Letter To Bank For Stop Payment Of Cheque
A lost or stolen cheque is a race against time — every hour counts. This free template gives your bank the exact details to stop the payment before the cheque is cashed.
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When and how to use this letter
Act immediately — a stop payment only works if the cheque has not yet been presented and cleared. Call your bank's helpline or use internet banking to place the stop first, then submit this letter as formal confirmation. Most banks process electronic stop requests instantly, while the written letter completes the record.
Give the exact cheque number, date, amount, and payee name. An error in any of these details can cause the stop to fail, so copy them directly from your cheque book counterfoil. If you have lost the entire cheque book, ask the bank to stop the whole series of cheque numbers.
If the cheque was lost or stolen, consider filing a police complaint as well — the complaint number strengthens your position if the cheque surfaces later. Never issue a replacement cheque to the same payee until the stop is confirmed in writing by the bank. Keep the acknowledgment until the cheque's validity period expires.
After the stop is confirmed, monitor your account statement for the next few weeks to make sure the cheque was not honored through another clearing cycle. If anyone presents the stopped cheque, the bank will return it unpaid and may notify you — keep the bank's confirmation handy as proof. For high-value cheques, ask the branch to flag your account so any presentation attempt triggers an immediate alert to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stop payment if the cheque was already cashed?
Do I need to visit the branch, or can I do it online?
Is there a fee for stopping a cheque payment?
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