The bank most certainly has a way of telling if the check is bad, especially counterfeit cashiers checks- there is a list you can access if you are a Bank security person, etc. The bank can also call the bank on whom the check is drawn, they can check the signature and the balance, and the history.
But yes, no teller can or will tell you a check is good, unless perhaps it is drown on that branch right there, and even so, there can be issues.
And that is my point. You go into your bank and tell them the story- they will say one of three things:
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We have checked, and verified the check is bad. This is actually the best outcome, and the one I was hoping for. Why? Because now the OP, has confirmation it is no good. Up until his bank tells him is is no good, all he has is the advice of some randos on a MB. He would always have doubts. Now he has closure and confirmation.
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"We don’t know if it is bad or good, sorry" and my advice was- don’t deposit it then.
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“Sorry, that isn’t something we help our customers with.” My advice there was again-don’t deposit it then, and consider changing financial institutions.
There is no option where the bank will guarantee it and he will deposit it.
And I do not have a history of bad advice. Colobri shut me down before I could explain. Not to mention what is it they say about a Mod Note “nothing on your permanent record”- well that doesn’t seem to be true.
I am ACAMS certified. I was a US treasury agent for 20 years. I double checked my advice by asking a retired FBI agent now consulting (as am I) with a large Financial Institution. (pretty much, all us retired experts in financial crime spend our retirement consulting, etc) and also the BSA officer of a Bank I know,
For the purposes of financial crime, I would be a MD, not a clerk.
Not really. They can say it is not, but not that it is. Unless it is their own bank check.
What is amazing here is the double down by the mods.
They admit they were wrong, that my new posts were not like my older post. They admit that my advice was in no way illegal. But instead of reversing the warning, they double down, gave me a second warning and also said- in their ignorance- that I- the only certified expert on such matters posting- can’t give advice on scams. This crazy idea of always circling the wagons and admitting they were wrong only if dozens of posters post in ATMB is hardly conducive to good customer service.
It would be dangerous if I said to deposit it. But I did not. I said to deposit it only if the bank guarantees it- which they will not.
None of whom are certified Financial crime experts.
Who more or less, according to what you posted- agreed with me. He said the bank can not tell you that the check is good. That is correct (if he said the bank can’t tell if the check is bad, he is wrong. Did you mention to this “bank executive” my credentials? I bet not).
And if they bank can’t tell you that the check is good- what did I say- don’t deposit it.
What I wanted for for the OP to go down to the bank, get good advice from a professional, so he had closure, so that he KNEW the check was no good.
Bingo.