Can You Deposit a Check for Someone Else? (The Real Answer!)

So Can You Deposit a Check for Another Person?

Yes, you can. But, the check will need to include the payee’s signature and the phrase, “For Deposit Only.”

Below, I’ll go into more detail on exactly how you can deposit a check for someone else.

How to deposit a check for someone else

There are a few ways to deposit a check for someone:

The Deposit Slip Method

The best way to deposit a check for someone else is to use the deposit slip method.

Basically, the payee of the check (or checks) fills out a deposit slip and endorses the check, and then they have you deliver the check to the bank.

If the payee has provided all of the required information, and there aren’t any discrepancies or inaccuracies, then you shouldn’t have any issues when you come to deposit the check at the bank.

Just present the deposit slip and the check, or checks, to the teller, and everything should go smoothly.

The “For Deposit Only” Method

Next, we have another method, which can work well if the payee of the check is unable to provide you with a deposit slip, and that’s the “For Deposit Only” method.

Now, there are actually a couple of methods within the “For Deposit Only” method:

1. The payee can endorse the check by signing it. And, they can write “For Deposit Only” in the endorsement area. Then, they can write the account number for the account that they want the money to be deposited into. This is called a “restrictive endorsement.” This method, like the deposit slip method above, leaves little room for error, so when you come to deposit the check for someone else into their bank account, you shouldn’t encounter any problems at the bank.
2. If the payee is unable to endorse a check with their signature, then you will need to write “For Deposit Only” in the endorsement area. Now, this method is slightly less secure than the full restrictive endorsement with an account number and payee signature. But, it should still work. You could also write the account number in the endorsement area if the payee has provided you with it. But, it’s not a requirement. As long as the name of the bank account holder and the name of the payee match up, you shouldn’t have any trouble depositing the check.

Of course, the restrictive endorsement is the more secure option. So, if you can, get the payee to endorse the check with their signature.

The Signature-Only Method

Okay, so I’ll level with you here. The signature-only method is the least secure method for the payee.

The reason for this is that if the payee only endorses the check with a signature, this is known as a blank endorsement. Blank endorsements give the person who’s handling the check, the option to deposit or cash it.

Now, this is no issue if the payee trusts the person handling the check. And, of course, you are doing the person a favor, and wouldn’t even think about cashing the check and taking the money for yourself.

So that’s not much of an issue. The issue, however, comes if you were to lose the check, or if it were to get stolen. Checks that have a blank endorsement could be cashed or deposited by anyone. So, as I said, this is an issue if you lose the check, or if it gets stolen.

For that reason, I would recommend avoiding the signature-only method if you can. The best way to deposit a check for someone else is to use the deposit slip method or the “For Deposit Only,” method.

Make sure you get a receipt

Whatever option you choose to deposit a check, make sure that you always get a receipt from the bank. This receipt confirms that the money was deposited correctly in the right account, and it provides the payee with proof that their money is safe. It basically gives you and the payee more peace of mind.

FAQs on Depositing a Check for Someone Else

In this section, I just wanted to cover some more questions you may have about depositing a check for someone else.

What if the name on the check is spelled wrong?

Okay, so if you have a check to deposit, but the name is misspelled or appears incorrectly, then you might wonder how to deposit that check. Well, you can cash a check where the name is spelled wrong. However, you will need to get the payee to sign it using the incorrect version, and then put the correct version after that.

Can I deposit a check that isn’t endorsed?

Yes, at some banks, you can deposit a check that doesn’t have a signature, an account number, or any other information written on the back.

That being said, you can only deposit a check that hasn’t been endorsed if the check is made out to you. If you are depositing a check for someone else, then the check will need to be endorsed

How can I deposit a check payable to multiple people?

If you have a check that is payable to more than one person, then the check may need to be endorsed by more than one person. It depends on how the check is written.

If the word “and” appears between the names on the check, then everybody will need to sign it.

So, make sure that the check is properly endorsed.

Final Words

It’s good to know that you can indeed deposit a check for someone else. Of course, you will need a few things, like an endorsement from the payee, but it’s simpler than you’d think. Hopefully, this post answered your question about depositing a check for someone else.