Doge Checks Are No Longer Issued by Most Banks

Doge checks — novelty checks featuring the famous Shiba Inu meme — were discontinued by most banks and check printers between 2013 and 2015. They were never a standard banking product. Instead, they were a limited-run promotional item that some banks offered as a way to appeal to younger customers during the height of the meme's popularity online. Once the meme faded from mainstream attention and banks saw limited demand, the checks were quietly phased out.

The checks themselves worked exactly like regular checks — they cleared through the banking system without issue and had all the security features of standard checks. The only difference was the image of the Doge meme printed on the check stock. Banks that offered them included some regional institutions and online banks, but they were never universally available.

Today, if you search for Doge checks through major banks like Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo, you will not find them as an option. Some third-party check printers still advertise custom checks with meme designs, but these are not official bank products and come with higher costs and longer delivery times than standard checks.

Key Takeaways

  • Doge checks were a novelty product offered by select banks from roughly 2013 to 2015, not a permanent banking feature.
  • The checks functioned like regular checks and cleared through the banking system normally, despite the meme design.
  • Banks discontinued them because demand dropped as the meme became less popular and fewer customers requested them.
  • If you need custom checks today, you can order them through third-party printers, but expect to pay more and wait longer than standard bank checks.

Why Banks Offered Doge Checks in the First Place

Between 2010 and 2014, the Doge meme — featuring a Shiba Inu with broken English phrases like "such wow" and "very amaze" — became one of the most recognizable images on the internet. Banks saw an opportunity to market to younger, tech-savvy customers who found the meme funny and relatable. Offering Doge checks was a low-risk way to generate buzz and differentiate themselves from competitors.

Some online banks and smaller regional institutions were more aggressive about this marketing approach than the major national chains. They treated novelty checks as a fun perk that cost them almost nothing to produce — the design was straightforward printed on standard check stock — but could generate significant social media attention and word-of-mouth promotion.

The checks were real, functional banking products. They had routing numbers, account numbers, and all the security features required by the Federal Reserve. A check with a Doge meme on it would clear just as reliably as a plain check from the same bank.

When Banks Stopped Printing Them

By 2015, most banks had discontinued Doge checks. The meme had peaked in popularity around 2013 and 2014, and by the mid-2010s it was no longer a dominant force in internet culture. Banks noticed that fewer customers were requesting the novelty checks, and the marketing value of offering them had diminished significantly.

Additionally, the rise of digital payment methods — mobile wallets, peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, and online bill pay — meant that fewer people were writing checks at all, whether novelty or standard. Banks had less incentive to invest in any check-related products, let alone limited-edition designs.

Some banks may have also realized that novelty checks could create confusion or delays in processing, even though they technically worked fine. Tellers and check-processing equipment were trained to handle standard designs, and unusual images could occasionally trigger manual review.

Where to Get Custom Checks Today

If you want checks with a custom design or meme image today, you cannot order them directly from your bank. Instead, you will need to use a third-party check printer. Companies like Vistaprint, Deluxe, and Costco Checks allow you to upload custom designs and print checks in small quantities.

These custom checks cost significantly more than standard checks — typically two to three times the price per box. A box of 50 standard checks from your bank might cost $10 to $15, while the same quantity with a custom design from a third-party printer could run $30 to $50. Delivery also takes longer, usually one to two weeks instead of the few days you might get from a bank.

The checks themselves are still fully functional and will clear through the banking system normally. However, some businesses or individuals may hesitate to accept a check with an unusual design, so using them for formal payments (like rent or bills) is riskier than using standard checks.

Why Checks Still Exist Despite Digital Payments

Even though checks are far less common than they were 20 years ago, they have not disappeared entirely. Certain transactions still rely on checks: security deposits for rentals, some insurance claims, payments to contractors, and transfers between business accounts. Older adults and some rural areas still use checks regularly.

Banks continue to offer standard checks because they are required to do so by law — the Uniform Commercial Code requires banks to provide check-writing services to customers who request them. However, banks have no obligation to offer novelty or custom designs, so those products remain the domain of third-party printers.

The decline of checks has been gradual. In 2000, Americans wrote roughly 42 billion checks per year. By 2020, that number had dropped to around 14 billion. The trend continues downward, but checks remain a backup payment method that many people still need.

How Doge Checks Fit Into Banking History

Doge checks are a small but memorable example of how banks try to stay relevant to younger customers. They were not the first novelty checks — banks have offered checks with sports team logos, cartoon characters, and custom family photos for decades. But Doge checks arrived at the exact moment when internet memes were becoming mainstream, and they captured that cultural moment in a way that earlier novelty products had not.

In retrospect, Doge checks represent a brief window when banks believed that novelty products could drive customer loyalty. That strategy did not work as well as banks hoped, and the focus shifted to mobile apps, digital wallets, and online banking features instead. Today, if a bank wants to appeal to younger customers, it offers a better mobile app or lower fees, not a funny check design.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still order Doge checks from my bank?

No. Major banks discontinued Doge checks between 2013 and 2015. If you want checks with a custom design or meme image, you will need to order them from a third-party check printer like Vistaprint or Deluxe. These will cost more and take longer to arrive than standard checks from your bank.

Will a Doge check still work if I have one from years ago?

Yes, if the check is still valid (not expired and from an account that is still open), it will clear normally. Checks do not expire in the legal sense, though banks may refuse to process checks older than six months. The meme design has no effect on how the check functions.

Why did banks think Doge checks were a good idea?

The Doge meme was extremely popular around 2013 and 2014, and banks saw it as a way to market to younger customers and generate social media attention. The checks cost almost nothing extra to produce, so the risk was low. Once the meme faded and fewer people requested them, banks stopped offering them.

Are there other novelty checks still available?

Yes. Banks still offer checks with sports team logos, cartoon characters, and custom family photos. Third-party printers offer even more options, including meme designs. However, these are premium products that cost more than standard checks and take longer to receive.

Do I need checks at all if I use digital payments?

Most people do not write checks regularly anymore, but you may need them for specific situations like security deposits, insurance claims, or business payments. It is worth keeping a small supply on hand even if you rarely use them. Your bank can provide standard checks at a low cost.