Can I cash a personal check at any bank?

When I was a teller you could not. I think the answer is still the same today, although the technology exists to do what you want. Basically, you have a track record at a bank and you cash a check against an account which has the funds to cover the check. It wouldn't be hard for the banks to be linked and for you to cash the check at one bank that could access your bank records at another bank. But there is no incentive for the second back to want to cash your check and there is no incentive for the first bank to spend the money on a system that would allow you to cash your check elsewhere. ... more