Stop Payments

Occasionally you may need to stop payment on a check you have written. Whether the reason is a dispute over the amount, to fight a possible scam or because you realize you have insufficient funds to cover the check, the process is the same.

SouthernTrust Bank charges a fee for each stop payment, and a stop payment order remains in effect for six months. After that, you will need to repeat the process or deal with the check in another manner.

The following steps should be taken when you need to stop payment on a check:

• Call the person, organization, or business to whom the check was written. If the check has already been cashed, there is not much the bank can do. If it's possible to do so, you can call the party to whom the check was written to see if your money can be returned that way.
• Contact the bank and request a stop payment. You will need to provide your account number, the check number, the payee, and the amount for which the check was written.
• Complete the required paperwork and pay the associated stop payment fee as disclosed in the bank's current fee schedule
• Continue to monitor your accounts to ensure the check has not been paid
• Repeat the process in 6 months as necessary