What Are Starter Checks? Pros, Cons & Safer Alternatives

Starter checks are the small, temporary batch of checks a bank hands you (or mails you) when you open a new checking account, before your personalized, pre-printed checks arrive. They work for writing a check, but they're generic, often unnumbered or low-numbered, and missing some of the security features full check orders have. They're fine in a pinch for a week or two. Just not something you'd want to rely on long-term.

What are starter checks, exactly?

When you open a new checking account, your bank doesn't typically have personalized checks ready on day one. Instead, many banks provide a small set of generic checks, sometimes called starter checks or courtesy checks, so you can write checks right away.

These usually have your account and routing number printed on them, but they skip the custom elements of a full check order. Your name and address may be handwritten or stamped rather than printed, the check numbers often start low (like 001-025) or aren't sequential with your eventual permanent order, and the paper stock and security printing are typically more basic.

Not every bank issues them automatically. Some only give them out if you ask, and some skip the step entirely, pointing customers toward ordering checks through a third-party printer or an app instead.

Why banks issue them

The logic is simple: personalized checks take time to produce and ship, whether through the bank or a check-printing vendor. Starter checks exist to bridge that gap, so a new customer can pay a bill or write a check the same day they open the account instead of waiting one to two weeks for a mailed order to arrive. They're a stopgap, not a long-term product, which is why banks keep them simple and inexpensive to produce.

Common risks with starter checks

A few drawbacks are worth knowing before you use a stack of them:

Fewer security features: many starter checks lack watermarks, microprinting, or other anti-fraud elements found on standard personalized checks, making them easier to alter or counterfeit.
Easily flagged by merchants and landlords: because they're generic and often missing a printed name or address, some businesses treat them with more scrutiny or refuse them outright.
Low or unusual check numbers: checks numbered under 101, or clearly out of sequence with your account history, get closer attention from some merchants and banks, since newer accounts can see more returned or disputed checks.
Identity exposure: if starter checks are mailed to you and intercepted, or if you leave them lying around with your account number visible and no name printed on them, that's a real liability risk.

Pros of using them short-term

None of this means starter checks are unsafe to use for a short stretch. The upside is simple: they're free (included with the account), and they give you access to paper checks while your personalized order is in transit. For a one-off bill payment or a small purchase in the days right after opening an account, they do the job.

When not to use them

Think of them as a bridge, not a habit. Avoid leaning on them for:

Large payments: bigger dollar amounts on a generic, low-security check are a bigger risk if the check is lost, altered, or disputed.
Landlords and businesses that scrutinize checks closely: if you're paying rent by check, property managers in particular tend to flag low check numbers or missing printed names.
Ongoing, regular use: once you're writing checks every month, you want ones that look consistent and clearly traceable back to you.

Alternatives for ongoing check-writing

Once the starter batch runs low, you've got two realistic paths. The traditional route is ordering checks online or through your bank, which gets you a personalized, numbered box of checks, usually for a fee, and usually with a wait of several business days to a couple of weeks.

The other option is creating checks on demand with an app like QuickCheck. Instead of waiting on a mailed order, you enter your routing and account number once, and the app lets you create, preview, and print checks from your phone when you need one, in standard personal check size or business check size, onto check stock paper you print at home on any AirPrint-compatible printer.

If you're setting up a printer and check stock for the first time, how to print checks at home walks through the process.

What QuickCheck is (and isn't)

It's worth being clear about what this kind of app actually does. QuickCheck doesn't link to your bank account, pull a live balance, or move money. It's not a Plaid-style sync tool. Your routing and account info is entered manually once and stored on your device.

What it gives you is a way to produce a properly formatted check without waiting on the mail, along with a checkbook register that tracks your running balance, records deposits and withdrawals, and lets you reconcile against your bank statement. It works alongside your actual bank account rather than replacing it. You still need the real account and numbers; the app just removes the wait for paper checks to arrive.

FAQ

Are starter checks free?

Typically, yes. Most banks that issue starter checks include them at no charge with a new checking account, though policies vary, so it's worth confirming with your bank.

Do starter checks expire?

Starter checks don't usually have a printed expiration date, but like any check, a bank can refuse to honor one that's stale-dated, commonly after six months. Check with your bank's specific policy if you're holding onto old starter checks.

Can I use starter checks for rent or large bills?

You can, but it's not ideal. Landlords and billers sometimes scrutinize generic or low-numbered checks more closely, and for larger amounts you're better off using a check with your name printed on it and standard security features.

What's the difference between starter checks and the ones I order later?

Starter checks are generic and temporary, often missing your printed name/address and some security features. The checks you order afterward (through your bank, a check printer, or an app you print from) are personalized, consistently numbered, and built for regular, ongoing use.

If you'd rather skip starter checks and start writing checks the same day you open an account, QuickCheck lets you do that from your phone. Download QuickCheck for free on iOS and Android to write, print, and track every check from your phone — with a built-in checkbook register that balances itself.