Bank Draft: Definition, Meaning, vs Check, Example, Advantages and Disadvantages

It is possible to send a bank draft by mail to another country to transfer currency. Policies on international drafts vary, so customers who want to transfer money this way should contact their bank directly with any questions. The person requesting types of bank draft the draft usually makes the request in his or her local currency, which is converted to that of the payee when the draft is issued. In many cases, an international bank draft must be deposited into a bank account and cannot be submitted for cash.

If you have to
send one to someone far away, it’s best to send it by courier and
require a signature upon receipt. A demand draft, also called a remotely created check (RCC), is a negotiable instrument to transfer funds from one bank to another. It is issued by a bank to a client (drawer) in order to direct a different bank or another branch of the same bank (drawee) to pay the specified amount of money to the payee.

Types of Bank Draft

The bank will then freeze the amount needed or move those funds into the bank’s accounts until the payment is completed. Wire transfers are quicker and more practical for time-sensitive transactions, whereas bank drafts are more secure and frequently utilized for large transactions. You also need to provide the amount of money, the currency of the money, the reason for payment, and instructions about whether the bank should send it to you or directly to the payee.

A certified check, however, needs the customer’s signature, and the bank adds the word ‘certified’ to the signature. The bank will withdraw the requested funds from the customer’s bank account and deposit them into a separate account owned by the bank. This step means that technically the bank, rather than the customer who made the initial request, becomes the paying party. Since bank drafts represent a transaction that has already taken place, it cannot be canceled once it is delivered to the payee.

What Does Bank Draft Mean?

All in all, bank drafts are a handy payment method for making large
purchases. Of course, there are other secure forms of payment in use
these days, such
as Interac e-Transfers. E-transfers have become a very popular
option, but since every situation is different, you’ll want to weigh
your options to determine which payment solution is right for you. Bank drafts are guaranteed by the issuing bank and are typically used for large or international transactions.

There’s no way for them to spend that money before you deposit the bank draft because the bank already removed the money from their account. However, it is impossible to predict when the cheque will be deposited after it is drawn. This dishonoured or ‘bounced’ cheque is now worthless and the payee receives no money, which is why cheques are less secure than cash. A normal cheque represents an instruction to transfer a sum of money from the drawer’s account to the payee’s account.

• You can only purchase bank drafts from a bank, while money orders can be purchased from certified stores, post offices, or banks.
• Therefore, a secure form of payment is required to complete the transaction.
• This is much quicker than depositing through an ATM or mobile device.
• This makes bank drafts an ideal option for those making large purchases such as real estate transactions.
• I am currently selling a Nintendo wii on a site and a person wanted to buy it using a bank draft.

If I receive a large check from a person and my bank won’t accept it, I can take the check to the drawee bank and have it certified. The salesman takes the Cashiers Check to the bank and gets a Cashier’s Check in lieu of the original check, with the Cashiers Check made out to the auto dealer. The salesman then bought himself a new car with the Cashier’s Check, something he could not have done if the check was certified. Cashier’s checks are very similar to bank drafts, and in many cases are considered the same thing. Rather than being issued from the bank’s home office or main branch, however, a cashier’s check may be written from the particular branch where it is requested. It may also be signed by the cashier or another official at the bank, rather than the manager.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Bank Draft

However, if the bank can confirm that the bank draft has not been cashed out by the payee, it might agree to cancel the bank draft and refund the buyer’s account. Once the payee presents the bank draft for payment, his or her identity is verified with the name on the bank draft. After the identity verification process, the funds are deposited into the payee’s account. It does not require a signature; however, a bank official must sign a certified bank draft to make it more secure and fraud-proof. A cheque is a negotiable instrument that can further endorse in favor of another person, but a Bank draft cannot be further endorsed and credited only to the payee’s bank A/c.

• Experts recommend caution when accepting a bank draft as payment, particularly during times when financial institutions are typically closed, such as on a Friday night or a weekend.
• Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide if using a bank draft is the best option for their particular situation.
• This type of check often clears much more quickly than a personal check.
• It is important for the security measures involved in it as it is authenticated and has the least risk factor.
• Instead of getting a bank draft, you can try making your payment with a money order, which should be available at numerous grocery and convenience stores.

It is this action that guarantees payment of a bank draft; the bank only issues it when the money is in its own account. These types of transfers tend to happen through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, which makes it easier for customers to set up recurring payments. Customers benefit because they don’t have to remember to write a check every payment period. Businesses benefit because they don’t have to physically deposit checks, wait for funds clear, or pay any fees for card payments. Which mean they won’ be able to create a bank draft unless they actually have the money.

Benefits of Bank draft

On the other hand, automatic payments — an example is Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer — are recurring payments made from one bank account to another without manual intervention. First, certifying your check, this is an old, cumbersome, time consuming way to guaranty the funds of your check. The bank will take your check, withdraw the funds from your account, and punch out the account numbers on your check. They will stamp it certified, a bank official will sign it and will give it back to you.

A bank draft typically is used in any transaction involving a large amount of money where the buyer or seller requires assurance that the funds will be paid. Bank drafts are frequently used in international transactions and real estate transactions. Additional fees may be involved when international bank drafts are purchased and deposited. One main advantage of using this form of payment is that it usually clears much more quickly than a personal check, often in the same amount of time it takes a local check to be cleared. Sending the draft by certified mail with a tracking number can help to ensure safe delivery.

If it’s a certified cheque, the financial institution will freeze or hold the funds until the cheque is deposited by the recipient. In such a way, bank drafts are safer than personal checks, which might bounce if there are no sufficient funds in the payer’s account. Many companies now accept what are sometimes known as automatic bank drafts (ABDs), in which money is taken out of the payer’s account electronically at regular times. Also known as an automatic payment, automatic bill pay, and other terms, this type of draft differs in that no paper check is ever issued. This type of draft is most often used to pay for utilities, mortgage, insurance, and other important bills.

Sometimes it’s an honest mistake, and nobody’s trying to defraud anybody — it’s easy to forget about other transactions that draw from an account. When the payer and the receiver are not in the same location, this method is employed. Upon depositing the draft, the money is transferred into the receiver’s account.

Additionally, this form of payment is guaranteed by the bank as it’s already been “paid”, so it’s safer to receive a bank draft versus a check. Take the non-negotiable part to your financial institution, if you
still have it. Your institution will check to make sure the draft
hasn’t been deposited and that you’re still solvent, and will then
issue you another one at your request. You’ll remain responsible for
the previous draft and will be required to sign an agreement to that
effect. That means that if the person you give the bank draft to loses
and then finds it again, they can still deposit it, at your expense,
even if you gave them a replacement bank draft. Canada Post and financial institutions don’t allow bank drafts to be
sent by mail, since they could become lost in transit.

Examples of Bank Draft

A bank draft is a handy tool for making a big payment without
having to take cash out of your account. Wire transfers may have lower fees, but they are more prone to fraud and mistakes. The decision between the two approaches ultimately comes down to personal requirements and preferences.

Lots of customers come in and go, out for a short while or a long time, we do not know. A certified check is written on the account of the person requesting it, not the account of the bank itself. The bank certifies that the person’s account has enough money in it to cover the check, and usually “earmarks” those funds so that they can only be used to pay the check. This type of check often clears much more quickly than a personal check. Similar to a cheque, a bank draft may take a few days before it clears if it’s from a Canadian financial institution. If the draft is from an institution based outside of the country, it may take up to 30 business days for it to clear.