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Check Cashing in Columbus, OH

26 check cashing and money services locations in the greater Columbusarea — ACE Cash Express, Money Mart, Speedy Cash, United, and independent storefronts with addresses, phone numbers, and hours. Plus the cheaper ways to cash a payroll, government, tax refund, or personal check when you don't have a bank account.

Last updated:

Columbus at a Glance

26

Check cashing locations listed

0

National chain stores

0

Open past 6pm

$4–8

Flat fee at Walmart MoneyCenter

Local Check Cashing & Money Services Stores in Columbus (26)

Independent storefronts from OpenStreetMap data. Many are small licensed check cashers with longer hours than banks — call to confirm they take your check type before you go.

Phone: +1-614-764-1110Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-19:00; Fr 08:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
Advance America
Advance America
CheckSmart
Loanmax
CashMax
Guardian Finance
Mariner Finance
CheckSmart
Always Payday
CheckSmart
Advance America
National Check Cashers
LoanMax
CheckSmart
1st National Financial
Advance America
Cason Home Loans

Cheaper than a check cashing store — the 5 options to try first

1. Your own bank or credit union — $0. If you have any account, deposits are free and most banks release $200–$400 of a deposited check immediately. No account because of ChexSystems or past overdrafts? Second chance checking and banks that skip ChexSystems are real options — the fees you save cashing checks pay for the gas to open one.

2. The bank the check is drawn on — ~$0–10.Federal Regulation CC requires a bank to cash a check drawn on itself when you present it in person with ID, even if you're not a customer. Look at the top-left of the check for the issuing bank and find a local branch. Some states cap the non-customer fee; expect $0–10.

3. Walmart MoneyCenter — flat $4 under $1,000, $8 up to $5,000.Every Supercenter's Money Center cashes payroll, government, tax refund, and insurance settlement checks seven days a week. It's usually the cheapest walk-in option for larger checks. One-time ID registration is required for checks over $2,000.

4. Mobile deposit to an app — $0 to ~1–5%. PayPal, Venmo, and most prepaid debit cardslet you photograph a check. Free options take about 10 days to clear; instant funding costs roughly 1% for preprinted payroll/government checks (5% for personal checks). If you can wait, it's free.

5. Grocery store money services — ~$3–7. Kroger, Safeway, WinCo, Publix, and other supermarket chains cash payroll and government checks at the customer service or money services desk for a few dollars. Policies and limits vary by chain and state — call the store first.

Before You Go — the Check Cashing Checklist

  • Bring government photo ID — driver's license, state ID, or passport. Stores are required to verify identity; an expired ID is usually rejected. Need a replacement? Start with how to get a state ID.
  • Don't endorse the check until you're at the counter — a pre-signed check can be refused, and a lost endorsed check is as good as cash to whoever finds it.
  • Ask the fee before handing over the check — fees vary by check type (payroll vs. personal vs. two-party) and by state; a quote first avoids surprises.
  • Personal and two-party checks cost the most and some stores won't take them at all — mobile deposit handles personal checks more cheaply.
  • Keep the receipt — if the check later bounces, the store will come after you for the amount plus fees, and the receipt documents what you were charged.
  • Never cash a check and send money back — overpayment "mistakes" are scams. The check reverses; your money doesn't come back. Report attempts at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does check cashing cost in Columbus, OH?
Walk-in check cashing stores in the Columbus area typically charge about 1.5%–5% of the check's face value, with government and payroll checks at the low end and personal checks at the high end. Cheaper options that work for most checks: Walmart Money Centers charge a flat $4 for checks up to $1,000 and $8 up to $5,000; your own bank or credit union cashes deposits free; and if the check is drawn on a bank with a local branch, that bank generally must cash it for you even if you're not a customer (federal Regulation CC) — usually for a small fee.
Can I cash a check without a bank account?
Yes — that's exactly what check cashing stores are for. Bring a government photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport) and endorse the back of the check in front of the clerk. The catch is cost: paying 2%–5% per check adds up to hundreds of dollars a year. Two cheaper paths if you're unbanked: deposit checks to a prepaid debit card with mobile check capture, or open a second chance checking account that doesn't screen ChexSystems. Our banking guides walk through both.
Do I need ID to cash a check?
At a check cashing store, always — federal anti-money-laundering rules require them to verify identity, and a government photo ID is the standard. If your ID is lost or expired, replacing a state ID is the first step; our documents guides cover doing it with limited paperwork. At your own bank, a debit card plus account number sometimes works at the counter. Mobile deposit (bank app, prepaid card app, PayPal, or Venmo) can skip the branch entirely — most accept a photo of the check and clear it in 1–10 days.
Where can I cash a check on Sunday or late at night?
Banks close; check cashing stores don't always. Many ACE Cash Express, Speedy Cash, and independent money services stores in the list above stay open until 7–8 pm on weekdays and run Saturday (some Sunday) hours — the Hours line on each listing shows the schedule. Walmart Money Centers, which cash checks for a flat $4–8 fee, are open seven days a week inside most Supercenters. For 24/7 access, mobile deposit to PayPal, Venmo, or a prepaid card works any hour, though instant funding costs about 1%–5% and free options take up to 10 days.
What's the cheapest way to cash a tax refund or benefits check?
Government checks are the cheapest to cash anywhere because they're low-risk. Your own bank is free. Walmart charges its flat $4/$8 fee regardless of check type. Check cashing stores usually charge their lowest tier (often 1%–2%) for Treasury and state benefit checks. If you receive benefits regularly, most state programs can load them to a prepaid benefits card (EBT-style) with no check at all — see our food assistance guides for your state.
Someone paid me with a check for more than the price — should I cash it and send back the difference?
No — that's the classic fake-check scam, and it targets people selling things online, mystery-shopper applicants, and gig workers. The check you deposit gets reversed days or weeks later, and the money you sent back is gone for good. Rule: never wire, Venmo, or hand cash back out of a check until the check has fully cleared at the paying bank — and be suspicious of any overpayment at all. Report fake-check attempts at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

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Disclaimer: This is informational only, not financial or legal advice. Store hours, fees, and check policies change and vary by state and location — call before visiting. Listings are compiled from chain store locators, United Check Cashing, and OpenStreetMap as of the date above. A listing is not an endorsement; we are not affiliated with any store and receive nothing if you use one.