What type of payment is guaranteed to be as good as cash?

A bank check is considered guaranteed to be as good as cash because it is issued by a bank and is drawn against the bank’s own funds rather than an individual's account. When a person requests a bank check, the bank verifies that the funds are available and then provides the check, ensuring that the amount is guaranteed to be paid out. This provides a level of security for the recipient, as they can trust that the funds are available and will be transferred upon deposit.

In contrast, personal checks may bounce if there are insufficient funds in the account. Electronic transfers depend on the actions of both parties and may not always be instant or guaranteed in the same way. While money orders are also a secure form of payment, they do not carry the same bank-backed guarantee as a bank check. Therefore, the bank check offers the highest level of assurance of payment, making it synonymous with cash.