A travelers check is an instrument identified as a travelers check on its face or commonly recognized as a travelers check and issued in a money multiple of United States or foreign currency with a provision for a specimen signature of the purchaser to be completed at the time of purchase and a countersignature of the purchaser to be completed at the time of negotiation.
American Express offers travelers checks that are considered a very safe currency because if they are ever lost or stolen, they can be replaced quickly and easily, almost anywhere in the world, usually within 24 hours. Before accepting your travelers check, a cashier must watch you countersign it in the lower left-hand corner, and compare that signature with the original signature in the upper left-hand corner. If the signatures are a reasonable match, the check should be accepted.
