How to Get a Signature Guarantee: Where to Go, What to Bring, and Costs

To get a Medallion signature guarantee, visit a bank, credit union, or broker-dealer that participates in a recognized Medallion program, bring a government-issued photo ID, proof that you own the securities, and the unsigned transfer form, and sign the form in front of an authorized officer who will verify your identity and apply the stamp. The stamp certifies your signature and shifts financial liability to the institution if the signature turns out to be forged, which is why transfer agents demand it before moving stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares.¹ The whole process happens in person, so plan the visit deliberately.

Where to Go

Federal rules limit who can issue the guarantee. Under Securities Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-15, the eligible institutions are banks, savings associations, credit unions, broker-dealers, and national securities exchanges, clearing agencies, and registered securities associations.² The institution also has to be a member of one of the three recognized programs: the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP), or the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP). STAMP is the largest, with more than 7,000 participating institutions in the U.S. and Canada.¹

Membership is only half the equation. Most banks and credit unions restrict the service to existing customers, and many require the account to have been open for a minimum period, often six months, before they will guarantee a signature.³ The requirement exists because the institution absorbs the financial risk of the stamp. Not every branch has an officer authorized to issue guarantees, either, so call the specific location before you go and confirm someone will be on site during your visit.

What to Bring

Turning up prepared is what separates a fifteen-minute appointment from a wasted trip. At a minimum, bring:

A valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or current U.S. passport. The name on the ID must match the name on the securities account exactly.
Proof of ownership. This is typically the original stock certificate or a recent brokerage statement, generally dated within the past year.³
The unsigned transfer form from the security’s transfer agent. Fill in every field except the signature line. The officer has to watch you sign.⁴

If the Owner Has Died

Re-registering a deceased person’s securities requires more paperwork. Expect to provide a certified copy of the death certificate.⁵ Depending on how the account was registered, the transfer agent may also ask for court-issued letters testamentary showing your authority as executor, or a certified power of attorney if one was in place before the owner’s death.

If the Securities Are Held in a Trust or by a Business

Trust transfers usually require a trustee certification form summarizing the trust and identifying the asset owners, along with valid photo IDs for every trustee.³ For a corporation, partnership, or other entity, expect to produce formation documents, a corporate resolution authorizing the transfer, or a certificate of incumbency proving you have authority to act.

What Happens at the Appointment

The guarantee has to be executed in person. You sign the transfer form in front of the authorized officer, who checks your ID and ownership documents and then applies the Medallion stamp. A form you already signed at home is invalid; the officer must witness the signature.

The stamp itself carries a unique identification number tying the guarantee to the institution and officer who verified you. Transfer agents check that number against Medallion program records before processing anything. Once the document is stamped, send it to the transfer agent by a trackable method such as certified mail or a private courier. Stamped documents are effectively bearer instruments for the transfer, and losing one causes real delays.

How Long the Stamp Is Good For

Medallion stamps have no universal expiration date. Each transfer agent sets its own window for how long it will accept a stamp after it is applied. If you expect a gap between getting the stamp and submitting the paperwork, ask the transfer agent how long the stamp remains valid, because a stale stamp means going back for a new one.

Check the Stamp’s Dollar Limit Before You Go

Every Medallion stamp carries a single-letter prefix indicating the maximum dollar value it can guarantee for one transaction. If the market value of your securities exceeds the stamp’s limit, the transfer agent will reject the document. Current prefix limits are:⁶

Z: $10,000,000 (or $14,000,000 for Security Transfer Association members)
Y: $5,000,000
X: $2,000,000
A: $1,000,000
B: $750,000
C: $500,000
D: $250,000
E: $100,000
F: $100,000 (most credit unions)

Look up the current market value of what you are transferring, then ask the institution which prefix their stamp carries. A small credit union with an F-prefix stamp cannot guarantee a $150,000 transfer, and you would have to start over at a bank or broker-dealer with a higher-tier stamp.

What It Costs

Most banks, credit unions, and brokerage firms provide Medallion signature guarantees free of charge to existing customers who meet the relationship requirement.³ If you are not a customer and the institution is still willing to help, fees typically run from $10 to $50, though more complex situations or third-party services can push the cost past $100. Confirm the fee and the non-customer policy on the phone before you go.

If You Don’t Have a Banking Relationship

The customer requirement is the most common obstacle. A few workable routes:

Ask your brokerage or financial advisor. Even a brokerage without branches may be able to arrange a guarantee through its clearing firm or a partner institution.
Open an account. Some banks will provide the service once you deposit funds, though many still impose a waiting period before you qualify.
Try a local credit union. Credit unions sometimes have more flexible policies for new members than large national banks, and joining can be faster.
Use an online service. The Securities Transfer Association lists eSignatureGuarantee.com, where you verify your identity through a secure platform, submit supporting documents, and receive a stamped document by courier. Third-party services generally cost more than banks.⁷

If you hold U.S. securities from abroad, the Securities Transfer Association also identifies firms in the United Kingdom and Australia that provide STAMP guarantees to international shareholders.⁷

A Notary Is Not a Substitute

A notary public confirms your identity and watches you sign, but a notary does not assume financial liability for the signature. A Medallion signature guarantee does, which is why transfer agents require the Medallion stamp rather than a notary seal for securities transfers.¹ TreasuryDirect draws the same line: a notary can certify signatures on certain government forms that expressly allow it, but security transfers require a recognized STAMP, SEMP, or MSP imprint.⁴ Submitting a notarized form where a Medallion is required will be rejected.

1
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Medallion Signature Guarantees: Preventing the Unauthorized Transfer of Securities
2
eCFR. 17 CFR 240.17Ad-15 – Signature Guarantees
3
Bank of America. Medallion Signature Guarantee
4
TreasuryDirect. Signature Certification
5
Investor.gov. Transferring Assets
6
Computershare. What Is a Medallion Guarantee
7
Securities Transfer Association. Medallion Guarantee