How to Endorse a Check Made Payable to Cash

If you have a personal check made out to your name, you must endorse it before you can cash it or deposit it. If the check is made payable to cash, it works much the same way, but there is an added risk involved. Checks made payable to cash can be cashed or deposited by anyone, making them as good as cash. You must therefore look after these checks as well as you would look after your cash, because there are no safeguards to protect those funds and reserve them only for you, the check holder.

Things You'll Need

• Check made payable to cash
• Non-erasable pen

Instructions

1. Turn the check face down. On one side of the check, you should see some lines marked "Endorse Here."

2. Sign your name on the top line if you want to exchange the check for cash. Alternatively, you should sign your name on the top line and write "for deposit only" next to it if you wish to deposit the funds into an account. If you want to sign the check over to another specific person that isn't you, write the words "pay to the order of" on the top line, and print the name of the intended recipient on the second line. Sign the third line, and the recipient must sign the last line to endorse it.

3. Take your check to your bank if you wish to cash or deposit it. If you're signing it over to someone else, just give it to that person after completing the previous step.

4. Give the check to an available bank teller, along with your instructions. If you're depositing the check into an account you hold, you may need to fill out and include a deposit slip with your deposit. Whether this is required varies from one bank to the next.

Tips & Warnings

• Look after the check carefully, as anyone can cash or deposit it.