Starting May 1, 2023, the Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC) requires all checks to use the full numeric date format (MM-DD-YYYY). Checks bearing the alphanumeric date format after that time will not be cleared.
What that means is you cannot use the month’s full name when writing checks. Instead, you have to use its numeric equivalent.
For example, an alphanumeric date is written as January 24, 2023. But starting May 1, it should be written in its numeric equivalent of 01-24-2023.
PCHC is giving check users time to get used to the new date format. According to the PCHC Memo Circular No. 3738, checks with alphanumeric dates will still be valid until April 30, 2023.
Some checks, however, are exempt from the new format:
- Post-Dated Checks (PDCs) accepted/stamped “Warehoused” by banks prior to May 2, 2023;
- PDCs without “Warehoused” stamped but bearing or printed with “Unique Identification Code” (UIC) that indicates receipt by banks (for warehousing) prior to Feb. 11, 2019 (date of issuance of CICS OM No. 19-030);
- Manager’s Check/Cashier’s Check issued by the clearing banks bearing the Waiver Statement and features required prior to the issuance of CICS OM No. 19-030.
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Checks can still be cleared if it’s dated on or before April 30, 2023, or earlier and presented to the Presenting Bank for deposit prior to the 180th day from its issue date.
Moreover, computer-generated checks with printed dates in MM-DD-YYYY outside, above, or below the space provided will still be accepted, except when the numbers encroach on other fields, rendering it unreadable.
