N.Y. Banking Law § 9-z

§ 9-z. Cashing of certain checks. 1. No bank, trust company, savings\nbank, savings and loan association or credit union shall, refuse to cash\na cashier's check, a payroll check, or a certified check in the amount\nof five hundred dollars or less, drawn on accounts in such institution\nor a branch as long as there are sufficient funds within the account on\nwhich the check is drawn. Such institution may require, as a condition\nfor cashing such check, that the payee present a valid government-issued\nphoto identification and matching proof of address such as a bank\nstatement, utility bill or printed pay stub.\n 2. If a person presents such forms of identification, as provided in\nsubdivision one of this section, and a signature or mark, and the insti-\ntution refuses to cash the check in the absence of suspected fraudulent\nactivity, such institution shall be guilty of a violation of this\nsection and shall be subject to penalties pursuant to section forty-four\nof this chapter.\n