Did someone give you a check and you're not sure what to do with it? Fret no more... it's easy, really!
On the front of the check, you will want to take note of the "Pay To The Order Of" line. If the check is made payable to more than one person, for example, then both parties may be required to endorse it. The person(s) named in the Pay to line must endorse the check.
As an example, a check is made payable to you as a gift. Here are your options once you have received the check:
If you want to deposit the check into your own bank account, you can write "For Deposit Only" under "Endorse Here," on the back of the check. Then under that write your signature along with your numerical account number on the second and third lines. This will prompt a teller at your bank or mobile banking software to deposit the funds to that specific account.
If you want to sign the check over to someone else, under the "Endorse Here" section, you will write "Pay to the Order of" and the other person's name. Then underneath that, sign your name. You will then give that check to the person named on the back of the check for them to cash or deposit it.
If you want to cash the check, you can take it to your local bank where you should sign your name under the "Endorse Here" section and then provide the bank teller a photo id to receive payment in cash. If you don't have a bank, you can go to store fronts that offer check-cashing services, such as participating grocery stores. The only catch is that those stores typically charge a processing fee.
We're happy you're here and hope this article helped you learn about checks! To discover even more about why checks are a great choice, continue reading with these articles: