To endorse a check, turn it over and sign your name on the lines at the top of the back, exactly as your name is written on the front. Use a pen and stay above the line that says “Do not write, stamp or sign below this line.”
For extra safety, write For deposit only above your signature, so the check can only go into your account. For mobile deposit, most banks also ask you to write For mobile deposit only at [bank name]. Endorse the check right before you deposit it, not earlier.
What does it mean to endorse a check?
Endorsing a check means signing the back of it. Your signature tells the bank you, the payee, are passing the check on to be paid, usually into your own account. In the Uniform Commercial Code, which sets the rules for checks in every state, an endorsement is a signature on the check by someone other than the person who wrote it.[1]
The person who writes a check signs the front. The person who receives it signs the back. If you want to know what each part of the front means, see our guide to writing a check.
Where to sign the back of a check
Most checks have two or three lines at the top of the back, often marked “Endorse here.” Sign there. Below them is a printed line, usually reading “Do not write, stamp or sign below this line.” The space under it is reserved for the banks that process the check, which print their own endorsements there.[5] Writing in that space can make the bank’s stamps hard to read and slow the check down.
How to endorse a check, step by step
- Check the front. Make sure the check is made out to you and note exactly how your name is written.
- Turn it over so the endorsement lines are at the top.
- Add any restriction first. If you are depositing it, write “For deposit only” on the top line. For mobile deposit, use the wording your bank asks for.
- Sign your name below that, in pen, the way it appears on the front.
- Deposit it right away. A check with only a signature on the back can be cashed by anyone who has it, so don’t endorse it until you are ready.
The three types of check endorsement
| Type | What you write | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blank | Your signature only | The check becomes payable to whoever holds it, so anyone with the paper can cash or deposit it.[2] | Only at the bank counter or ATM, right as you hand it over |
| Restrictive | “For deposit only” and your signature | Tells the bank to put the money into your account only. A bank that pays out the money any other way can be liable for it.[3] | Most deposits, including mobile and mail deposits. The safest choice. |
| Special (signing it over) | “Pay to the order of [name]” and your signature | Makes the check payable to the person you name. Only that person can endorse it next.[2] | When you want to give the check to someone else |
If you endorse with only your signature and then decide to give the check to someone, the new holder can turn your blank endorsement into a special one by writing their name above your signature.[2]
How to endorse a check for mobile deposit
Banks set their own endorsement rules for mobile deposit, so check the app’s instructions first. A typical endorsement looks like this:
- Write For mobile deposit only at [your bank’s name] on the top line. Some apps ask for exactly that wording, some add a checkbox.
- Sign your name below it.
- Take the photos of the front and back in good light, with all four corners showing.
- Keep the paper check somewhere safe until the deposit has cleared, for as long as your bank says. Then destroy it. Writing VOID across it first is a good habit, as covered in how to void a check.
Why the extra wording? Since July 2018, Federal Reserve Regulation CC has protected a bank that takes a mobile deposit from certain losses when the same check is later deposited again as paper, but only if the check carried a restrictive endorsement that didn’t match that second deposit.[4] So banks ask for “For mobile deposit only” to make a second, paper deposit of the same check stand out.
How to sign a check over to someone else
To give a check made out to you to another person, use a special endorsement:
- On the top line of the back, write Pay to the order of [their full name].
- Sign your name below it.
- Give them the check. They endorse it with their own signature to deposit or cash it.
Ask their bank first. The law allows checks to be signed over, but banks don’t have to accept them. Many banks limit or refuse these “third-party” checks, or only take them if both people come in with ID. A quick call saves a trip.
Common situations
The check is made out to two people
Look at the word between the names. A check to “Jane Doe and John Doe” needs both signatures. A check to “Jane Doe or John Doe” can be endorsed and deposited by either one. If it isn’t clear which was meant, such as names separated by a slash or a comma, the law treats it as “or.”[6] Your bank may still ask for both signatures.
Your name is misspelled on the check
You can endorse in the name as written on the check, in your correct name, or both. The bank can ask for both,[1] so the usual approach is to sign the misspelled version first and your correct signature below it.
The check is made out to your business
Deposit it into the business account, not a personal one. Endorse with the business name, often with a stamp that reads “For deposit only,” the business name and the account number. Many banks will provide one. Signing a business check over to yourself personally usually won’t be accepted.
Endorsements and business check workflows
Businesses that receive a lot of checks usually stamp each one “For deposit only” as soon as it arrives, so a check lost between the mailroom and the bank can’t be cashed.
The same goes for check drafts created with CHAX check by phone software. A draft is deposited like a paper check, so the business endorses the back with its deposit stamp before it goes to the bank or through a scanner.
If you print outgoing checks yourself with MultiCHAX, choose blank check stock that has endorsement lines and the “do not write below this line” notice already printed on the back, as most business check stock does. Your payees then endorse your checks exactly as they would a bank-printed check. Our check fraud guide covers the other security features worth having on check stock.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to endorse a check to deposit it?
Usually, yes. Most banks require your signature, and mobile deposit apps generally reject an unsigned check. Some banks accept unsigned checks at a teller and add their own endorsement, but don’t count on it.
Can I endorse a check with a pencil or a marker?
Use a blue or black pen. Pencil can be erased, and a thick marker can bleed into the bank’s area below the line.
What if I signed in the wrong place?
If your signature is below the line or on the front, ask your bank whether it will still accept the check. Don’t cross it out and sign again without asking, as that can make the check harder to process.
Can someone else deposit a check for me?
Often, yes, if you endorse it “For deposit only” and they deposit it into your account. Bank policies vary, so check first.
Should I endorse a check before I get to the bank?
Only with a restrictive endorsement like “For deposit only.” A check with a blank endorsement can be cashed by anyone if it gets lost.
Sources
- Uniform Commercial Code § 3-204, indorsement, Cornell Law School LII
- Uniform Commercial Code § 3-205, special, blank and anomalous indorsements, Cornell Law School LII
- Uniform Commercial Code § 3-206, restrictive indorsement, Cornell Law School LII
- 12 CFR 229.34(f), Regulation CC indemnity for remotely deposited checks, Cornell Law School LII
- 12 CFR 229.38(d), Regulation CC, responsibility for the back of the check, Cornell Law School LII
- Uniform Commercial Code § 3-110(d), checks payable to two or more people, Cornell Law School LII
Last reviewed November 2026. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Bank policies vary, so check with your bank.
