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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchUsually, the person or people named as payees on the front of a check sign the back. If it is payable to two people, check whether their names are joined by “and” or “or”: both generally sign when the check is payable to both, while either may generally sign when it is payable to either. The bank or credit union receiving the check has the final say on its procedures.
Who should endorse a check?
Start with the payee line on the front. The named payee or payees generally endorse the check by signing the back before it is cashed or deposited. For a check payable to two people, the wording between their names matters.
When the names are joined by “and”
A check payable to “Pat and Chris Doe” is generally payable to both people, so both should sign. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says checks issued to two people together generally need both signatures before a bank or credit union cashes the check or deposits the money. CFPB guidance on checks made out to two people was last reviewed August 28, 2026.
When the names are joined by “or”
A check payable to “Pat or Chris Doe” can generally be endorsed by either person. The CFPB distinguishes checks payable to both people from checks payable to either person; the latter generally need only one payee’s signature.
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When the payee wording is unclear
Do not guess if the check says “and/or,” uses another unclear formulation, or does not make clear whether both payees or either one may act. Ask the bank or credit union that will receive the check. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) likewise advises consumers to ask their bank when the wording does not clearly indicate whether the check is payable to both people or either person. Its guidance, last reviewed in April 2021, corroborates the CFPB’s distinction.
What to write when depositing a check
A restrictive endorsement can limit how a check may be used. The CFPB explains that a payee who writes “For deposit only” on the back and signs makes the check depositable only into that payee’s account. This is called a restrictive endorsement. The CFPB’s explanation of “for deposit only” was last reviewed April 8, 2024.
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A restrictive phrase does not replace the receiving institution’s procedures. If the check has multiple payees, first establish who must sign, then follow the bank or credit union’s endorsement instructions.
Mobile deposit: follow your bank’s instructions
There is no single mobile-deposit endorsement phrase established for every institution. Some banks request wording beyond the payee’s signature. For example, Republic Bank instructs customers to sign on the endorsement line and print “For Mobile Deposit” below the signature. That is Republic Bank’s instruction, not a universal requirement; see its mobile-deposit check preparation guidance, modified June 11, 2024.
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Read the instructions in your own bank or credit union’s app and use its exact requested wording. A signature or phrase accepted by one institution may not meet another institution’s requirements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you sign a check made out to someone else?
Do not sign another person’s name or assume you can deposit a check payable to someone else. The institution receiving the check determines whether the person presenting it is authorized to endorse and negotiate it. Ask that institution before attempting a third-party endorsement or deposit. The OCC’s guidance addresses checks received by someone other than the named payee, and Chase’s explanation of signing over a check describes the original payee’s endorsement to a new recipient; acceptance still depends on the receiving institution.
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Quick decision guide
| Payee line or situation | Who generally signs | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| One named payee | The named payee | Follow the receiving institution’s endorsement instructions. |
| Two payees joined by “and” | Both payees generally sign. | Ask the receiving institution if either person cannot sign or its instructions are unclear. |
| Two payees joined by “or” | Either payee generally may sign. | Follow the receiving institution’s instructions. |
| Two payees joined by “and/or,” or otherwise unclear wording | Not established by the wording alone. | Ask the bank or credit union receiving the check. |
| Check payable to someone else | Do not sign for the named payee. | Ask the receiving institution whether it will accept an authorized third-party endorsement. |
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