Endorsing a check means signing the back so you can deposit or cash it. Doing it correctly — and choosing the right type of endorsement — protects the money if the check is lost or stolen before it reaches your account. Here's exactly where to sign and how to handle mobile deposits, third-party checks, and business checks.
What you'll need
- The check
- A pen (blue or black ink)
Step by step
- Flip the check and find the endorsement areaTurn the check over. Look for the short band of lines at one end, usually marked 'Endorse here' with a note that says 'Do not write, stamp, or sign below this line'.
- Decide how you're using the checkDepositing it into your own account, cashing it, using mobile deposit, or signing it over to someone else each call for a slightly different endorsement (covered below).
- Sign your name as it appears on the frontSign within the endorsement box, matching the name on the 'Pay to the order of' line. If your name is misspelled there, sign it the misspelled way, then sign correctly underneath.
- Add a restriction if you're depositingFor a mailed or mobile deposit, write 'For deposit only' and your account number under your signature so the check can only go into your account.
- Deposit or cash it promptlyHand it over or upload it soon after signing. A bank won't accept an unsigned check, and a signed one that goes missing is easier to misuse.
The three types of check endorsement
A blank endorsement is just your signature. It's the simplest, but it makes the check cashable by anyone who holds it — so only use it at the moment you deposit or cash it.
A restrictive endorsement adds a limit, most commonly 'For deposit only' with your account number. This is the safest option because the check can then only be deposited into that account, not cashed by someone else.
A full (or special) endorsement signs the check over to another person. You write 'Pay to the order of [their name]' and then sign your own name below it, which lets that person deposit or cash it.
How to endorse a check for mobile deposit
Most banks require a specific note for mobile deposits. Below your signature, write 'For mobile deposit only' (some banks want 'For deposit at [bank name] only' or a checkbox in the app), then sign.
Follow the wording your banking app shows on screen exactly. If the restriction is missing or worded differently, the app may reject the deposit and you'll have to submit it again.
Endorsing a business or company check
A check made out to a business is endorsed by someone authorized on the account. Sign the exact business name as written on the front, then add your own name and title (for example, 'Owner' or 'Treasurer').
Many banks require a business check to be deposited into the business's account rather than cashed, and adding 'For deposit only' with the account number keeps it that way.
Special cases: two names, treasury, cashier's, and 'Cash'
If a check is made out to two people, check the wording on the front. 'John and Jane' usually means both must endorse it; 'John or Jane' means either one can.
Treasury and government checks are endorsed like any other — sign the back, and add 'For deposit only' if you're depositing. A cashier's check is also endorsed normally on the back.
A check written to 'Cash' doesn't need endorsing to be cashed and can be used by anyone holding it, so treat it like cash and don't leave it lying around.
What if there's no endorsement line on the back?
Some checks don't print an 'Endorse here' box. If yours doesn't, simply sign your name in the top section of the back — roughly the top inch or so — and leave the rest of the space clear for the bank's processing stamp.
Handy tips
- Use a pen, never pencil — a pencil endorsement can be erased or altered, and banks won't accept it.
- Wait to endorse until you're actually depositing, especially for a blank (signature-only) endorsement.
- Keep everything inside the small endorsement band; writing below the line can interfere with the bank's stamp and slow processing.
Heads up
- A blank endorsement (just your signature) makes the check cashable by anyone who holds it, so only sign it that way when you're ready to deposit or cash it.
- For a check made out to two people joined by 'and', both people usually have to endorse it before the bank will accept it.
FAQ
What does it mean to endorse a check?
It means signing the back of the check to authorize the bank to deposit or cash it. Without your endorsement, the bank generally can't process it.
Which side of the check do I sign?
The back, in the marked endorsement area — not the front. The front is where the person who wrote the check signs.
What does 'For deposit only' mean?
It's a restrictive endorsement. Writing 'For deposit only' with your account number limits the check to being deposited into that account, which is much safer than a blank signature.
How do I endorse a check for mobile deposit?
Sign the back and, below your signature, add the note your bank requires — usually 'For mobile deposit only'. Follow your app's exact wording or the deposit may be rejected.
How do I endorse a check to someone else (third party)?
Use a full endorsement: write 'Pay to the order of [their name]' on the back, then sign your name underneath. That person can then deposit or cash it, though some banks limit third-party checks.
How do I endorse a business or company check?
An authorized person signs the business name exactly as written on the front, then adds their own name and title. Banks often require it be deposited into the business account.
What if there's no endorsement line on the back?
Just sign your name in the top inch or so of the back and leave the rest clear for the bank's stamp.
My name is spelled wrong on the check — what do I do?
Sign it once the misspelled way, then sign again correctly underneath. Your bank can usually still process it.