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Money word, in simple language

Positive pay

Also called Positive Pay System

A cheque safety check: you pre-share a big cheque's date, payee and amount so your bank can match it.

Safety Figures verified 2026-10-31

Example. Before handing over a ₹1 lakh cheque, you enter its date, payee and amount in your bank app under positive pay.

Questions people ask

What is positive pay?

Positive pay is a safety check for cheques. Before a large cheque is presented, you share key details, such as the date, payee name and amount, with your bank through the app, net banking or SMS. The bank matches them against the cheque, which helps stop tampered or fake cheques.

Is positive pay mandatory?

The RBI asked banks to offer it for cheques of 50,000 rupees and above from January 2021. Using it is up to you, but banks may make it compulsory for cheques of 5 lakh rupees and above, and many do. Check your bank's rule.

What happens if I skip positive pay on a big cheque?

At banks that make it compulsory above a limit, the cheque can be returned unpaid. Per the RBI rules, only cheques that follow the positive pay instructions are accepted under its dispute resolution mechanism, so confirming protects you too.

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