Bears Lending Verified
Cashed my tax refund in five minutes, no account needed
Don't have a bank right now. Brought my refund check to the Ocala store — 2.5%, they showed me the math on the receipt, and I walked out with $1,900 in cash.
PV
Priya V.Ocala, FL
Licensed check casher · FL, GA & AL
Bears Lending Check Cashing Your check, in cash, in five minutes.
No bank account, no waiting for a hold to clear. Bring the check and a photo ID to any store and leave with cash. Fees are set by check type and posted at the counter — you'll know the exact amount before we cash it.
1.9%fee from, on
payroll checks
payroll checks
What we cash
Check types and what each costs
Fees are a percentage of the check, set by type. Payroll and government checks are cheapest because they carry the least risk.
01
Payroll checks
From your employer, printed or handwritten with a stub
1.9% – 2.5%02
Government checks
Social Security, SSI, VA, unemployment, state benefits
1.9% – 2.5%03
Tax refund checks
Federal and state refunds, any amount
2.5% – 3%04
Insurance & settlement
Claims, settlements, annuity payments
3% – 5%05
Cashier's & certified
Bank-issued, any amount
2% – 3%06
Personal checks
Case by case; verification call may be required
5% – 10%The math
A $1,200 payroll check, start to finish
One fee, shown on the receipt before you sign the back. No hold, no account, no minimum.
01
Check amountPayroll check from your employer
$1,200.0002
Check cashing fee2% payroll rate at this store
− $24.0003
VerificationWe confirm the check with the issuer; no charge to you
$0.00Cash you leave with$1,176.00
Cash in hand by check size · 2% payroll rate
| Check | Fee | You receive | vs. bank hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300 | $6.00 | $294.00 | 0 days vs 2–5 |
| $800 | $16.00 | $784.00 | 0 days vs 2–5 |
| $1,200 | $24.00 | $1,176.00 | 0 days vs 2–5 |
| $3,000 | $60.00 | $2,940.00 | 0 days vs 5–7 |
Rates & terms
Check Cashing: rates by state
Check cashing fees are capped by each state. Bears Lending charges at or below the cap in every store.
Florida
Money services business
| Check type | Fee | $1,000 check | State cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll | 2% | $20 | 5% |
| Government | 2% | $20 | 3% |
| Tax refund | 2.5% | $25 | 5% |
| Personal | 5–10% | $50–$100 | 10% |
Fee for checks under $50 is a flat $5. Photo ID required; a second ID may be requested for checks over $2,000.
Georgia
Check casher license
| Check type | Fee | $1,000 check | State cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll | 2% | $20 | 3% |
| Government | 2% | $20 | 3% |
| Tax refund | 2.5% | $25 | 5% |
| Personal | 5–10% | $50–$100 | 10% |
Georgia caps payroll and government checks at 3%. Photo ID required.
Alabama
Check casher license
| Check type | Fee | $1,000 check | State cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll | 2.5% | $25 | — |
| Government | 2.5% | $25 | — |
| Tax refund | 3% | $30 | — |
| Personal | 5–10% | $50–$100 | — |
Alabama does not cap check cashing fees; Bears Lending posts its rates at every counter.
Check cashing is not a loan: there is no APR, no repayment and no credit reporting. The fee is the whole cost. Loans subject to approval, state law and your written agreement.
Is it the right loan?
When check cashing makes sense — and when a bank is better
A good fit when
- 1You don't have a bank account, or yours is overdrawn
- 2You need the funds today, not after a 2–5 day hold
- 3The check is from an employer, government agency or insurer
- 4You're already visiting a store for something else
Consider something else when
- —You have a bank account and can wait for the hold → deposit it free
- —It's a personal check from someone you don't know → we may decline; a bank can verify
- —You cash checks every week → a basic checking account will save you the fee
- —You need more than the check → pair it with a payday loan or pawn loan
If a free checking account is available to you, it's cheaper than any check casher including us. We're the right choice when the account isn't there or the hold is the problem.
Good to know
Two things that speed up or stop a check
Most checks are cashed in five minutes. The ones that aren't usually hit one of these.
Speeds it up
Bring the stub and be the payee
A payroll stub, a benefits letter or the insurance claim letter lets us verify instantly. The name on the check must match your ID exactly — no cashing checks made out to someone else.
- Check + stub or letter
- Photo ID matching the payee
- Sign the back at the counter, not before
Stops it
Altered, post-dated or third-party checks
We can't cash checks with changes to the amount or payee, checks dated in the future, checks over 90 days old, or checks signed over from another person. Starter checks and money orders are case by case.
- No alterations or corrections
- Dated today or earlier, under 90 days
- Payee is you
Requirements
Bring two things, leave with cash
- The check — unsigned until you're at the counter
- Government-issued photo ID matching the payee name
- Pay stub, benefits letter or claim letter if you have it (speeds verification)
- Second ID for checks over $2,000
- Age 18+ (19+ in Alabama)
Good to know
No account, no credit check, no hold
Check cashing is a service, not a loan. We don't pull credit, don't need a bank account and don't report anything. We verify the check with the issuer and hand you the cash.
Compare
Check cashing vs. bank deposit
If you have a bank, the bank is free — but it isn't always fast.
| Feature | Bears Lending | Bank deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 1.9% – 5% fee | Free |
| Time to funds | 5 minutes | First $225 next day; rest 2–7 business days |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| ID required | Photo ID | Account + ID |
| Hours | Mon–Sat, incl. Saturday | Bank hours; mobile deposit 24/7 with a hold |
| Best for | No account, or need it today | Have account, can wait |
A useful middle path: cash it here today, then open a free checking account for next time.
Check cashing reviews
What check cashing customers say
Verified
Payroll check on a Saturday when the bank was closed
My bank's mobile deposit puts a five-day hold on paper checks. Bears Lending in Douglas cashed it Saturday morning for $14. That's the price of not waiting until Thursday.
EW
Ethan W.Douglas, GA
Trustpilot 4.8BBB Accredited · A+
All Bears Lending reviews →What do I need to cash a check?
The check and a government-issued photo ID with the same name as the payee. A pay stub or benefits letter speeds verification.
How much does it cost?
1.9% to 2.5% for payroll and government checks, 2.5% to 3% for tax refunds, more for personal and third-party checks. The rate is posted at every counter and printed on your receipt.
Do I need a bank account?
No. You receive cash. No account, no credit check, no hold.
What checks won't you cash?
Altered checks, post-dated checks, checks over 90 days old, third-party (signed-over) checks, and most personal checks from unknown issuers.
Is there a maximum?
No fixed maximum. Checks over $2,000 may require a second ID and a verification call to the issuer, which can add a few minutes.
Can I cash a check made out to someone else?
No. The payee name must match your ID. Joint checks require both payees present with ID.
Does check cashing affect my credit?
No. It isn't a loan and nothing is reported.
Ready when you are
Any check.
Any check.
Cash in five minutes.
Photo ID only, no bank account, fees from 1.9% posted at the counter. Payroll, government, refund, insurance and settlement checks.
- No account needed
- No credit check
- Posted fees
- Saturday hours
Bring to the store
The check (unsigned) · photo ID matching the payee · stub or letter if you have one.
Store hoursMon – Fri9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Full requirements →