Different ways to pay
You have plenty of options to make and receive payments—no cheque needed! {sub-heading}
In Australia cheque usage is declining{yellow-border}
The payment landscape in Australia is changing. Customers are opting out of using cheques and choosing to make payments through simpler and faster digital methods.
As a quick reminder, there are two forms of cheques that may be available through your account/s with BOQ:
BOQ Personal/Business Cheques – these are the cheques in your cheque book which are connected to your personal/business account. When the recipient deposits or cashes the cheque, the money is transferred from your personal/business account at that time.
BOQ Bank Cheques – these are cheques issued by BOQ at your request. Bank Cheques are a secure payment instrument issued by the Bank on its own behalf rather than from a personal/business account. The money is taken from your personal/business account upfront when BOQ issues the bank cheque to you. Bank cheques are not part of your cheque book.
BOQ is making the following changes to our cheque services:
Replacement Cheque books will no longer be issued
This means that you will not be able to issue BOQ Personal/Business Cheques once your current Cheque book has run out. You may still request BOQ Bank Cheques until June 2026.
BOQ Personal/Business Cheques can no longer be drawn against your account and any BOQ Personal/Business cheques presented after 30 September 2026 will be dishonoured.
This means that:
a. any cheque book you have can no longer be used; and
b. if you have issued a BOQ Personal/Business Cheque to a person and that person has not deposited/cashed that cheque prior to 30 September 2026, then the cheque will be dishonoured. We recommend that you advise any persons that you have provided a BOQ Personal/Business Cheque to deposit/cash the cheque prior to September 2026.
BOQ will no longer accept other financial institution cheques through our branches or ATMs, this includes bank cheques and customer cheques.
This means that you will not be able to deposit cheques from other financial institutions (personal, business or bank cheques) into your BOQ account at a branch or ATM.
BOQ will still accept and honour any BOQ Bank Cheques that have already been issued.
When are cheques being phased out?{yellow-border}
The Australian Federal Government is winding down the cheque system to modernise Australia’s payments system. As part of this industry-wide transition, BOQ is phasing out cheque services following this initiative and aligning with customer banking trends.
Can I still use my existing cheque book?{yellow-border}
Yes, you can continue using your existing cheque book. However, you should transition to alternative payment methods as soon as possible as no cheque books will be issued after 31 May 2026 and your cheques will be dishonoured if deposited after 30 September 2026.
I don't have online banking set up yet. How do I do that?{yellow-border}
We can help you register for online banking - it’s easy to do. Please contact your closest BOQ branch during opening hours or call our friendly customer contact centre on 1300 55 72 72 Monday to Friday 8am–8pm and Saturday 9am–5pm (AEDT).
Queensland Solicitor's Trust Accounts must first gain an authorisation letter from the Queensland Law Society. You can find details on how to apply for authorisation here
If you currently have view-only access for NSW PAMD, NSW Solicitor's Trust Account, or QLD PAMD Trust Accounts, please contact us for assistance.
How can I get support during this transition?{yellow-border}
We’re here to help you every step of the way. Review the alternative payment options available to you at BOQ below. If you have questions or require additional support, contact your closest BOQ branch during opening hours, or call our friendly customer contact centre on 1300 55 72 72 Monday to Friday 8am–8pm and Saturday 9am–5pm (AEDT).
FAQs{yellow-border}
I have a large amount of money to send, can I do this electronically?
What should I do with any cheques remaining in my cheque book?
What is the difference between a bank cheque and a cheque I’ve written from my account?
I have a ‘cheque’ option on my card, what do I do?
What does it mean that I can no longer draw cheques from an account?
Why is BOQ ceasing cheque services?
When will my cheques be dishonoured?
From 30 September 2026 any cheques written from your personal or business BOQ Bank account will be dishonoured. BOQ will not charge fees. You will need to arrange for an alternative payment method.
BOQ Bank cheques will continue to be honoured.
What happens to cheques I have written?
If you have issued a BOQ personal or Business Cheque to a person and that person has not deposited/cashed that cheque prior to 30 September 2026, then the cheque will be dishonoured.
We recommend that you advise any persons that you have provided a BOQ personal or Business Cheque to deposit/cash the cheque prior to 30 September 2026.
Will my cheques still work at other banks?
Up to 30 September 2026, cheques you have written can be deposited at other banks. After this date, any cheque written will not be honoured or paid if presented at another bank. Cheques written from your BOQ Bank account will no longer be a valid payment option after this date.
BOQ Bank Cheques may be accepted at other banks and will continue to be honoured by BOQ.
Can I still order a cheque book?
What does the change for Cheque Deposits mean?
As a BOQ customer, you will no longer be able to make cheque deposits of other financial institutions’ cheques to any of your BOQ Bank Accounts. These changes apply to all cheque deposits both bank cheques and customer cheques made to all BOQ Bank Accounts at any BOQ branches and BOQ Automatic Teller Machines (ATM).
You may be able to deposit certain cheques via the Bank@Post™ services using your Visa debit card; however not all cheques can be deposited via Bank@Post™. Bank@Post™ will only accept cheques issued by participating financial institutions that currently offer cheque services. To find out if a cheque can be deposited via Bank@Post™ please contact the issuer of the cheque.
Please note that cheques made payable to joint names cannot be accepted at Bank@Post™.
However, BOQ issued bank cheques presented at a BOQ branches for deposit into a BOQ Bank account will continue to be accepted.