What is a written order for the payment of money through a bank called?

A written order for the payment of money through a bank is best identified as a check. Checks are financial instruments that instruct a financial institution to pay a specified sum of money from the account of the writer (the payer) to the payee (the recipient).

Checks contain essential details, including the date, the payee's name, the amount in both digits and words, and the signature of the person issuing the check. This instrument is widely used for personal and business transactions to facilitate payments without the need to exchange cash directly.

While options like "draft," "bill of exchange," and "money order" are related financial documents, they serve different purposes. A draft is similar to a check but is typically drawn on a different bank, while a bill of exchange is a more formal document often used in international trade that may involve multiple parties. A money order is a prepaid financial instrument that assures payment to the payee but is different in that it is not drawn from an individual's checking account. Thus, a check is the most appropriate term for a written order from a bank for the payment of money.