To endorse a check for mobile deposit, flip it over, sign your name in the endorsement area at one end of the back, and directly below your signature write “For Mobile Deposit Only.” Many banks prefer that you add the institution’s name, so “For Mobile Deposit Only at [Your Bank Name]” is the safest wording. That phrase is called a restrictive endorsement, and it tells your bank the check is meant only for electronic deposit into your account. Skipping it can mean a rejected deposit, delayed funds, or the loss of fraud protections your bank would otherwise have on the transaction.
Where to Sign on the Back
Turn the check over and look at one end for a small strip, usually marked with lines, a box, or the words “Endorse Here.” That strip runs about 1.5 inches from the trailing edge. Everything you write needs to stay inside it. Banks add their own processing stamps below that zone during clearing, and if your writing spills over, an automated system may flag or reject the image.
Use a black or dark blue ink pen. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the “Pay to the Order of” line on the front. If your name is misspelled there, sign the misspelled version first, then sign your correct legal name underneath. Right below your signature, write “For Mobile Deposit Only” or “For Mobile Deposit Only at [Your Bank Name].” That single line is what turns an ordinary endorsement into a restrictive one, meaning the check can only be deposited into your account and nobody can cash it at a counter or redirect it elsewhere.1Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Does It Mean for a Check to Be Indorsed For Deposit Only
Why the Restrictive Phrase Matters
The mobile-deposit phrase is more than a formality. Under Regulation CC, your bank can only claim indemnity from another institution in a double-deposit situation if the original check carried a restrictive endorsement consistent with the means of deposit. If you skip writing “For Mobile Deposit Only” and someone later deposits the paper check at a branch, your bank’s ability to recover those funds shrinks significantly, and any liability or fees may land on you.2eCFR. 12 CFR 229.34 Warranties and Indemnities
Checks Made Out to More Than One Person
If a check names two payees connected by “and” (John and Jane Doe), both people generally need to endorse the back before the deposit will go through. Each signs, and one of you writes the “For Mobile Deposit Only” line below the signatures. If the names are connected by “or” (John or Jane Doe), either person can endorse and deposit alone. Ambiguous wording like “and/or” is trickier, and your bank gets to decide how to handle it, so call and ask before you try.3HelpWithMyBank.gov. Must Both My Spouse and I Endorse a Check Made Out to Both of Us
Third-Party Checks
If someone tries to sign a check over to you by endorsing the back and writing “Pay to the Order of [Your Name],” most banks will not accept that check through mobile deposit no matter how you endorse it. The fraud risk is too high for an electronic image alone to verify. Plan on bringing a third-party check into a branch.
Fixing an Endorsement Mistake
If you sign in the wrong spot or smudge the endorsement, draw a single line through the mistake, write your initials next to it, and re-endorse correctly nearby, still inside the endorsement area. The bank’s imaging system needs to see a clean, readable signature with the restrictive phrase, so keep the correction tidy.
For bigger problems, like signing the wrong check or writing over the MICR line (the numbers along the bottom edge on the front), your best move is to contact the person who wrote the check and ask for a new one. A check that’s been heavily marked up will almost certainly be rejected during automated review.
What to Do With the Paper Check After You Deposit It
A successful submission is not a reason to shred the check that afternoon. Keep the physical check in a safe place for at least 30 days, or until you’ve confirmed the full amount has posted and the deposit no longer shows as pending. Some banks recommend longer. If the image turns out to be unreadable, the deposit is reversed, or a dispute comes up weeks later, you may need the original paper to resolve it.
Once the deposit has fully cleared, write “VOID” across the front of the check in large letters and shred it. This eliminates any chance of accidentally depositing it again, which banks treat as fraud when done intentionally. The check carries your account number, the payer’s account number, and routing information for both institutions, so tossing it in the trash without shredding is an identity-theft risk that’s easy to avoid.
Regulation CC places liability on the depositary bank when a check gets deposited electronically and then the original paper is deposited again somewhere else. Your bank has to indemnify the other institution for the loss, so double-deposit situations get taken seriously.2eCFR. 12 CFR 229.34 Warranties and Indemnities Even an accidental second deposit can trigger an investigation, fees, and a freeze on the funds. The restrictive endorsement you wrote on the back and the “VOID” you write on the front are working the same job from opposite ends of the check: making sure the money moves once.