How to Endorse a Check for Mobile Deposit

Find out how to endorse your check for easy mobile deposit.

1. Verify the check information is correct

Before attempting to deposit your check, verify that the person paying you wrote the check correctly. Here are some common mistakes that people could make when writing checks:

• Misspelling a name
• Account or routing number errors
• Scratching out minor errors with a pen
• Missing signature
• A date older than six months¹

Your bank may reject the deposit if something’s wrong with the information on your check. Though some banks may allow a minor misspelling in your name or where the issuer writes out the number, others may be stricter. If your bank denies your deposit, contact the issuer and the bank to determine the next steps.

2. Find the endorsement area

Before making a mobile deposit, write your signature in the check’s endorsement area. This typically appears as a few gray lines under text that reads, “Endorse check here” on the back of the check. Endorsement for a mobile deposit ensures that the right person will receive their money. If you accidentally endorse the check in the wrong place, contact your bank to determine the next steps. You may have to re-endorse it at the bank with a teller (if your bank has physical branches).

Endorsement for a mobile deposit ensures that the right person will receive their money. If you accidentally endorse the check in the wrong place, contact your bank to determine the next steps.

You may have to re-endorse it at the bank with a teller (if your bank has physical branches).

3. Sign the back of the check correctly

Now that you know where the endorsement area is, it’s time to sign your check for a mobile deposit. Here are some best practices for endorsing a check:

• Use blue or black ink: Don’t endorse a check with red ink or a pencil. Banking computers can read blue and black ink better than any other color.
• Sign in the endorsement area: If you sign your name above or below the endorsement area, you may have to follow a re-endorsement process at your bank.
• Use your signature: The endorsement area isn’t a place to experiment with a new and unique signature. Keep it simple and use your recognizable signature

4. Write a restrictive endorsement

Mobile check deposits typically require a restrictive endorsement for the bank to recognize them.

Banks may ask you to write out a custom restrictive endorsement that looks like the following:

• “For mobile deposit only.”
• “For deposit into checking account[Account Number] only.”
• “For mobile deposit at [Bank Name] only.”
• “For mobile deposit only on [insert date].”

Some checks even have a checkbox in the endorsement area that signifies you are depositing it via a mobile app. However, many banks will still require a restrictive endorsement in your own handwriting.

5. Follow the steps in your banking app

After signing your check and writing the restrictive endorsement, it’s time to deposit it into your bank account. The process will vary depending on your bank and mobile app, but here are the typical steps for how to make a mobile check deposit:

1. Open your banking app.
2. Navigate to a tab that says “Deposit” or “Mobile Deposit.”
3. Enter the check’s information, like the amount of money and the account you want to deposit it into.
4. Endorse your check and write a restrictive endorsement if you haven’t already done so.
5. Make sure you put your check on a solid surface and have decent lighting.
6. In the app, take a picture of the front and back of the check.
7. Follow the instructions to get to the submission view.

6. Check for errors and hold onto your check

Double-check that all the information you entered into the mobile app is correct – especially the deposit amount. Compare your input amount to the check to help make sure the deposit is processed correctly. Then, hit submit.

After you submit the deposit, there are two final things to remember:

• Verify that the bank is depositing your money.
• Hold onto the check until the money lands in your account.

It may take time for the mobile deposit to hit your bank account. Some larger financial institutions can send you the money quickly, but others may take a couple of days.²

If the check doesn’t appear in your account within three days, contact your bank to determine how to fix the issue.

Endorsing a check allows the bank to verify that the money belongs to you. This security measure helps ensure you alone receive the money, so it doesn’t go to anyone else. It authorizes the bank to process the check and deposit the money into your account.

An endorsement also helps prevent fraud, as it makes it harder for someone to deposit the check. Plus, a restrictive endorsement adds an extra layer of security by specifying how the check can be deposited.

Sometimes, a mobile deposit may not work due to an incorrect endorsement or inaccurate information on the check itself.

Your mobile deposit might not go through for a few reasons:

• Missing signature: Make sure to properly sign the back of the check to deposit your money.
• Blurry image: Retake the picture of the check to ensure your deposit goes through.
• Damaged check: If the check is visibly damaged, you may need to go into the bank to deposit it. If your bank doesn’t have physical branches, contact customer support to determine the best way to deposit the check.
• Duplicate deposit: Your financial institution may contact you if someone has already deposited the check into another account.
• Missing information: Double-check all the information on the check for accuracy.
• Wrong deposit amount: Make sure the amount on the check and the number you put into your mobile app match.
• Insufficient funds: If the person who wrote the check doesn’t have enough funds for your deposit, you may not receive your money. Contact the account holder or your bank for the next steps.
• Exceeds deposit limit: Many institutions limit the amount of money you can deposit per day. Wait 24 hours and try again.

It’s normal to feel nervous if this is your first time learning how to endorse a check for mobile deposit. You can practice on a blank sheet of paper beforehand to avoid mistakes, since you’ll need to complete your real check endorsement in blue or black ink, which can’t be erased.

For more tips on building confidence and avoiding errors when depositing a check, learn more about Chime’s mobile check deposit best practices.