How do I cancel my account so I can get a new one?

I lost a single check at work - should I get a new account number?

• Like an idiot, I took a single check to work with me in a rush, because a credit card bill was due today and I wanted to make a payment (has to be a checking account # due to the credit card not being associated with a bank that I bank with otherwise). I did make the payment using my account (and the payment should have gone through by now), but later today, I discovered that the check was missing. I obviously pulled another piece of paper out to check something while working (supermarket) and obviously it fell out somewhere on the floor. Presuming that some stranger picked this up...it has my name, address, etc. My banking is through my supermarket company's credit union, and it has that logo specifically on the check. Is there anything that a stranger can do with this to defraud me? There is only one local location about 40 miles away for the physical credit union. I checked my checking account online...everything seems fine with no deductions or anything so far. Do I need to cancel it and get a new account number and new checks altogether? I have a savings account in the same credit union under the same account...but that should be a totally different number from the checking related one. Suggestions?

• Answer:

  Put a STOP PAYMENT on that particular check with a note that it is a lost check. May cost a few $, but well worth the peace of mind, and will give you time to set up a new account, if necessary. But the bank needs to make a note for future reference that it is a lost blank check because it is not like it is dated and can go stale dated. So ask your bank for the best way to handle it.