Scheduled Maintenance: Banking services will be unavailable from 11pm Thursday 21 November for approximately 4 hours due to planned system maintenance.

Login

Cheques

Phasing out the use of cheques

  • Home
  • Everyday Banking
  • Payment Options
  • Cheques

Cheques are on the way out

As faster and more secure payment options have become available, more Australians are choosing alternative payment services to cheques.

With cheque use in rapid decline, the Australian Government has announced that the cheque system in Australia will wind down no later than 2030.

The Australian banking industry is now planning for this phase-out, with some banks and many merchants already no longer accepting cheques as a form of payment.

We understand that ongoing changes in the payments landscape can be challenging for some Members, and we want to ensure you are provided with sufficient notice and support to adjust to a world without cheques.

As a result of these changes to the Australian cheque system, The Mutual Bank will phase out cheques by 31 December 2025.

We will be in contact with impacted Members to explain the phasing-out timelines and provide support with switching to the many alternative payment services available.

We are here to help you navigate through this transition – please talk to our friendly Contact Centre Team on 1300 688 825 if we can assist you.

Other Services Available

Frequently Asked Questions

Over the last 10 years, there has been a 90 per cent decline in the use of cheques in Australia. Cheques now only comprise 0.2 per cent of all non-cash retail payments.

Because of the decline in cheque use, in June 2023 the Federal Treasurer announced the cheque system in Australia will be wound down by 2030. The Government will also phase out its use of cheques by the end of 2028.

Alternative options for payment include:

  • Direct Debit: Set up regular, automatic payments from your account.
  • BPAY®: Pay bills or invoices using a BPAY biller code.
  • PayID: Send or receive payments using your mobile number or email address.
  • Card Payments: Make payment in person, online, or over the phone using your debit or credit card.
  • Internet Banking.
  • Apple Pay or Google Pay™.
  • Bank@Post.

We are here to help you through this transition. Please visit us in branch or call our Contact Centre on 1300 688 825 during business hours.

Most of the alternative payment methods are free of charge. However, some fees may apply. See our Important Documents page for more information.

If you have previously used a cheque book facility on your account, but have since switched to other forms of payments, you need to take no action. Your account will operate as usual. Your account number will not change.

From 1 June 2024:

  • We will no longer offer cheque book facilities on existing accounts which do not already have the facility or offer a cheque book facility for a new account.
  • We will not automatically reissue you with a cheque book.
  • Cheque book facilities will no longer be available for inactive facilities.

 

From 1 June 2025:

  • The Mutual Bank will no longer issue Bank Cheques.

 

From 1 December 2025:

  • The Mutual Bank will no longer issue or accept for deposit personal, business or Bank Cheques.

Our Member Service Team in branch and our Hunter-based Contact Centre Team are here to help. We can personally assist you with alternative payment methods.

We appreciate some Members are used to paying for big ticket items, such as a car for example, by a cheque or a bank cheque. We can assist you with alternate ways to make these purchases.

Please destroy your cheque book securely or bring it into your local branch for us to securely destroy it for you.

For more information or assistance, please call into one of our branches or phone our Contact Centre on 1300 688 825.

® Registered to BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518

Apple, the Apple logo, Apple Pay, Apple Watch, Face ID, iPad, iPhone, Safari, and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Google, Android, Google Pay™ and associated logos are trademarks of Google LLC.

Bank@Post is an agency service provided by Australia Post on behalf of over 80 financial institutions. Bank@Post is available at participating Post Offices.

    

Home | Privacy Policy | Important Documents | CDR Policy | Contact Us | Lost or Stolen Cards | Website Terms of Use | Whistleblower Policy

Any advice or information on this site does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. Please review our Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determinations, Terms and Conditions, Financial Services Guide, and Credit Guide before deciding to acquire a product.

Eligibility and lending criteria, conditions, fees, and charges apply to all loans. Interest rates, fees, and charges may change without notice. Information is current as at date of appearance and is subject to change. We use reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up to date information. However, mistakes may still occur from time to time and we cannot guarantee that this website is free from any errors, inaccuracies or omissions. Maitland Mutual Limited trading as The Mutual Bank ABN 94 087 651 983 AFSL/Australian credit licence 238139.

The Mutual Bank acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country across Australia and recognises their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present.