Cashier’s Order: What Is It And How To Get One?

If you think that a cashier’s order is just part of the lingo used in retail outlets and F&B joints, you’re highly mistaken. Here’s all you need to know about what they are and how you can use them.

With scams and fakes on the rise, at an increase of 16% during the period of January to June 2021, we can’t be too careful when it comes to huge payments that can go up to hundreds of thousands. This is when a cashier’s order can come in handy to ensure that you are not scammed, and the money reaches you safely. 

If this is your first time coming across this term, maybe this is a sign to start issuing cashier’s orders to safeguard your funds. Here’s all you need to know about it and how to get one.

What is a cashier’s order?

A cashier’s order is known as a banker’s cheque, as it acts like a regular cheque but is issued by the bank itself. When you request for one, the money is instantaneously withdrawn from the payer’s account and transferred into the bank’s own account until the recipient deposits the cashier’s order.

This ensures that the bank is fully responsible for the funds until the recipient deposits them, therefore safeguarding the funds and ensuring that the cheque does not bounce back. Cashier’s orders are usually available in different currencies depending on each bank, and are valid for six months. To get a cashier’s order, you’ll have to pay a fee of about S$5 per cashier’s order, while cancellations may result in a penalty.

Why and when should I get a cashier’s order?

Though you have to pay around S$5 for every cashier’s order, you can take it as paying for an  ‘insurance fee’ that ensures that your cash is secure. It is a much more reliable method to make or receive payment compared to cheques that could bounce back if the sender has insufficient funds in their bank account, and a much safer way compared to carrying around stacks of cash.

In hindsight, you can get a cashier’s order for just about anything, though individuals will normally use it for big-ticket purchases like making a downpayment for your BTO flat, selling a car and buying a house. When you’re transacting in such large amounts, you would probably want to safeguard your funds at all costs.

How do I get a cashier’s order?

Getting a cashier’s order is simple. You can either head down to any bank’s physical branch (remember to bring along your NRIC!) or purchase one online through your personal or business online banking. Some banks charge a lower fee if you make your purchase online, though you’ll still have to head down physically to collect it or have it mailed to you at a fee.

You can get a cashier’s order from any of these banks:

DBS / POSB

If you’re under DBS/POSB, you can purchase a cashier’s order through their iBanking for free, or head down to any of their physical branches and pay a S$5 charge for each cashier’s order. The maximum amount per cashier’s order is S$10,000, but you can always purchase more if the amount is larger than that, at S$5 each as well.

You can fill up the order application form, select the preferred branch that is closest to your home and collect it from there once it is ready.

HSBC

All HSBC users can either pop by any HSBC branch or make their cashier’s order purchase through business or personal internet banking. However, they charge a higher fee (S$10) for each cashier’s order, making it the most expensive on the list.

If the cashier’s order is payable to your name, you are not entitled to the S$10 charge. You can fill up the application form here.

Maybank

Maybank users can apply for a cashier’s order at any Maybank branch or through Maybank’s online banking. They charge a standard fee of S$5 for each cashier’s order made to a third party’s name.

Don’t worry if you need to change any details on your cashier’s order - you can make amendments at a flat fee of S$5, while cancelling it will cost you a hefty S$20 fee. If you don’t want to physically head down to collect it, you can have it mailed to you at an additional charge of S$3.

OCBC

If you’re thinking of physically travelling down to the branch to make your purchase, you may be greatly disappointed as only Velocity@OCBC allows you to do that, for a fee of S$5 per cashier’s order. Otherwise, you can purchase one through OCBC’s business internet banking at the same fee.

If the cashier’s order is payable to your own name, it is free of charge. If it is payable to a third party’s name, the S$5 fee will be applicable. Good news for OCBC Premier Banking customers, you’ll get to enjoy a fee waiver for all cashier’s orders that you purchase.

UOB

With UOB, you can order a cashier’s order through Personal Internet Banking (PIB), Business Internet Banking (BIB) or Business Internet Banking Plus (BIBPlus). If your tight schedule prevents you from heading down to the branch to collect it, you can arrange for delivery to you or to the recipient at no fee.

Heading down to the physical bank will cost you S$5 per cashier’s order, while ordering it through PIB will be at a cheaper rate of S$3.

The time period to deposit and process your cashier’s order is the same as that of depositing and processing a cheque.

What is the difference between a cashier’s order and a cheque?

Both cashier’s orders and cheques work the same way and are similar in nature - they are written documents for transferring money and can be both cashed out or deposited.

The main difference is that cashier’s orders are a safer option because the bank has already retrieved the funds from the payer’s account when it is issued. As for regular cheques, since they are not issued by the bank, there’s a possibility of them being bounced back or rejected due to insufficient funds in the payer’s bank account.

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