---
title: Transaction roles
slug: concepts/payments/checks/transaction-roles
description: Key participants in a check transaction: issuing bank, check payer, Federal Reserve, check payee, depositing bank, and check payment services.
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-04-14T11:49:04.672Z
---

## Understand check transactions roles

The following are the basic roles describing the participants in a check transaction.

| Role Name                   | Description                                                                                                                                             |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Issuing bank                | The bank that issued the check (usually as part of a checkbook) to the account holder                                                                   |
| Check payer/payer           | The account holder writing and passing the check                                                                                                        |
| The Federal Reserve/The Fed | The central bank of the United States                                                                                                                   |
| Check payee/Payee           | The account holder depositing the check and receiving its funds                                                                                         |
| Depositing bank             | The check payee bank. The check is deposited into the payee’s account at the depositing bank.                                                           |
| Check payment services      | A range of companies that offer a variety of automated payment services, including the option to print and mail a check on behalf of an account holder. |