How do you cash a check if you don't have an ID?

According to the United States Uniform Commercial Code, a person must be identified as the authorized recipient of a payable instrument to transform it to cash. Even though there is no universal identification requirement in place, a form of ID is typically required to cash a check at a bank.

An easy way to circumvent this requirement is to endorse and deposit the check into your existing bank account or the bank account of a trustworthy person, and then withdraw the amount from an ATM. Because there is no legal definition of what constitutes appropriate identification to cash a check, some banks have more lenient standards than others.