Cheque Number

Last Updated : July 7, 2025, 5:56 p.m.

A cheque is usually drawn by the drawer to the payee and the drawee pays the amount written on the cheque to the payee. The cheque can be a bearer cheque or an account payee cheque but you must have seen that there are many numbers written in the bottom line of a cheque. The bottom line includes the Cheque Number, MICR, a Part of Account Number, and the transaction ID. So, the first six digits present on the cheque are known as the cheque number. In a cheque book, this number increases in a numeric manner, and the drawer uses this number to make a record of the amount written on a cheque and the payee on whom it is drawn.

Features of the Cheque Number and Other Numbers

• All these numbers whether the cheque number or the other numbers are written with special magnetic ink and they can be only read with the help of a magnetic ink reader.
• The Cheque number is the first six digits written on the bottom-left of the cheque.
• Then the next 9 digits number is the MICR code.
• Then the next 6 digits number is the part of your account number.
• Finally, the two-digit number present on the bottom-right of the cheque is the transaction ID.
• The transaction ID tells whether the cheque is cashable at the branch where it belongs to or it can be cashed at any branch of the same bank.
• Almost all the banks in India have the same format for their cheques.

Where is the Cheque Number Located?

The cheque number is typically a 6-digit number found on the bottom left-hand corner of a cheque. It is printed in MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) format, which allows easy processing by banking machines.

Components of a Cheque Number

The cheque number is part of the MICR line, which typically includes:

1. Bank Code (first 3 digits): Identifies the bank.
2. Branch Code (next 3 digits): Identifies the specific branch.
3. Cheque Number (next 6 digits): Unique to the cheque.
4. Account Type (last digit): Indicates the type of account (e.g., savings, current).

Why is the Cheque Number Important?

1. Tracking Payments: Helps both sender and receiver track specific payments.
   
2. Preventing Fraud: Unique cheque numbers avoid duplication and unauthorized use.
   
3. Record Maintenance: Banks use cheque numbers to match cheque books with bank accounts.
   
4. Online Banking Reference: Often required while cancelling cheques or verifying payments online.

Know the Cheque Status through the Cheque Number

Suppose you have drawn multiple cheques to different payees and you want to know about the status of all the cheques then the cheque number plays a vital role to know the status of a cheque. When you update your passbook, it shows a debit transaction from your account, and the cheque number is shown in the passbook. So, you will easily get a clear picture of which cheque has been cashed and which cheque has to be still cashed.

Conclusion

So, the cheque number helps the drawer to keep an eye on a drawn cheque. You can track the status of your cheque using the cheque number. On the other hand, there are some other numbers present on the bottom of a cheque that are mainly the MICR, a part of the account number, and the transaction ID. Now, whenever you will draw a cheque, you can easily differentiate among all the numbers present at the bottom of the cheque.