To write a check for deposit only, flip it over, sign your name on the top endorsement line, print “For Deposit Only” directly below your signature, and write your bank account number underneath that. Those three lines, in that order, inside the shaded endorsement box, are all it takes to restrict the check so the money can only land in your account.
The Three Lines, in Order
On the back of the check, near one end, you’ll see a set of lines or a shaded strip labeled something like “Endorse here.” Keep everything you write inside that zone, which runs about 1.5 inches from the top edge. Writing outside it can confuse the bank’s scanner and cause processing errors.
Use a pen with dark, permanent ink. Black or blue is standard. Then:
- Sign your name on the top line. Match the name printed on the front of the check. If the front shows a middle initial you don’t normally use, sign it that way anyway.
- Print “For Deposit Only” on the line below your signature.
- Write your bank account number under that phrase. This part isn’t strictly required, but it tells the bank exactly where the money goes and adds another layer of protection if the check is lost in transit.
Signature, restriction, account number. That sequence creates what the law calls a restrictive endorsement, and the “For Deposit Only” language is specifically recognized under the Uniform Commercial Code as an instruction that the check be collected by a bank for your account rather than cashed over the counter.
Why Those Four Words Matter
A check with only your signature on the back is called a blank endorsement. Under the UCC, a blank endorsement turns the check into something close to cash. Anyone holding it can negotiate it, which means a thief who finds it can walk into a bank and deposit or cash it.1Cornell Law Institute. UCC 3-205 – Special Indorsement; Blank Indorsement; Anomalous Indorsement
Adding “For Deposit Only” changes the legal picture. A depositary bank that accepts a check endorsed this way and then applies the funds somewhere other than your account has converted the instrument, and the bank is liable to you for the full amount. That is one of the strongest protections the UCC gives to check payees, and it costs nothing but a few extra seconds.2Cornell Law Institute. UCC 3-206 – Restrictive Indorsement
Writing your account number alongside the restriction tightens that protection further. It leaves the depositary bank no room to claim it wasn’t clear where the money was supposed to go.
Mobile Deposits Need Different Wording
Most banks require more than “For Deposit Only” when you deposit through a mobile app. The typical wording is “For Mobile Deposit Only” or “For Mobile Deposit Only at [Your Bank’s Name]” below your signature. No federal rule mandates this phrasing; each bank sets its own policy. Skipping it can get your deposit rejected.
Check your bank’s instructions before you endorse. Some want the full bank name spelled out. Others accept just “For Mobile Deposit Only.” Getting the wording wrong usually isn’t catastrophic. The app may flag the image for manual review, which can delay your deposit by a day or more.
Some newer checks include a small checkbox on the back with text like “check here after mobile or remote deposit.” Checking that box is for your own recordkeeping. It does not replace the handwritten endorsement your bank requires.
When you capture the image, lay the check on a flat, dark surface with good lighting. Align it inside the frame on your screen and make sure the entire endorsement area is visible and legible. Blurry or shadowed images are the most common reason mobile deposits get kicked back.
If the Check Is Made Out to a Business
When the check is payable to your business rather than to you personally, the endorsement has one extra step. Write the business name first, exactly as it appears on the “Pay to the Order of” line on the front. Below that, sign your personal name and write your title: Owner, Treasurer, Authorized Signer, or whatever applies. Then add “For Deposit Only” and the business account number.
Skip the business name or your title and the bank may reject the deposit, especially at larger institutions with stricter verification. The business name on the endorsement needs to match both the front of the check and the name on the account you’re depositing into.
If Two People Are Named on the Check
When a check is made out to two people connected by “and” (for example, “Jane Doe and John Smith”), both payees must endorse the back before it can be deposited. Neither person can deposit it alone. Both sign in the endorsement area, and whoever is doing the deposit writes “For Deposit Only” and the account number. The money has to go into an account both payees can access, or the bank will likely reject it.3Cornell Law School / Legal Information Institute (LII). UCC 3-110 – Identification of Person to Whom Instrument Is Payable
If the check uses “or” (“Jane Doe or John Smith”), either payee can endorse and deposit it alone. When the connector is ambiguous, where the check just lists two names with a line break and no conjunction, the UCC treats it as “or,” meaning either payee can handle the deposit independently.3Cornell Law School / Legal Information Institute (LII). UCC 3-110 – Identification of Person to Whom Instrument Is Payable
If Your Name Is Misspelled on the Check
Endorse the check twice. First, sign it using the misspelled name exactly as it appears on the front. Then sign again with your correct legal name. Follow both signatures with “For Deposit Only” and your account number as usual. The double signature satisfies the bank’s need to match the endorsement to the payee line while also tying the deposit to your actual identity.
Keep the Paper Check for 30 Days
After a mobile deposit, hold onto the physical check for at least 30 days or until the full amount has posted to your account, whichever comes later. The risk you’re guarding against is a rejected deposit you don’t notice right away. If you shred the check too soon and the deposit fails, you’ve lost your proof.
Once the deposit has cleared, destroy the check. A cross-cut shredder is best. The check carries your account number, the payer’s account and routing numbers, and both signatures. Tossing it in the trash intact invites fraud.