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Check the payee line before anyone signs. If two people are named together—usually with “and”—both generally need to endorse the check. If the line says one person “or” another, either person generally may sign. The bank receiving the check can impose additional requirements, so ask it when the wording or deposit method is unclear.
What the wording on the payee line means
| Payee wording | General endorsement rule | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| “A and B,” or two people named together | Both generally need to endorse the check. | Check whether the receiving bank requires a joint account or has other deposit conditions. |
| “A or B” | Either person generally may endorse it. | Confirm with the bank if anything about the check or deposit is uncertain. |
| “A and/or B,” or other unclear wording | The reviewed consumer guidance does not establish a universal answer. | Ask the bank handling the check how it treats the wording before signing or submitting it. |
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says banks and credit unions generally require both signatures when a check is payable to two people together, and generally allow either person to sign when it is payable to one person or the other. CFPB guidance, last reviewed August 28, 2026. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency likewise advises asking the bank about unclear wording such as “and/or”; its guidance covers institutions within the OCC’s regulatory scope and is not legal advice. OCC consumer guidance, last reviewed April 2021.
How to write a check to multiple people
- Confirm who should receive the payment. Use wording that accurately reflects who is entitled to the funds. If you are unsure whether the recipients should be named jointly or alternatively, ask them before writing the check.
- Write each recipient’s full legal name on the “Pay to the order of” line, clearly and legibly.
- Choose “and” or “or” deliberately. “Person A and Person B” generally signals that both should endorse; “Person A or Person B” generally allows either to endorse. This distinction is described in Wells Fargo’s consumer guide to writing checks.
- Ask the issuer to correct an issued check if needed. Do not add or change a payee name yourself; contact the check issuer about correction or reissuance.
For federal payments, the U.S. Treasury’s payment-obligations guidance tells federal entities to list all individuals who are jointly entitled and put “and” before the final payee. For an account held by multiple people that is not a joint account, it directs federal entities to use “or” before the final name. These are instructions for federal entities preparing payments, not a blanket rule for private check writers. U.S. Treasury, Payment Obligations—2050.70 Payee Information.
How to endorse and deposit a check to two people
- Read the names and connecting word on the front of the check.
- If both people are named together, arrange for both to endorse it unless the receiving bank tells you otherwise.
- If it says “or,” either payee generally may sign, subject to the bank’s requirements.
- If the wording is unclear, contact the bank or ask a teller before signing or submitting the check.
- Ask whether both payees must own the receiving account, whether both must be present, and whether that check can be deposited using the bank’s mobile app.
Two signatures do not guarantee that a check can go into one payee’s individual account. For example, Cambridge Savings Bank’s mobile-deposit agreement requires both endorsements and a jointly owned account in specified cases involving checks payable to the depositor and another person; it also says the bank may reject endorsements it cannot verify. That is a bank-specific mobile-deposit policy, not a universal requirement. Cambridge Savings Bank Mobile Deposit Services Agreement. Ask your own bank about its rules for both branch and mobile deposits.
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