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I wrote a check for $89 but incorrectly wrote out the amount as "eight-hundred and ninety dollars." The bank paid it as $890. Shouldn't the bank have paid according to the numeric amount?

Legally, words overrule numbers.

According to state laws, if a check contains contradictory terms, words prevail over numbers. In the same way, handwritten terms prevail over printed or typewritten terms.

Last Reviewed: April 2021

Please note: The terms "bank" and "banks" used in these answers generally refer to national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches or agencies of foreign banking organizations that are regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Find out if the OCC regulates your bank. Information provided on HelpWithMyBank.gov should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion of the OCC.

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