If a bank accepts anything but the actual cash in payment of a collection, it does so at its own risk, and not at the risk of the sender. For instance, a bank has a draft on Smith, or holds Smith's note for collection. Smith offers his check in payment. If the check turns out "no good" the bank must recover the paper immediately, and any document which might have been attached; otherwise the sender can hold the bank for the amount. Therefore, when you tender your check to a bank in payment for collections, you are asking them to take a risk. If you are not well known in the bank, it is only a reasonable request for the bank to ask you to have your check certified. Don't ask the bank to have it certified; for, as has been explained in the remarks on "Certified Checks," the bank by so doing would release you, and could hold only the paying bank. You might just as well ask a strange bank to _cash_ your check as to offer it your uncertified check for a collection on you. You would hardly cash a check for a stranger. Why should the bank take an equal risk for you? Yet nothing seems to rouse the ire of the average man more, than for the collection clerk to ask him to have his check certified. It is a well-nigh universal rule in all Clearing House Associations, that the banks, which are members thereof, shall not collect checks on each other before the daily hour for meeting. Also it is a general custom not to collect from each other, checks that are deposited, or taken in payment for paper due, after that hour. Hence, when a bank accepts uncertified checks in payment before the clearing hour, it will know before closing time whether such checks are good. But, if a bank accepts an uncertified check in payment after the clearing hour, either, it must have it certified, and thereby release the drawer; or, it must hold it until the next day at its own risk. The banks always respect the man who has his check certified, if tendered after the clearing hour. For these same reasons you can see why a bank can not take a check on a bank in some other town in payment of a collection. It then would be several days before the bank would know whether the check was good or not. Also the bank would be out that amount of money for the length of time it takes to collect that check; for every bank must remit to the sender on the very day it puts its "Paid" stamp on a collection and delivers it to the payer. Therefore, when a bank notifies you that it holds your note, or a draft drawn on you, for collection, bear in mind four points. First: the bank must follow the instructions of the sender or owner of the paper. Second: it can not disregard the law. Third: you are benefiting yourself more than the bank by paying your paper promptly. Fourth: the bank is taking a risk every time it accepts anything other than actual cash for a collection.