Common Questions

• Why was the decision made to close the Cheque Guarantee Scheme?
• How do I know I have a cheque guarantee card?
• I have a debit card with the guarantee facility, will my card be replaced?
• Can I still use my card as I do now to pay for goods or services (at Point of Sale) in shops and retailers or withdraw cash at Cash Machines?
• Have other banks removed the cheque guarantee facility from their cards?
• Can I still write cheques?
• What other payment methods can I use instead of cheques?
• How else can I pay for services such as tradesman, if I decide not to use cheques?

Why was the decision made to close the Cheque Guarantee Scheme?

The decision was made due to the declining usage of cheques as a payment method over the last 5 years.

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How do I know I have a cheque guarantee card?

You can identify if your card is a cheque guarantee card by looking for the Shakespeare Hologram on the reverse bottom right hand corner of your debit card. If this Hologram is not present you do not have a cheque guarantee card.

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I have a debit card with the guarantee facility, will my card be replaced?

The current card will be replaced in the future without a cheque guarantee hologram but until that time you can continue to use your current card. This can still be used for normal POS and ATM usage, just not for cheque guarantee purposes.

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Can I still use my card as I do now to pay for goods or services (at Point of Sale) in shops and retailers or withdraw cash at Cash Machines?

Yes, there are no changes for Point of Sale or Cash Machines, the Hologram removal only means that you can no longer use your card to guarantee cheques.

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Have other banks removed the cheque guarantee facility from their cards?

Yes, other banks have begun to remove the cheque guarantee hologram from cards.

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Can I still write cheques?

Yes, cheques can still be used as a payment method. The removal of cheque guarantee functionality means that cheques can no longer be guaranteed. However, as a result some retailers/businesses may no longer accept cheques.

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What other payment methods can I use instead of cheques?

There are many other efficient payment methods you can use instead of cheques, please visit our alternative payment methods page for further detail.

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How else can I pay for services such as tradesman, if I decide not to use cheques?

You could agree to make a direct payment into their account whilst they are with you. This is done by obtaining their account details and transferring the money through either online or phone banking transfer. Alternatively, if it’s a regular payment, you could set-up a standing order into their account. If you are not already signed up for this service, why not sign up today.

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