
Banking Hub
via the post.

Find more information about paying in cheques.

*Find your nearest HSBC UK with a counter.

Why has my cheque been declined/returned unpaid?

If a cheque you've paid in is returned or declined for any reason, it’ll show on your account as a credit and then a debit for the same amount.

If this happens we'll send you a letter within 7 days explaining why.

If you originally paid the cheque in using our App, you can't use our App to try again. Instead, you’ll need to post it to us, or pay it in at an HSBC UK branch or Post Office® (for this you'll need one of our standard paying in slips, which you’ll find at the back of your cheque book or in branch. If you don’t have a paying in slip please write your sort code and account number on the back of the cheque).

Find out more about the different ways you can pay in a cheque, as well as our postal address.

I paid a cheque into my account yesterday. Why isn't it showing in my account?

How you paid the cheque into your account will determine when the money will be in your account.

Our App

Cheques paid in using our App before 10pm on a working day will be in your account the next working day. Any paid in after that will be in your account within 2 working days.

The money can arrive anytime up to 11.59pm that day and will then be available to spend immediately.

HSBC UK branch

Cheques paid in over the counter at an HSBC UK branch before 3.30pm on a working day will be in your account the next working day. Any paid in after that will be in your account within 2 working days.

Post Office® or Banking Hub

Cheques paid in at the Post Office® or a Banking Hub can take a little longer to arrive in your account. This is because they have to post the cheque to us before we can start processing it. Once it's received at our processing centre, it’ll show in your account within 2 working days.

Via the post

Cheques sent in the post will show in your account within 2 working days of it reaching our processing centre.

The processing centre address is:

first direct

PO Box 1538

Northampton

NN1 9HY

If you send your cheque to our Leeds address it may delay things, as we’ll then need to forward it to our processing centre.

How can I order a new cheque book?

To order a new cheque book, chat to us using our App. Just go to 'Help', select 'Chat now' and type "Order a cheque book". To do this via Online Banking, select 'Message us' and type the same message.

Alternatively, you can call us on 03 456 100 100.

A new cheque book takes up to 10 working days to arrive.

Find alternative ways to pay a person or a company.

How can I stop a cheque?

If the money hasn't already left your account, a cheque can be stopped if it's been lost or you don't want it to be paid anymore.

You can check to see if it's already debited your account by looking at your recent transactions on our App or Online Banking.

If the cheque hasn't left your account, you can stop it by chatting to us on our App – go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or chat to us via Online Banking by selecting 'Message us'.