What is typically a characteristic of a cashier's check?

A cashier's check is characterized by its nature of guaranteeing payment in advance. When a financial institution issues a cashier's check, the amount of the check is immediately withdrawn from the customer's account or from the institution’s funds, ensuring that the check will be honored when presented for payment. This feature makes cashier's checks a trusted method of payment, often used in real estate transactions, where sellers and agents need assurance that funds are readily available.

In contrast, other payment methods like personal checks do not provide this level of security, as they are dependent on the account holder's available funds and may bounce if sufficient funds are not there. Hence, the ability of a cashier's check to ensure payment upfront is crucial in various financial dealings.