What Is Bounced Check?
Example: "The rent check bounced because I forgot about the utility payment that cleared first."
Why It Matters
A bounced check can trigger a chain of problems. Your bank charges an NSF fee (typically $25 to $35), and the person or company you paid may charge their own returned-check fee. If it's a rent check, your landlord might consider it a late payment. Repeatedly bouncing checks can damage your banking relationship and even land you in a negative-balance reporting system that makes it harder to open accounts in the future. To avoid bounced checks, always verify your available balance before writing one and consider using online bill pay instead.
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