How to endorse a check
Turn the check over and sign inside the endorsement area at the top of the back, the short end near "Endorse here". Sign the name exactly as it appears on the front. To make the check safe if it gets lost, write "For deposit only" above your signature, and for a phone deposit add the wording your bank asks for.
The three kinds of endorsement
| Type | What you write | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Blank | Just your signature | Only at the teller window. Anyone holding a check endorsed this way can cash it. |
| Restrictive | "For deposit only" (often with your account number), then your signature | Mailing a deposit, using an ATM, or any time the check leaves your hands |
| Special | "Pay to the order of [name]", then your signature | Signing the check over to another person. Many banks won't accept these, so ask first. |
Mobile deposit
Most banks ask you to write "For mobile deposit only at [Bank name]" (sometimes with your account number) under your signature, or to tick a box printed on the back. If the wording is missing, the app may reject the deposit. Keep the paper check until the money has cleared, then shred it.
Checks made out to a business
A check payable to a company is endorsed with a stamp or with "For deposit only, [Company name], [account number]" and should go into a business account in that company's name. Order an endorsement stamp if you deposit checks every week; it's faster and every check gets the same restrictive wording.
Common problems
- Name misspelled on the front: sign the misspelled version first, then your correct name below it.
- Two payees joined by "and": both people need to endorse. With "or", either one can.
- You signed outside the area: ink in the bottom part of the back can cover the bank's own stamps. Keep it in the top 1.5 inches.
Paying vendors by check? Print the front with the payee, the amount in words and the MICR line, on blank stock you already have.
Print a checkQuestions
Do I have to endorse a check for mobile deposit?
Yes. Banks want your signature plus their mobile-deposit wording on the back. Check your bank's app for the exact text.
Can I endorse a check to someone else?
You can write "Pay to the order of [name]" and sign, but the other person's bank may refuse a third-party check. Going to the bank together is the most reliable way.
What if I forget to endorse a check?
Many banks will still accept a check deposited into the payee's own account, but a mobile app will usually reject it. Sign it before you deposit.
Related: how to write a check, how to read a check, printable deposit slip.