Preauthorized Checks

Preauthorized checks (PAC)

Checks that are authorized by a payer in advance, and written either by the payee or by the payee's bank and then deposited in the payee's bank account.

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Certified Check

A check whose payment is guaranteed by a bank. In exchange for a fee, a bank issues a certified check to a person, who is very often both the payer and the payee. That is, a person gives the bank the amount for which the certified check is written, either in cash or by deducting the appropriate amount from the payer's account; the bank then makes the check payable to that person. The person may cash the check at any bank, or deposit it at a different bank without being subject to a check hold. A certified check is also known as a registered check or banker's draft. See also: Traveler's cheque, Commercial draft.