Ohio Code § 1303.03

§ 1303.03.

(A) Except as provided in divisions (C) and (D) of this section, “ negotiable instrument ” means an unconditional promise or order to pay a fixed amount of money, with or

without interest or other charges described in the promise or order, if it meets all

of the following requirements: (1) It is payable to bearer or to order at the time it is issued or first comes into

possession of a holder. (2) It is payable on demand or at a definite time. (3) It does not state any other undertaking or instruction by the person promising or

ordering payment to do any act in addition to the payment of money, but the promise

or order may contain any of the following: (a) An undertaking or power to give, maintain, or protect collateral to secure payment; (b) An authorization or power to the holder to confess judgment or realize on or dispose

of collateral; (c) A waiver of the benefit of any law intended for the advantage or protection of an

obligor. (B) “ Instrument ” means a negotiable instrument. (C) An order that meets all of the requirements of divisions (A)(2) and (3) of this section

and otherwise falls within the definition of “ check ” is a negotiable instrument and a check. (D) A promise or order other than a check is not an instrument if, at the time it is

issued or first comes into possession of a holder, it contains a conspicuous statement,

however expressed, to the effect that the promise or order is not negotiable or is

not an instrument governed by this chapter. (E)(1) “ Note ” means an instrument that is a promise. (2) “ Draft ” means an instrument that is an order. (3) If an instrument is both a “note” and a “draft,” a person entitled to enforce the

instrument may treat it as either. (F) “ Check ” means either of the following: (1) A draft, other than a documentary draft, payable on demand and drawn on a bank; (2) A cashier's check or teller's check. An instrument may be a “check” even though it is described on its face as a “money

order” or by another term. (G) “ Cashier's check ” means a draft with respect to which the drawer and drawee are the same bank or branches

of the same bank. (H) “ Teller's check ” means a draft drawn by a bank on another bank or payable at or through a bank. (I) “ Traveler's check ” means an instrument that meets all of the following conditions: (1) It is payable on demand. (2) It is drawn on or payable at or through a bank. (3) It is designated by the term “traveler's check” or by a substantially similar term. (4) It requires, as a condition to payment, a countersignature by a person whose specimen

signature appears on the instrument. (J) “ Certificate of deposit ” means an instrument containing an acknowledgment by a bank that a sum of money has

been received by the bank and a promise by the bank to repay the sum of money.  A “certificate of deposit” is a note of the bank.