A promissory note and a cheque are both written documents that are used to pay a debt or make a payment. However, there are some key differences between the two.
First, let's define each term. A promissory note is a written promise to pay a certain amount of money to a specific person or entity at a specific time in the future. It is usually signed by the person who is making the promise to pay (the "maker") and is often used in situations where a formal loan agreement has been made between two parties.
A cheque, on the other hand, is a written order to a financial institution to pay a specific amount of money from the account of the person writing the cheque (the "drawer") to the person or entity specified on the cheque (the "payee"). Cheques are commonly used for everyday financial transactions, such as paying bills or making purchases.
One key difference between a promissory note and a cheque is the way in which they are paid. With a promissory note, the maker is responsible for paying the debt directly to the payee at the agreed-upon time. With a cheque, the financial institution where the drawer holds an account is responsible for paying the debt to the payee.
Another difference is the level of formality. Promissory notes are typically more formal documents and are often used in business or legal transactions. Cheques are more commonly used in everyday financial transactions and are generally less formal.
Finally, promissory notes can often be traded or sold to other parties, while cheques are generally not transferable. This means that if a person holds a promissory note and is unable or unwilling to collect the debt themselves, they can sell the note to someone else who can collect the debt on their behalf. Cheques, on the other hand, are typically only payable to the payee named on the cheque and cannot be transferred to another party.
In summary, while both promissory notes and cheques are used to pay debts or make payments, they differ in the way they are paid, the level of formality, and the ability to be transferred to other parties.