FAQs

Basic banking services

Can I cash a government cheque if I don’t have an account in a financial institution?

It depends.

Certain provincial government cheques, for example, a cheque from the CSST, cannot be cashed if you do not have a current account. However, credit unions and the majority of banks will cash most other cheques of $1500 or less at no charge. These include social security cheques, family benefits and TVQ and TPS refunds. However, you will need an identity card with a photograph (driver’s licence, health insurance card), or two pieces of identification without a photograph (senior’s card, Social Insurance card, etc.). If you don’t have any such identification, you need to be identified by a guarantor who is known to the personnel of the financial institution.

Federal government cheques of $1500 or less may be cashed at a bank. The conditions for identification are the same as for provincial government cheques. If you encounter a refusal even though you meet the conditions, call the branch manager, or even the ombudsman for the financial institution. Do you consider that your rights have not been respected? Contact the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada at 1 866 461-2232.