Checks can still be cashed in the U.S. either by going to the bank it was written on, or to a “check cashing” place that tends to operate in the poorer section

Checks can still be cashed in the U.S. either by going to the bank it was written on, or to a “check cashing” place that tends to operate in the poorer section of towns, near pawn shops and rent to own furniture stores. Those places charge rather outrageous fees, but they’re taking fairly large risks of being scammed relative to a bank.