Cashier's check

From Freepedia

A cashier's check is a check issued by a bank on its own account for the cash amount paid to the bank by the purchaser with a named payee, and stating the name of the party purchasing the check (the remitter). The check is received as cash since it is guaranteed by the bank and does not depend on an account of a private individual or business. Cashiers' checks are commonly used when payment must be credited immediately upon receipt for business, real estate transfers, tax payments and the like.

Under Article 3 of the Uniform Commercial Code, a cashier's check is effective as a note of the bank.

Cashier's checks have been used in certain scams to steal from those who sell their goods online. See, for example: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/check_scam.html A popular alternative to cashier's checks are money orders which are also considered safer than personal bank checks.