Types of Cheques in India: Bearer, Order, Crossed & More

Not all cheques work the same way. Knowing the types helps you issue payments safely. Here are the main types of cheques used in India.

Bearer cheque

Payable to whoever holds (bears) the cheque. The bank pays the person presenting it over the counter. Convenient but risky if lost.

Order cheque

Payable only to the named payee or their order. The word "bearer" is struck off. Safer than a bearer cheque.

Crossed cheque

Two parallel lines across the top-left corner mean the cheque cannot be cashed over the counter — it must be deposited into a bank account.

Account payee cheque

A crossed cheque marked "A/C Payee" can only be credited to the named payee's account. This is the safest form and the most common for business payments.

Post-dated cheque (PDC)

Carries a future date and can only be deposited on or after that date — often used for EMIs and rent.

Stale cheque

A cheque presented after 3 months from its date. Banks will not honour it.

Printing any cheque type

Good software lets you print crossed, bearer and account-payee cheques in the correct format. Cheque Print supports all of them. Learn how to fill a cheque correctly next.

Download Cheque Print free and issue every type of cheque with confidence.