I received a Euro check from Spain. This check is drawn by my client on Credit Mutuel de Bretagne (the bank). Everything on the face of the check is in local language (Spanish). I wonder if I could take it to a local HSBC bank (in the U.S.) to cash it. I am afraid the bank could take it but then it may return not because of insufficient funds but because of the back-office processing issues. Sometimes the bank front office (bank teller) accepts these checks but then the back office fails to process them (returning with a fee). Anyone here has any experience cashing a Euro check?

Most likely you will be charged to deposit it. Every bank has their own fees so check with HSBC. It might pay to shop around at some of your other banks and see who's going to be cheaper.

It could be a huge hassle. Some smaller banks may either refuse it outright, or send it to "collections" where the deposit doesn't actually hit the account until the check clears, which could be quite a while.

The process will take much longer than the normal check clearing process (as foreign checks cannot be routed through the Fed Reserve system) but many banks do accept foreign checks and larger banks like HSBC certainly should. Check your account disclosures for "foreign item" fees and if in doubt call HSBC. Their procedures, fees, etc. vary by the type of account you have.

AugustFour said:markkundinger said:It could be a huge hassle. Some smaller banks may either refuse it outright, or send it to "collections" where the deposit doesn't actually hit the account until the check clears, which could be quite a while.
Then I guess it would be safer to go with HSBC than, say, WAMU, or even BoA since, I guess, HSBC has stronger European ties?

No idea about HSBC policy or fee's but I know for a fact BOA and Citi take checks drawn on foreign currency and banks and depending on your account type will determine the fee's. On lower accounts there both a "Collection Fee" + a "Foreign Exchange Fee" but on the higher end accounts they only charge "Foreign Exchange Fee". Funds Availability will be based on your account and account history and the amount of the check in question.

For example if your average balance between all your accounts at the bank in question is $1k and you are depositing a checking for 50k Euro do not expect them to make the funds available before they collect the funds from the foreign bank but on the hand if your are depositing a check for 100 Euro's and your average balance is like $10k between your accounts chances are they will make the funds available way before they collect on the check if not instantly. Just be aware of the fact that even if the bank makes the funds available it could take at times over 30 days for the check to be return insufficient funds. So I would not assume the check cleared if the funds are made available in your account fairly quickly. Unless you are depositing for example a Citibank issued check from Spain into Citibank US account or an HSBC France check into HSBC US account as both HSBC and Citi could clear there own international checks internally much faster than they could with a 3rd party bank.

I would choose Citi Bank over BofA for something like this.

Citi Bank has a lot more experience in international banking than BofA.