Relevant Statutory Provisions

• 5941 SK m.3Dishonored check and bank obligations

  Original (Turkish, official):

  MADDE 3 – (1) Karşılığı bulunan çek, hesabın bulunduğu muhatap bankanın herhangi bir şubesine ibraz edildiğinde hamilin varsa vergi kimlik numarası saptandıktan sonra ödenir.
  (2) “Karşılıksızdır” işlemi, muhatap bankanın hamile kanunen ödemekle yükümlü olduğu miktarın dışında, çek bedelinin karşılanamayan kısmıyla sınırlı olarak yapılır.
  (3) Muhatap banka, ibraz eden düzenleyici dışındaki hamile, süresinde ibraz edilen her çek yaprağı için karşılığı bulunmaması veya kısmen bulunması hallerinde, çek bedeline göre belirlenen tutarları ödemekle yükümlüdür.

  English summary (non-binding):

  A check with sufficient funds is paid, after determination of any tax ID of the holder, when presented at any branch of the drawee bank where the account is held. If presented elsewhere, payment follows after verification of funds with the holding branch. The "dishonored" annotation applies only to the uncovered portion beyond the amount the drawee bank is statutorily obliged to pay. For each check presented in time by a holder other than the drawer, the drawee bank must pay a minimum amount fixed by the Central Bank annually (currently in increments of TRY 1,000), in full or in part. This obligation is treated as an irrevocable non-cash credit agreement made between the bank and the account holder upon delivery of the check book. The annotation is made by writing on the back of the check the date of presentation, account status, amount paid by the bank, and details of the presenting individual; it is signed by the holder and a bank officer. The article also regulates partial payment refusals, the holder's certified copy of the check, late-payment interest of 0.3 % per day for bank delays, the prohibition on legal action against post-dated checks presented before the date, the five-year liability cap from the printed date, and the QR-code registration of beneficiary names.

  Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

• 5941 SK m.5Offence of dishonored check and judicial fine

  Original (Turkish, official):

  MADDE 5 – (1) (Değişik: 15/7/2016-6728/63 md.) Üzerinde yazılı bulunan düzenleme tarihine göre kanuni ibraz süresi içinde ibrazında, çekle ilgili olarak “karşılıksızdır” işlemi yapılmasına sebebiyet veren kişi hakkında, hamilin şikâyeti üzerine, her bir çekle ilgili olarak, binbeşyüz güne kadar adli para cezasına hükmolunur. Ancak, hükmedilecek adli para cezası; çek bedelinin karşılıksız kalan miktarı, (…) az olamaz. Mahkeme ayrıca, çek düzenleme ve çek hesabı açma yasağına; bu yasağın bulunması hâlinde, çek düzenleme ve çek hesabı açma yasağının devamına hükmeder.

  English summary (non-binding):

  On the holder's complaint, the person who caused the "dishonored" annotation when a check was presented within the statutory presentation period is sentenced to a judicial fine of up to 1,500 days per check; the fine may not be less than the dishonored amount. The court also orders the ban on issuing checks and opening check accounts (or its continuation), applies it during trial as a protective measure, and extends it to the account holder, those issuing checks on its behalf, and — for capital companies — the management body and registered authorised representatives. Appeal against such protective-measure bans follows İİK m.353/1. Cases are heard before the enforcement criminal court under İİK m.347, 349-353. Venue lies at the place of presentation or of the issuing branch, or at the residence of the account holder or complainant. The drawer's failure to maintain funds is the offence; for legal-person account holders, the person in charge of financial affairs is liable. Banned persons may not serve in capital-company management organs during the ban; existing memberships continue until end of term. Service follows the address declared at account opening (TLG m.35), even if the address is wrong or abandoned. Persons subject to a ban must return all check leaves to the issuing banks and may not open a new check account. Within ten days of service, they must furnish drawee banks with a list of issued and outstanding checks (dates, amounts and any payees). Ban information is exchanged electronically via UYAP, MERSIS and the Risk Centre. Acquittal, no-cause-for-decision, dismissal or rejection decisions also lift the ban; lifting is likewise published. Pre-payment, conciliation and deferral of sentence do not apply to this offence. Unpaid fines are converted directly into imprisonment without community-service options.

  Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

• 5941 SK m.6Effective remorse

  Original (Turkish, official):

  MADDE 6 – (Başlığı ile Birlikte Değişik: 15/7/2016-6728/64 md.)
  (1) Karşılıksız kalan çek bedelinin, çekin üzerinde yazılı bulunan düzenleme tarihine göre kanunî ibraz tarihinden itibaren işleyecek 3095 sayılı Kanuna göre ticarî işlerde temerrüt faiz oranı üzerinden hesaplanacak faizi ile birlikte tamamen ödeyen kişi hakkında,
  a) Yargılama aşamasında mahkeme tarafından davanın düşmesine,
  b) Mahkûmiyet hükmünün kesinleşmesinden sonra mahkeme tarafından hükmün bütün sonuçlarıyla ortadan kaldırılmasına,
  karar verilir.

  English summary (non-binding):

  A person who fully pays the dishonored check amount, together with default interest at the commercial rate under Law No. 3095 from the statutory presentation date, obtains: (a) dismissal of the case during trial, or (b) annulment of the conviction with all its consequences after the judgment becomes final. The lifting of the check-issue and check-account ban is notified to MERSIS and the Risk Centre. The same applies upon withdrawal of the complaint. After three years from full execution of the sentence — and in any event ten years from the imposition of the ban — the convicted person may request the trial court to lift the ban; the decision is subject to objection under İİK m.353/1, and the final lifting is published.

  Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

• İİK m.167Enforcement specific to negotiable instruments

  Original (Turkish, official):

  Madde 167 – (Değişik: 18/2/1965-538/80 md.)
  Alacağı çek, poliçe veya emre muharrer senete müstenit olan alacaklı, alacak rehinle temin edilmiş olsa bile, bu bölümdeki hususi usullere göre haciz yolu ile veya borçlu iflasa tabi şahıslardan ise iflas yolu ile takipte bulunabilir.
  Alacaklı, takip talebinde 58 inci maddedeki hususlardan başka iflasa tabi borçlusu aleyhine haciz ve iflas yollarından hangisini istediğini bildirmeğe ve takip talebine kambiyo senedinin aslını ve borçlu adedi kadar tasdikli örneğini eklemeğe mecburdur.

  English summary (non-binding):

  A creditor whose claim rests on a check, bill of exchange or promissory note may — even if the claim is secured by pledge — proceed by attachment under this section's special rules or, against a debtor subject to bankruptcy, by bankruptcy. In the request, beyond the m.58 matters, the creditor must indicate the chosen route (attachment or bankruptcy) and attach the original instrument together with certified copies equal to the number of debtors.

  Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

• İİK m.168Payment order and objection periods

  Original (Turkish, official):

  Madde 168 – (Değişik: 18/2/1965-538/81 md.)
  İcra memuru senedin kambiyo senedi olduğunu ve vadesinin geldiğini görürse, borçluya senet sureti ile birlikte hemen bir ödeme emri gönderir.

  English summary (non-binding):

  If the enforcement officer finds the instrument to be a negotiable instrument and matured, the debtor is immediately served with a payment order along with a copy of the instrument. The order states: 1) the m.58 information required in the request (excluding the creditor's bank account); 2) a warning to pay the debt and costs to the enforcement office's bank account within ten days; 3) that, if the instrument is not in fact a negotiable instrument, the debtor must complain to the enforcement court within five days; 4) that any denial of the signature on the instrument must be filed by petition to the enforcement court, explicitly, within five days, failing which the signature is deemed acknowledged for this enforcement and that an unjustified denial entails a 10 % judicial fine, and that absent a decision accepting the objection, enforcement continues; 5) that the debtor must, within five days, file with the enforcement court by petition any other objection (no debt, payment, deferment, limitation, jurisdiction) with grounds, failing which enforcement continues; 6) that absent objection and payment, an asset declaration must be filed under m.74 within ten days (or, on rejection of objection, three days under m.75), failing which detention as coercion will follow; the last two paragraphs of m.60 also apply.

  Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

• TTK m.780Mandatory elements of a check

  Original (Turkish, official):

  MADDE 780- (1) Çek;
  a) Senet metninde “çek” kelimesini ve eğer senet Türkçe’den başka bir dille yazılmış ise o dilde “çek” karşılığı olarak kullanılan kelimeyi,
  b) Kayıtsız ve şartsız belirli bir bedelin ödenmesi için havaleyi,
  c) Ödeyecek kişinin, “muhatabın” ticaret unvanını,
  d) Ödeme yerini,
  e) Düzenlenme tarihini ve yerini,
  f) Düzenleyenin imzasını,
  g) (Ek: 15/7/2016-6728/70 md.) Banka tarafından verilen seri numarasını,
  h) (Ek: 15/7/2016-6728/70 md.) Karekodu,
  içerir.

  English summary (non-binding):

  A check must contain: a) the word "check" (or its equivalent in another language) in the body of the instrument; b) an unconditional order to pay a determined sum; c) the trade name of the drawee bank; d) the place of payment; e) the date and place of issue; f) the drawer's signature; g) the serial number assigned by the bank; h) the QR code. Through the QR code, third parties may access — without consent of the account holder or endorser — data on the account holder's identity/trade name, authorised signatories, the number of banks with check accounts, the count and amount of checks issued/redeemed/dishonored in the last five years (and the latest presentation dates of each), check-account bans (with dates), restraints on individual check leaves, and any declared bankruptcy. The QR-reading and information-sharing system is established by the Risk Centre under Banking Act ex-art. 1 and may be shared with affiliated entities; further details are set in a joint Ministry-of-Customs-and-Trade/Treasury communiqué.

  Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

• TTK m.808Holder's right of recourse

  Original (Turkish, official):

  MADDE 808- (1) Zamanında ibraz edilmiş olan çekin ödenmemiş olduğu ve ödememe hâli;
  a) Resmî bir belge, “protesto” ile,
  b) Muhatap tarafından, ibraz günü de gösterilmek suretiyle, çekin üzerine yazılmış olan tarihli bir beyanla,
  c) Bir takas odasının, çek zamanında teslim edildiği hâlde ödenmediğini tespit eden tarihli bir beyanıyla,
  sabit bulunduğu takdirde hamil; cirantalar, düzenleyen ve diğer çek borçlularına karşı başvurma haklarını kullanabilir.

  English summary (non-binding):

  Where it is established by (a) protest, (b) a dated declaration by the drawee on the check showing the day of presentation, or (c) a dated declaration of a clearing house that the check was presented in time but not paid, the holder may exercise rights of recourse against endorsers, the drawer and other parties liable on the check.

  Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

The statutory provisions are reproduced for information purposes only. The current and official text on mevzuat.gov.tr is authoritative.