Your check is nothing but a piece of paper on which is written an order on your bank to pay some one a certain sum. Strangers might not like to accept this piece of paper in payment of debts due them. In many cases your check should be "certified."

When a depositor presents a check to his bank to be certified, it should be handed to the Paying Teller. He, in turn, hands it to the individual bookkeeper having charge of that depositor's account. If the bookkeeper finds the balance sufficient to cover the amount of the check, he stamps across its face the words "Good for $—— (the sum named in the check) when properly endorsed." Then the Teller or some officer of the bank, signs that statement and the amount of the check is immediately charged to that depositor. In other words, the bank guarantees or certifies that your check is good.

The bank must be very particular about certifying a check. If any officer or employe of a National Bank certifies a check, which calls for more than the maker of the check actually has to his credit, such officer, or employe, has committed a penitentiary offense. This provision of the National Banking Act is most strictly enforced, and the penalty is severe.

When certification is necessary, the maker of the check should be the one to have it certified. If you take Brown's check to his bank and have it certified, you release Brown entirely and can only hold the bank. For example,—a man sold a piece of land, and, on delivering the deed, took the purchaser's uncertified check. After the purchaser had left with the deed, the seller, thinking the check might not be good, had it certified. The bank failed that afternoon. The purchaser proved that he had more than the amount of the check to his credit on the bank's books. On consultation with his lawyers, the seller found that he had no claim on the drawer of that check and could only file his claim against the bank with its other depositors. And he only received about fifty cents on the dollar when the bank's affairs were finally wound up. All because he did not insist on the purchaser of the land having his own check certified. If he had done this he could have held both the purchaser and the bank.

By having your check certified, you practically exchange your check for one guaranteed by the bank. For example, the bank certifies your check for $100.00. It immediately charges your account with the $100.00, and credits its "certified check account" with $100.00. Then when your certified check comes back to the bank, through the person to whom you delivered it, the bank charges its "certified check account" with $100.00, and the transaction is closed.

Therefore, if, for any reason, you decide not to use a check after you have had it certified, do not destroy it as you would an uncertified check. Be sure to bring it back to the bank so that the amount may be credited your account, and be charged to the bank's "certified check account."

Otherwise your account will remain charged with the amount and your balance will show that much less.