# How do we sign our checks now? 2K?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 21, 2000, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443 "2000-01-21T12:19:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/1 "2000-01-21T12:19:00Z")
Now that it is 2000 how do we sign the date section of our checks after the 19?
Do we cross out 19 and put 2000 or do we cross out 19 and put 00 (zero, zero) or as I am doing just put 2K?
And one other thing kids that graduate this year will they be the class of double zero (00) or class of 2000? or ott ott?
The wisdom of the dopers is appreciated while I hold my tongue in cheek.
I still think putting 2K is a great idea.
Signed
January 21/2K
* * *
Please feel free to email me.
I’m not conceited, I’m convinced!
[Dandmb50@aol.com](mailto:Dandmb50@aol.com)
The only stupid question is the one YOU do not ask !!
[http://members.aol.com/dandmb50/1.html/](http://members.aol.com/dandmb50/1.html/)
---
### Author:  [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/2 "2000-01-21T12:25:00Z")
People are signing 00. I use 2000. In 2001 I will start using 01.How about Roman= MM
---
### Author:  [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/3 "2000-01-21T14:08:00Z")
The last set of checks I got didn’t have the ‘19’ pre-printed on them. (Yes, I have Y2K compliant checks). I just write 2000 in the blank.
---
### Author:  [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/4 "2000-01-21T14:55:00Z")
My last set of checks did not have 19\_\_, just a blank for the whole year, but the deposit slips behind the checks have 19\_\_ on them. The checks are Y2K compliant, but the deposit slips aren’t.??? Oh, I ordered the checks in June of 1999.
I write 2000 for the year.
* * *
Virtually yours,
DrMatrix
---
### Author:  [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/5 "2000-01-21T15:12:00Z")
I waited until January 2, 2000 to order my new checks, in the hopes that they would say 20\_\_ for the year. No such luck, they just have a long blank line after Date:, so I need to write in the full year.
---
### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/6 "2000-01-21T16:49:00Z")
As for getting the money, it don’t matter what the date is on them. So sez my bank, the largest bank in america.
---
### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/7 "2000-01-21T17:16:00Z")
## “So sez my bank, **the largest bank in america.** ” —handy (emphasis mine)
## Well, there you have it. No further discuccion necessary. 😉 Peace, mangeorge
I only know two things;
I know what I need to know
And
I know what I want to know
Mangeorge, 2000
---
### Author:  [@torq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torq)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/8 "2000-01-21T20:17:00Z")
I’ve been signing my checks with my name, same as always.
In the date field, the few I’ve written I’ve put “2000”. My checks don’t have the 19 preprinted on them (I don’t remember if they used to or not, but the current ones certainly don’t).
---
### Author:  [@Lord\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Jim)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/9 "2000-01-21T20:47:00Z")
I still date my checks “99” most of the time. I’m slowly catching it more often though and changing it to “00”.
---
### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/10 "2000-01-21T21:28:00Z")
On mine there’s no “19” and I date it with '00. Use the apostrophe - it’s legal!
---
### Author:  [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/11 "2000-01-21T23:03:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Originally posted by JimB:
> **I still date my checks “99” most of the time. I’m slowly catching it more often though and changing it to “00”.**
Here’s what I do: on January 1, I write just the year on my next 10 or so blank checks. By the next time I have to write in a year, I can finally remember to write the right year.
---
### Author:  [@Kyberneticist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyberneticist)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/12 "2000-01-21T23:47:00Z")
Hm. “the largest bank in america” is probably right.
It doesn’t matter if what you write in for the last two digits on a check with a “19” prefix.
Think about it. Postdating a check means it can’t be cashed until the date given. But all possible 19\*\* years have gone by. Therefore, the check will be cashed. It would just seem a little late if you put, say, 1900
Not that it matters, my checks which I got sometime back in 1998 were also bereft of a “19” prefix.
BTW, Writing 2K makes your checks cashable in 2048. Write 2k. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/13 "2000-01-21T23:48:00Z")
I just put “00” after the 19\_\_ because the date only matters to the bank if it’s in the future (postdated). You don’t have to cash a check on THAT EXACT DAY it’s written, you may do so any time after that date. So, technically, 1900 is a valid date as far as cashing the check goes, and it’s not like I’m going to be confused and say “Now what did I buy for $20 a thousand years ago?”
* * *
"Hi, I’m Troy McClure! You may remember me from such medical films as “Alice Doesn’t Live Anymore” and “Mommy, What’s Wrong with That Man’s Face?”
---
### Author:  [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2000, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/14 "2000-01-22T02:28:00Z")
Starting from February, I’m going to avoid all this confusion by simply writing “The Year of the Dragon”.
DHR
* * *
_Exits, pursued by a bear_
---
### Author:  [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2000, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/15 "2000-01-22T02:30:00Z")
Starting from February, I’m going to avoid all this confusion by simply writing “The Year of the Dragon”.
DHR
* * *
_Exits, pursued by a bear_
---
### Author:  [@timmar68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timmar68)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2000, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/16 "2000-01-22T03:21:00Z")
Greg’s assignment notebook has 19\_\_. He crosses out the 19 and writes “2k” in the blank.
* * *
MaryAnn
I’m sorry you didn’t win, mom, but I’ll give you a constellation prize! -Greg
---
### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2000, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/17 "2000-01-22T05:15:00Z")
One thing - some checks expire after one year, so writing 1900 could get you in trouble, though if it’s preprinted forms nobody is likely to care - the bank included.
---
### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2000, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/18 "2000-01-22T15:53:00Z")
Ah, come on folks, spend a few bucks, get some new checks with the right date format.
My checks say Ive been a customer since 1974. Yesterday, the bank clerk who Ive probably been cashing my checks with her since then, told me I have to show her ID. I asked why after 26 years cashing checks with her I have to do that & she said its for the computer. I said but you can override that! She said ‘yep’ but didn’t.
---
### Author:  [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2000, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/19 "2000-01-22T16:00:00Z")
I haven’t written a check in over two years. Get modern, folks and bank online. It takes me about 5 minutes to pay my bills every month, and the checkbook balances to the penny evry time. I don’t have to fool with envelopes or stamps or any of that crap.
Well worth the 10 bucks a month they charge me.
As for writing a check at a store - what the hell for? Just put it on the credit card and pay the damn thing off every month. Analog check writing is for losers & fools. 😉
---
### Author:  [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2000, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-sign-our-checks-now-2k/6443/20 "2000-01-23T06:47:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I haven’t written a check in over two years. Get modern, folks and bank online.
I must agree I only write one check a month myself but I was just curious about other peoples habits. The other thing I find is people in the US pay by check a lot at check-outs and have never understood why. Most credit cards now have points you can accummulate for different things and if you pay by credit card you can earn those points. With our bank here in Toronto you even get free banking if you keep a minimum balance and that’s how I pay my bills too, it’s such a great service and they even allow postdating payments.
I still like the 2K idea though…
Signed…
January 22/2K
* * *
Please feel free to email me.
I’m not conceited, I’m convinced!
[Dandmb50@aol.com](mailto:Dandmb50@aol.com)
The only stupid question is the one YOU do not ask !!
[http://members.aol.com/dandmb50/1.html/](http://members.aol.com/dandmb50/1.html/)