To write “For Deposit Only” on a check, flip the check over and use the top 1.5 inches at the trailing edge — the narrow strip with the endorsement lines. Put the phrase on the first line, sign your name below it exactly as it appears on the front, and add your account number underneath. Everything must stay inside that top strip, because the rest of the back is reserved for the bank’s processing marks.
The Exact Spot on the Back
Look for the horizontal lines and the words “Endorse here.” That area is the top 1.5 inches measured from the trailing edge of the check. Federal check-processing rules under Regulation CC (12 CFR Part 229, Appendix D) reserve the space from 3.0 inches from the leading edge to 1.5 inches from the trailing edge for banks to apply their own stamps and routing marks.1Federal Register. Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks Your endorsement — the phrase, your signature, and your account number — has to fit inside the 1.5-inch strip so it doesn’t run into that zone.
Writing that spills past the line can get covered by clearing-house stamps or missed by the bank’s imaging equipment. Either problem can delay the deposit or send the check back for a corrected endorsement. Use a pen with dark ink, keep the writing compact but legible, and stay between the lines.
What to Write, in Order
A complete restrictive endorsement has three parts, stacked inside the endorsement area:
- “For Deposit Only” at the top. These words create the legal restriction that limits the check to a bank deposit rather than a cash transaction.2Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Does It Mean for a Check to Be Indorsed for Deposit Only
- Your signature directly below the phrase, matching the name on the “Pay to the Order of” line on the front.
- Your account number underneath your signature. This isn’t legally required, but it tells the bank where to send the money if the deposit slip gets separated from the check.
Businesses that process a lot of checks often use a rubber stamp pre-loaded with the phrase, the business name, and the account number. A stamp counts as a valid endorsement as long as it fits inside the endorsement area and prints in dark ink.
Use “For Mobile Deposit Only” When Depositing by App
If you’re depositing through your bank’s mobile app, many banks require a more specific phrase: “For Mobile Deposit Only” rather than plain “For Deposit Only.” The extra wording prevents the same check from being deposited twice — once electronically and again at a branch or ATM. The app may reject a deposit that’s missing the mobile-specific wording, so check the app’s instructions before you sign.
When you photograph the back, make sure the whole endorsement area is visible and the image is sharp. After the deposit posts, hold onto the physical check for at least five days. Once you’re sure the funds have cleared, write “VOID” across the front and shred it.
Checks Made Out to Two People
If the check names more than one payee, the connecting word decides who signs:
- “And” (for example, “Pat and Chris Doe”): both payees generally need to sign before the bank will accept the deposit.3Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Do Both My Spouse and I Have to Sign the Back of a Check Made Out to Us
- “Or” (for example, “Pat or Chris Doe”): either payee can sign alone.3Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Do Both My Spouse and I Have to Sign the Back of a Check Made Out to Us
- “And/or” or similar wording: policies vary, so ask your bank.4HelpWithMyBank.gov. Must Both My Spouse and I Endorse a Check Made Out to Both of Us
When both signatures are required, each payee signs inside the same endorsement area. The “For Deposit Only” phrase and account number only need to appear once. If the payees have separate accounts, some banks require the deposit to go into an account that lists both names, so confirm before you sign.
Why This Endorsement Protects You
Signing only your name — a blank endorsement — essentially turns the check into cash. Anyone who finds it can deposit or cash it. Adding “For Deposit Only” turns the endorsement into a restrictive one, meaning the check can only be collected by a bank and must be applied to the endorser’s account. A non-bank party who tries to cash or negotiate the check in violation of that restriction is liable for conversion.5Legal Information Institute. UCC 3-206 Restrictive Indorsement
Because the restriction takes effect as soon as it’s written, endorsing the check this way right after you receive it — even before you’re ready to deposit — is one of the simplest ways to protect against theft. Once the words are on the back, the check can’t legally be cashed over the counter or signed over to anyone else.2Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Does It Mean for a Check to Be Indorsed for Deposit Only