A bounced check is a check that cannot be processed because the account holder has insufficient funds available to fulfill the payment amount on the check to the payee. When a check bounces, it is not honored by the depositor’s bank and may result in overdraft fees and banking restrictions. The bank declines to honor the check and “bounces” it back to the account holder, who is typically charged a penalty fee for nonsufficient funds (NSF) . A bounced check may result in overdraft fees, restrictions on writing additional checks, and negative impacts to your credit score. Writing too many bounced checks may also prevent you from paying merchants by check in the future. Many merchants use a verification system called TeleCheck to help them determine if a customer’s check is good. If a person writes a check that bounces, their bank may charge them a nonsufficient funds fee or overdraft fee, and the company they were trying to pay may charge them a late fee if the bounced check means their payment is now overdue. If someone deposits a check that bounces, their bank can reverse the deposit and charge them an NSF fee or “returned item” fee. It is illegal to write a check that you know will bounce, and it can be classified as a misdemeanor or even a felony depending on the amount involved.