I need to cash a check for approximately $8,000, and I don't own a U.S. bank account or a branch of the issuing bank in the state I'm visiting. How do I get cash?

Though I recently concluded a seasonal job in Alaska, I currently reside in Thailand. I’ll be spending a few weeks in Montana, but my state does not have any KeyBank branches. My US bank account was closed more than a year ago.

I have a standard ID and a passport. Please let me know how to cash this cheque without having to pay a large fee.

Additionally, I would like to deposit the money into my Thai bank account (SCB), but I don’t feel comfortable coming back to Thailand with $8,000 in cash. Does anyone know how I could proceed?

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Some businesses focus on cashing checks for people without bank accounts. They usually charge a fee, which is a percentage of the check amount. You can find these businesses by searching for “check cashing locations in Montana” on Google.

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Most likely, in order to deposit the cheque, you’ll need to open an account at the bank. Before you may access the money, the bank will retain the cheque for up to a week in order to verify its authenticity. Next, request that the bank wire transfer funds to your bank account in Thailand from their bank.

Having recently wrapped up a seasonal job in Alaska and now living in Thailand, you’re faced with cashing a check while spending time in Montana. With no local KeyBank branches and your US bank account closed for over a year, your options include using a check-cashing service or a national bank with which you don’t have an account, though fees might be high. If you plan to deposit the money into your Thai bank account (SCB) and are uncomfortable carrying $8,000 in cash, you could explore endorsing the check to a trusted friend or family member who could then deposit it into your account, or use a service like Wise (formerly TransferWise) to convert and transfer funds internationally. Additionally, consider contacting your Thai bank for any specific options they might offer for depositing checks from abroad.