Banking: Everything You Need to Know about Void Cheques in Canada
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In the digital age, the void cheque remains a necessary tool for a range of transactions. A few years ago, you scribbled “void” or “specimen” on a paper cheque and that was that. Today, it mostly comes in digital form. It is usually a PDF you download from the secure website (online banking) or the mobile app of your financial institution.
But what exactly is a void cheque used for? How do you obtain yours depending on your financial institution (NBC, BMO, CIBC, Desjardins, Tangerine, TD, etc.)? Those are some of the questions this article answers.
In short: as of October 2026, you download a void cheque as a PDF from your institution’s online banking or mobile app, in the section for your chequing account. It shows your transit number (5 digits), your institution number (3 digits) and your account number. It can only be used to receive deposits, never to withdraw money.
What is a void cheque used for in Canada?
First, a quick reminder of what a void cheque is. It is a copy of a cheque used to share the details of a given chequing account.
Ultimately, this copy of a cheque allows a person or an organization to transfer (deposit) money directly into the linked account. For example, if you start a new job, the human resources department will ask you for a void cheque so it can deposit your pay directly into your account.
These days, few employers or suppliers pay their employees or their clients by paper cheque. Almost everything is done online. Knowing how to find your void cheque is therefore essential.
Is it secure?
Rest assured. Providing a void cheque does not allow anyone to withdraw money from your bank account. It can only be used to deposit funds. For a bank or a biller to withdraw money from your bank account, you have to complete a pre-authorized debit agreement (electronically, in writing or by phone) in addition to providing your void cheque, in order to authorize the withdrawals.
What information does it contain?
Essentially, the void cheque is designed to collect or share banking details such as:
- Five-digit transit number (or identification number)
- Three-digit institution number
- Account number (the number of digits can vary from one financial institution to another)
- Name and address of the financial institution
These details may be requested in a range of circumstances: setting up direct deposits, receiving a payment from overseas, scheduling a recurring payment from your account and more.
What is a transit number?
The transit number (or identification number) has five digits and corresponds to the number of the bank branch. Combined with the institution number and the account number, it pinpoints the exact location of a bank account in order to set up direct deposits or make money transfers.
What is an institution number?
The institution number has three digits and corresponds to the number of the financial institution. Combined with the transit number (or identification number) and the account number, it makes it possible to set up direct deposits, among other things.
How to obtain a void cheque
As mentioned above, your void cheque is available online. You can access it easily through the secure website or the mobile app of your financial institution. It sits in the same place where you carry out your online banking: bill payments, Interac e-Transfers, and so on.
The steps to obtain it do vary slightly from one bank to another. That is why we set out below how to retrieve yours depending on your bank or your caisse.
| Institution | Platform | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| National Bank | National Bank online banking | “Balance”, choose the account, then “Download a void cheque” |
| BMO | BMO Online Banking | “My Accounts”, choose the account, then “Void cheque” |
| CIBC | CIBC Online Banking | “My Accounts”, choose the account, then “View void cheque and pre-authorized payment form” |
| Desjardins | AccèsD | “More options”, then “Void cheque” |
| TD | EasyWeb | Choose the account, then “Direct Deposit Form (PDF)” |
| Tangerine | Client Login | “Spending”, choose the chequing account, then “Void cheque” |
| Wealthsimple | Wealthsimple app or website | Cash account, then “Download void cheque” |
National Bank void cheque
Here is how to obtain your void cheque when you are a National Bank client:
- Log in to National Bank online banking with your username and your password.
- Click “Balance” in the left-hand menu.
- Select the account you want a void cheque for.
- Click “Download a void cheque” to generate a PDF copy.
The information it shows:
- Name and address of the account holder
- Name and address of the financial institution
- Five-digit transit number (or identification number)
- Three-digit institution number
- Account number
BMO void cheque
The void cheque from Bank of Montreal is also available online, by following these steps:
- Log in to BMO Online Banking with your username and your password.
- Click “My Accounts”.
- Select the account you want a void cheque for.
- Click “Void cheque”.
- Download the PDF file containing your void cheque.
The information it shows:
- Name and address of the financial institution
- Name and address of the account holder
- Five-digit transit number (or identification number)
- Three-digit institution number
- Account number
CIBC void cheque
CIBC offers a void cheque through its online platform. Here are the steps to obtain it:
- Log in to CIBC Online Banking with your username and your password.
- In the “My Accounts” section, choose the account you want a void cheque for.
- Click “View void cheque and pre-authorized payment form” and download the document.
The information it shows:
- Name and address of the financial institution
- Name and address of the account holder
- Five-digit transit number (or identification number)
- Three-digit institution number
- Account number
Desjardins void cheque (AccèsD)
Are you a member of a Desjardins caisse? You can obtain a void cheque on AccèsD in a few simple steps:
- Log in to AccèsD with your username and your password.
- Click the “More options” button, available in the right-hand menu on a computer, or at the bottom of the screen on a smartphone.
- Click the “Void cheque” link and download the PDF version.
The information it shows:
- Name and address of the caisse
- Five-digit transit number of the caisse (or identification number)
- Three-digit institution number
- Account number or folio number (including the zeros)
- Check digit
TD void cheque
Again, it is very easy to generate a void cheque online with TD:
- Log in to EasyWeb with your username (or Access Card) and your password.
- Select the account you want a void cheque for.
- Click “Direct Deposit Form (PDF)”.
- Your browser will display a document that includes the void cheque. Download that document to your files.
The information it shows:
- Name and address of the financial institution
- Five-digit transit number (or identification number)
- Three-digit institution number
- Account number
Tangerine void cheque
The online bank Tangerine lets you quickly obtain a void cheque for your chequing account. Here are the steps to follow:
- Log in to Client Login using your login ID and your PIN.
- In the “Spending” section, choose the chequing account you want a void cheque for.
- Click the “Void cheque” button and download the PDF version.
The information it shows:
- Name and address of the account holder
- Name and address of the financial institution
- Five-digit transit number (or identification number)
- Three-digit institution number
- Account number
Wealthsimple Cash void cheque
The Wealthsimple platform lets you quickly obtain a void cheque for your high-interest chequing account (Wealthsimple Cash). Here are the steps to follow:
- Open your mobile app or log in to your Wealthsimple account using your email address and your password.
- Click your Cash account (if you have more than one, click the one you want a void cheque for).
- Click the “Download void cheque” button to download the PDF version. On your smartphone, tap “Show more”, then “Direct deposit info” and “Download void cheque”.
The information it shows:
- Name and address of the account holder
- Name and address of the financial institution
- Five-digit transit number (or identification number)
- Three-digit institution number
- Account number
Conclusion
In short, you always have easy access to your void cheque, whatever your financial institution. That way, you can obtain or share your banking details with your employer (for example, to have your pay deposited) or a service provider (for example, to pay your mortgage, your electricity bill or your insurance premiums).
You can be confident about the security of this document. It can never be used to withdraw money from your account. It only allows a person or an organization to pay money into it.
Frequently asked questions
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The right credit card depends on your profile: income, spending and goal (travel, cash back, balance transfer). To compare the options against your own criteria, use our credit card comparison tool. You can also consult our ranking of the best credit cards of the month, updated every month by the Milesopedia team.
What is a void cheque in Canada?
A void cheque is a copy (paper or digital) of a cheque used to share the banking details of an account. It allows a person or an organization to transfer money directly into the linked account. For example, your employer can deposit your pay directly into your chequing account.
How do you read a Canadian void cheque?
A Canadian void cheque shows the following banking details: name and address of the account holder, name and address of the financial institution, five-digit transit number (or identification number), three-digit institution number and account number (the number of digits can vary from one financial institution to another).
How do you access your void cheque?
You can easily access your void cheque on the secure website or the mobile app of your financial institution. The steps to obtain it do vary slightly from one bank to another.
Can a cancelled cheque replace a void cheque?
They are the same thing. Writing the word VOID on a cheque produces the equivalent of a void cheque.
Is a specimen cheque the same as a void cheque?
Yes. In Canada, “specimen cheque” and “void cheque” name the same document, and French speakers call it a “spécimen de chèque”. It is either a cheque marked VOID or the PDF your online banking generates, showing your transit, institution and account numbers. Most English-speaking employers will simply ask you for a void cheque.
