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Banks Have Tough Rules on

Check Deposits Written to
More Than One Person
Learn the check-cashing fees at the largest
U.S. banks and Bnd out how you can cash a
check without a bank account.

By Simon Zhen
Updated: Oct 06, 2021

Make sure you understand the rules when you have a

check written to you and another person.
Depositing a check is a seemingly
straightforward task when it is written to
just one person -- you.

It’s a different case when a check is written

to multiple payees because many people
encounter problems when they try to
deposit these checks.

If you are faced with this dilemma, see what

hurdles you have to jump through and what
you can do to properly deposit your money.

In the rare instance that you ever receive

check that is written out to you and another
person, it can be a major headache to
deposit the check if you don’t share an
account with this other person.

Today, I clarify the rules for depositing

these types of checks, how the top banks
handle these check deposits and how you
can deal with rejected check deposits.

How is the Check Written

to Multiple Payees?
Believe it or not, the way a check is written
will have a signiBcant effect on how you
deposit a check written to multiple payees.
(Don’t question it, there are laws under the
Uniform Commercial Code that govern the
rules for check deposits.)

Let’s say that the payees are represented by

“John” and “Jane” for these scenarios.

If a check was written as payable to

John “and” Jane, both payees must
endorse the check. The rule also
applies to payees written to John “&”
Jane (note the ampersand symbol)
If a check was written as payable to
John “or” Jane, any one of the payees
can endorse the check to have it
deposited
If the wording is ambiguous as to
whom the check is written, any one of
the payees can deposit the check.
Essentially, if it isn’t clear, it follows the
same rule as if the check is written to
John “or” Jane. A common example is
when the check is just written as
payable to “John Jane.”

Hassle to Deposit Checks

Written to Two People

Now, when it comes to these checks, you’re

going to encounter the least amount of
problems when they’re written in the John
“or” Jane form. You can just deposit these
checks as if they were written only to you.

For the checks written in John “and”

Jane form, it is much more of a
troublesome process. You’ll have to get the
other payees to come with you to a branch
to verify their signatures on the back of the
check.

Next, I’ll show you the policies for the top

U.S. banks regarding these types of check
deposits.

Get ready for a trip to the

branch
I spoke with branch bankers at all of the
biggest banks and asked about their
policies for depositing a check with
multiple people on it.

The rules are generally the same across

most of the top U.S. banks with a few
additional requirements by some banks.

Basically, when you deposit a check written

to multiple payees, all payees must endorse
the checks.

Furthermore, all payees must go with you to

your bank and present a government-issued
ID. This is required to authenticate each
payee's signature.

The following banks require you and your

payee(s) to present a government-issued ID
when at the branch:

Bank of America (If it is a tax refund

check, all payees must also be joint
owners of the Bank of America
account.)
Chase
Wells Fargo
Citibank
U.S. Bank
Capital One
PNC Bank
TD Bank (If it is a tax refund check, all
payees must also be joint owners of
the TD Bank account.)
BB&T (All payees must also be joint
account holders.)
SunTrust Bank

Banks seem to be more stringent when

you’re depositing a tax refund check that's
written to more than one payee -- Bank of
America and TD Bank, for instance, will
require that the payees of tax refund checks
must also be joint account owners.

What a hassle it would be to drag someone with you to a

branch to deposit a check...
Of the big banks, BB&T has the most
demanding policy where payees must also
be joint accountholders. I think it would
pose a major hassle for BB&T customers
who come across checks with multiple
payees.

“We’re worried that anyone can forge a

signature, even on a joint account, so all
payees will need to come in so that a teller
can validate the signature,” said the BB&T
banker on the phone.

This leads me to the next point of

discussion: what to do when you have
disculty with checks that have multiple
payees.

When the Bank Won’t

Accept Your Check
The most problematic situation that I've
heard about is when the other payee(s) is
unable to visit a branch to verify the check
endorsements. It sounds odd, but there are
many instances when this can happen.

For example, a woman who Bled a

restraining order against her ex-husband
receives a check payable to both herself
and her ex.

Both payees cannot be present at the same

branch together, so the bank cannot verify
their signatures. A less extreme instance
would be if the other payee was out of the
country for an extended period of time.

You might have to just as the payer to rewrite the check.

The only alternative would be to contact the
payer (the person or entity that wrote the
check) and request that another check be
written with just one payee’s name or have
it written in the John “or” Jane format.

If possible, you might even ask the payee to

split the amount between two checks so
that each payee can deposit the money on
their own.

Unfortunately, this will prove to be a

laborious chore, especially when it comes
to getting government-agency check
reissued. But, there is just no way around it.

It'll prove to be even more of a hassle when

the bank requires a joint account because
there's no other way to deal with this rule
besides actually having a joint account.

Be careful: I strongly advise against

attempting to deposit a check without
having a teller verify the signatures of all
payees. Don’t try to get tricky and deposit
these checks via the ATM because it will
get `agged and you could get hit with a
returned deposit item fee (which costs an
average of $12.85 at the top 10 banks)
when the check is ultimately denied.

If you had experience depositing checks

with multiple payees, we’d like to hear how
you dealt with it in the comments below!

Frustrated with your bank?

Check out these new top banks that people

are talking about:

About the author Simon Zhen

Simon Zhen is the chief research analyst

for MyBankTracker. With more than 11
years following the retail banking
industry, he has become an expert on
consumer banking products, bank
innovations, and Bnancial technology.
Simon has contributed and/or been
quoted in major publications and outlets
including Consumer Reports, American
Banker, Yahoo Finance, U.S. News - World
Report, The Husngton Post, Business
Insider, Lifehacker, and AOL.com.

Ask a Question
mccr905
Sunday, 17 Oct 2021 12:39 AM

<p>What if one of the payee is my mortgage company

from a Home Insurance check? Wells Fargo endorsed
the check and sent it back to me. My wife and I went to
the bank, and they veriBed my wife’s signature, but do
they actually expect Wells Fargo to be there also? The
accepted they deposit but I just got an email stating
they are holding funds because “there is potential risk
the deposit may return”. With no explanation why. I’m
trying to Bgure out what could be wrong with my
deposit. We got all endorsements, veriBed my wife’s
signature with her being present. Man these banks
playing with people’s needed insurance funds</p>
Friday, 24 Sep 2021 4:11 PM

<p>I have a scenario where me and my boyfriend rented

an apartment together and we had to put a deposit on it.
Well before the lease ended my boyfriend and I broke up
and he moved out of state. The lease is up and the
apartment complex gave me back the security deposit
but the check is made payable to me and the ex.
Obviously we can't go to a bank together because he no
longer lives in the state and the payer of the check won't
issue one in just my name and they aren't willing to
change the check to have the word "and" to "or". They
claim its against the law to do that, so what can I do to
get my money??</p>
carlos_diamante
Thursday, 09 Sep 2021 2:25 PM

<p>So I get settlement checks and a few of my close

friends &amp; relatives do but they dont have bank
accts so for years I have been depositing them, my
signature, theirs, in capital one and no problem. I
recently did this and didnt touch the money but they said
my acct was a risk and my checks were no good
anymore but still my bank acct says 1800 and says i
cant touch it. SO the checks are good and they are
keeping my money? The lady I had spoke too said did I
know the ppl on the checks, DUH, and that she would
need everyone of their phone numbers which I didnt feel
comfortable doing until I asked them, then she said the
checks would have to be sent back, umm they were
mobile checks. We dont have a capital one bank
anywhere near me, not even sure theres one in this
state. So last thing she says was my acct was a risk.
What does that mean for the good checks that I
deposited and that they say I have that money in my
account? DO I need a lawyer? I have never been
contacted again and I get a bank statement every month
saying I have 1800. Help.</p>
Thursday, 02 Sep 2021 5:34 PM

<p>A check by Allstate written out to me and the place

that sold my vehicle to me I went to aces check cashing
place and endorsed the check and they cashed it now
they're saying that the Bnancial institution will not honor
the payment because it was not endorsed by both
parties who is responsible for that mistake me the
institute that cashed it or The institute that wrote it</p>
mary_beth_gilbert
Friday, 20 Aug 2021 12:40 PM

<p>I just received a check from the federal government

for the child tax credit and it is in mine and my
husband's name. I have a checking account at PNC
Bank but it is in just my name not his.. ( believe me most
women don't want their signiBcant other to be on their
bank accounts because men have a way of not keeping
track of what they spend if you know what I mean)
anyway I tried deposit the check through the ATM, as I
have done with all my checks in the past, and they
accepted it the next day but then the following day took
the funds back out and declined my check and gave it
back. They said that they cannot accept that check with
mine and my husband's name even though we both did
endorse it because my husband had to physically come
into the branch and show his identiBcation. However my
husband unfortunately does not own a driver's license
due to having a revoked license so he's always use an
identiBcation card. However the identiBcation card and
he has is expired and due to covid it was hard for us to
get back into the MVA to get a new license or
identiBcation card for her. However again the MVA now
requires everybody that is getting a license or
identiBcation card even if they had one in the past two
also have a Social Security card at the time they are
requesting it. Well my husband and I are over 60 years
old now and he has misplaced his social security card
so I am now having to request it through Social Security
Administration. Is there any way to not go through all
this Hassle and any other bank or anything so I can get
this check cashed I need the money so I can help my
grandchildren get their school clothes and supplies for
school starting on September 1st do to myself and my
husband having guardianship over my grandchildren
until my daughter gets her mental health under control.
They sent the money for the child tax credit into my
bank account automatically last month I don't
understand why they sent a check this month however I
did Bx that issue already is there anything that's quicker
because right now it could take up to six to eight weeks
for Social Security ministration to send my husband a
new card please help thanks</p>
Friday, 23 Jul 2021 1:32 AM

<p>My wife signs her check over to me we decided to

deposit it in my account it Wells Fargo upon depositing
the check that we both signed she wrote paid to the
order of and my name the lady says she has to have two
sorts of ID but if she has two sets ID she could open an
account all right but I said the check should be
deposited in my account because it was half my money
but she went and had a deposit in her own account but
she just made but they deny her a checking account a
week later to get a letter in the mail and what happens
to the 5,500 check that was deposited in both our
names she's currently in Mississippi and I'm in Texas
but we deposited the check in Mississippi together but
where's my half I can't access it I can't do nothing I don't
understand what are they going to do with the check if
they're not going to cash it and they do cash it they're
not going to give me no money it was half mine</p>
Tuesday, 15 Jun 2021 12:36 AM

<p>I made my last payment right before I reBnance my

car so I could get my ex girlfriend off the car. They sent
the refund check k to her house and she deposited it
without my signature and refuses to give me the money
even though the payment was made through my bank
account without her name what can ido</p>
Thursday, 10 Jun 2021 8:32 PM

<p>I had a stimulus check I wasn't able to cash because

of the last name being different so my friend took a
picture of the check we waited 5 days an her bank didn't
approve it so she cancelled it an I took the check to a
easy check cash place well I didn't no my friends bank
had held the money because a red `ag came up now her
bank won't let go of the funds an I owe that check place
1400 what can I do????</p>
alicedegregorimorales
Friday, 30 Apr 2021 5:31 AM

<p>.Do you have some sort of law to back this up? Does
this include direct deposit tax checks (which I assume
ARE actually checks sent by the IRS to the bank by direct
deposit? In any event, there are payees listed
somewhere so that the bank knows the check is going
in the right account (the one belonging to the payee or
payees). <br>"Amber Kel • 3 years ago - Of course it only
applies to paper checks. What type of check did you
think the article was talking about?" Direct deposit
checks of course. Duh.</p>
Saturday, 24 Apr 2021 6:02 PM

<p>So in 2019 me and my ex did our tax return and the

check went to her account and when the 1st stimulus
came we were still together but the 2nd and 3rd checks
went out we were apart and the money was deposited
into her account and me and our son that I have custody
of didn't receive our part of the stimulus. Me and my
son's part was in the amount of 4,000$. And now I have
proof from IRS and the bank that they were deposited.
2nd round check of 2400$ was deposited on Feb 3rd
and 3rd round was deposited on March 17th. She says it
wasn't but I have the proof and she and the bank will not
work with me to get this crap correct. Maybe yall have
some advise, I have already went to the police but they
are delaying of course? Any advise would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.</p>
Saturday, 17 Apr 2021 2:39 AM

<p>What do I do about a 3rd party signing the check to

be deposited or cashed and not needing them</p>
disqus_51kRB9nHED
Wednesday, 14 Apr 2021 5:48 PM

<p>stimulus check to my wife and I. we do not ave a

joint account. she is in lockdown due to covid. she
endorsed the check and at the window I signed the
check and we deposited it into her account. chase no
problem. The teller did warn me that she should have
been the bottom signature on the endorsement .... that
sounded to stupid..... she said the bank could kick the
check back for 3 years.</p>
Tuesday, 09 Mar 2021 7:27 AM

<p>my ex husband received multiple check with his

name and mine but it said “and or” he had the
corresponding address changed to his received all 4
checks cashed them and kept the money. what legal
resources are there for me if any?</p>
Tuesday, 09 Mar 2021 7:24 AM

<p>what happens if the check says and or and one

person cashes the check and the other payer has no
idea the check existed and Bnds out later? what can that
person whose name was also on the check do?</p>
Sunday, 28 Feb 2021 4:36 AM

<p>Ok so apparently a Walmart employee at the

Walmart were I purchased my money gram money order
deposited the money order that was sold to me to there
bank act mobile blank to Wells Fargo so wen I wrote the
money order out to myself n tried to cash the money
order it bounced in my act and I had to jump thru
months of runaround from moneygram to get proff the
money order wasn't cashed by me n the directed me bk
to wells fargo I fussed with them because I thoygh they
told me they didn't collect the funds and wen I went to
wells fargo about it the banker told me it was cashed
blank as a mobile deposit the day I purchased it n they
told me to report it with Walmart now I feel the bank is
responsible for this fraud because there was no
signature no person name or address it was blank as a
mobile deposit that is a big issue about them letting ppl
get away with committing fraud with they bank because
no other institution would cash a blank money order am
I correct</p><blockquote></blockquote>
Saturday, 09 Jan 2021 8:24 PM

<p>My husband is in jail and has been since may of

2020 our stimulus check was deposited in his account
but it also has my name on the check as well as his the
bank is refusing to return the check to the irs and won't
give me access to the money even though it has my
name on it as will is this legal it isn't a joint account are
they allowed to keep the check</p>
Thursday, 12 Nov 2020 2:36 PM

<p>Hello my wifes economic stimulus check was sent

to our home address but shes incarcerated in another
state and we dont have any accounts with her name on
it .I guess the check is worthless and I cannot do
anything with it.I have contacted everywhere I could to
get a place to cash or deposit it and my own bank I have
had for over 20 years will not touch it unless shes with
me to deposite it or open an account iam at a loss of
what to do .I even tried to get her name on my account
and again she has to be physically there to do so.and
they told me even if we had a joint account she still
needs to be physically there .They told me it's a crime
for me to sign a stimulus check because Gov checks
cannot be signed over to anyone .I cant do online
because I dont have any of her ids here with me If
anyone can be of help please let me know my email
address trish591238@gmail.com</p>
Wednesday, 07 Oct 2020 1:28 PM

<p>On a three payout check what happen if one payee

refuse to sign unless he is pay his portion by other
means?</p>
Tuesday, 06 Oct 2020 1:56 AM

<p>Just went to bank of America to deposit a check into

my wife's checking account. Since the check was made
out to us both, I went along to endorse the check. The
check was actually drawn from a bofa account. We were
both there and had proper documentation. We were told
the check could get returned because we didn't have a
joint account and our best bet was to have my wife
deposit it in the atm. We were told the check was issued
in both of our names because the intent was that it was
to beneBt us both?! We were both there!!!</p>
Saturday, 22 Aug 2020 1:09 AM

<p>hi,<br>I've received a check from my home insurance

holder for a claim due to water damage on my home, the
check was written to me, the adjuster and my mortgage
company. The adjuster and myself have signed the
check but we are having a hard time getting the
mortgage company to sign and return the check to me,
over the phone they tell me to just deposit the check and
that they signature is not required.. Would my bank
accept the check if I deposit it? I read their policy online
and it states that all signatories must be present at the
branch to deposit the check.. Any advice on what is the
best approach here? I doubt I can get anyone from my
mortgage company to show up at my local bank's
branch..</p><p>Thanks,<br>Jon</p>
Sunday, 14 Jun 2020 1:31 AM

<p>I have that problem I have a stimulus check under

my name and my wife and my wife is out of country I
can not cash the check</p>
kianhantee
Tuesday, 04 Feb 2020 7:33 AM

<p>A check issued as : Mr. X / Mr. Y.. can either Mr. X or.
Mr. Y can encash the check. The issuer even
countersign the check over the "/" portion.</p>
leondanielpeck
Friday, 29 Nov 2019 3:44 AM

<p>I got a check from a settlement and Thor is 4 other

names on check from hospital and chiropractor and
doctors osce its my name then thirs made out with and
not or no one will cash it and thoues on check can't be
with me to cash it What do I do</p>
MyBankTracker
Monday, 18 Nov 2019 4:00 PM

<p>The bank shouldn't be liable. Rather, legal action

would be required to get back the money that belongs to
you.</p>
maureenstoneburner
Tuesday, 12 Nov 2019 8:11 PM

<p>My sisters and brother received a insurance damage

check for a jointly owned property. It was for $18,000.
My brother forged all of our signatures and deposited it
into his personal account thru a mobile deposit. The
bank accepted it with no veriBcation from any of the
payees. Are they liable for the funds? My brother that
forged the check was charged and convicted of the
forgery</p>
jackUash11
Sunday, 04 Aug 2019 8:00 PM

<p>How can Jeff watch his mouth? His nose may be in

the way!</p>
jackUash11
Sunday, 04 Aug 2019 7:52 PM

<p>If the bank has both parties signature on Ble in

separate accounts and the instrument is fully endorsed
by both parties then the bank should be able to verify
and accept the check for deposit or physically send it
for collection to the paying bank.</p>
Sunday, 14 Oct 2018 1:25 AM

<p>A check is a legal document akin to a contract that

gives very speciBc instructions about how funds are to