No, if you don't have an account with the bank and the person who wrote the check doesn't have an account there, they will often refuse to cash the check. You have a better chance if you're at the bank of the person who wrote the check, there's enough money in their account to cash the check, the check is not older than 6 months and the check is made out to you and you can show ID to prove it. Even if all of this is true, however, you still might be charged a fee if it's not your bank.