How to Write the Amount in Words on a Colombian Check

Although check usage has decreased compared to electronic transfers, checks remain common in Colombia for formal payments: rent, service contracts, commercial payments and notarial operations. A poorly written check can be rejected by the bank or used against the drawer in a legal dispute.

This guide explains the standard banking format for writing amounts in words on Colombian checks, the errors that banks reject and how to distinguish the banking format from the notarial one. If you would rather not worry about spelling, use our Colombian pesos to words converter and copy the result directly.

The five basic rules for Colombian checks

1. Always uppercase. Although some banks accept lowercase, standard banking convention is uppercase for maximum legibility and to make alterations harder.
2. Whole pesos. In Colombia checks are handled in pesos without centavos. If your amount has decimals, round to the nearest peso before writing.
3. No "M/cte" or ",oo". These conventions are specific to notarial documents, not banking.
4. Figure and words must match. If they disagree, the Code of Commerce and the Superintendencia Financiera establish that the words in letters prevail.
5. Left-align and close with a line. Draw a horizontal line to the end of the space to prevent anyone from adding words later.

Standard format step by step

Suppose you need to issue a check for $1,250,000 (one million two hundred fifty thousand pesos):

Step 1: Write the numeric figure

In the figure box (top right of the check), write: $1.250.000

The thousand separator is the period (not the US-style comma). Colombian banks expect the European/Latin American format.

Step 2: Write the amount in words

On the main check line (below the recipient), write in uppercase:

UN MILLÓN DOSCIENTOS CINCUENTA MIL PESOS

Important notes:

• "UN" (not "UNO") before "MILLÓN" due to apocope
• "MILLÓN DE PESOS" if it were exactly one million, but not here because more digits follow. The preposition "de" disappears.
• "DOSCIENTOS" (not "DOSCIENTAS") because "pesos" is masculine

Step 3: Close with a line

Draw a straight line from the end of "PESOS" to the end of the available space. This prevents alterations.

Step 4: Sign and date

Sign in the appropriate space and write today's date. Some banks also require the place of issue (Bogotá D.C., Medellín, etc.).

Difference from notarial format

It is important not to use the notarial format on checks. Compare:

Context	Correct format
🏦 Bank check	UN MILLÓN DOSCIENTOS CINCUENTA MIL PESOS
📜 Public deed	UN MILLÓN DOSCIENTOS CINCUENTA MIL PESOS M/CTE ($1.250.000,oo)
🧾 DIAN invoice	Un millón doscientos cincuenta mil pesos

The 6 most frequent errors that banks reject

1. Gender agreement: writing DOSCIENTAS PESOS. "Peso" is masculine: DOSCIENTOS.
2. Apocope: writing VEINTIUNO MIL PESOS. Correct: VEINTIÚN MIL PESOS.
3. Cien vs ciento: writing CIEN CINCUENTA MIL. Correct: CIENTO CINCUENTA MIL.
4. Mil with article: writing UN MIL PESOS. "Mil" never takes "un": just MIL PESOS.
5. Figure-words discrepancy: if the figure says $1,250,000 but the words say "one million two hundred thousand", the bank applies the words.
6. Cross-outs and erasures: any visible correction forces the bank to reject the check. If you make a mistake, tear up the check and start another.

Generate the correct format in one click

Our Colombian pesos to words converter automatically generates the banking format. Just enter the figure, select the "Check" mode, and copy the result:

• Applies apocope correctly ("veintiún" instead of "veintiuno")
• Agrees gender ("doscientos" with pesos)
• Handles "mil" and "millón" per RAE rules
• Returns uppercase ready to write on the check

Frequently asked questions

Can I write the check in lowercase or mixed case?

Technically yes, but banking convention strongly recommends uppercase for legibility and tamper resistance.

What if I make a mistake?

Tear up the check and issue a new one. Most Colombian banks reject checks with visible cross-outs or erasures.

Do I write centavos on Colombian checks?

No. Centavos have been out of circulation in Colombia since 1984. Checks are issued in whole pesos. If your amount has decimals, round.

Sources

• Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia · check regulations
• Colombian Code of Commerce · articles on securities
• Real Academia Española · Ortografía 2010