To fill out a deposit slip, write the date at the top, enter any cash you’re depositing on the currency line, list each check on its own line with the amount, add everything up for a subtotal, subtract any money you want back in cash, and put the final figure on the net deposit line. Sign the slip only if you’re asking for cash back. That’s the whole form.
The rest is detail: which slip to grab, how to endorse the checks, and what to do if the teller counts a different amount than you wrote.
Which Deposit Slip to Use
Two versions exist. The pre-printed slips at the back of your checkbook already carry your name, address, and account number, plus a magnetic-ink line at the bottom encoding the bank’s nine-digit routing number and your account number. Branches also keep blank slips (sometimes called counter slips) at a writing station near the tellers. If you use a counter slip, you’ll write in your name and account number by hand, and the teller enters your account into the system manually.
Either version has the same fields. Work down the form top to bottom.
Filling Out the Slip Line by Line
Take the fields in order:
- Date. Write today’s date on the line near the top.
- Cash. Add up all bills and coins you’re depositing and write the total on the line labeled “Cash” or “Currency.” Leave it blank if you have no cash to deposit.
- Checks. List each check on its own line with its amount. Most slips have room for several. Some banks want you to include the check number or the issuing bank’s routing number so the item can be traced later if there’s a question.
- Subtotal. Add the cash and every check together. Write that figure on the subtotal line.
- Less cash received. If you want part of the deposit handed back to you as cash — say, you’re depositing a $500 check and want to keep $100 — write that amount here. Otherwise leave it blank or write zero.
- Net deposit. Subtotal minus cash back. This is what actually lands in your account.
If a check runs longer than the space provided, or you have more checks than lines, use the back of the slip. Banks typically print an overflow section there; total it and carry the figure to the front.
When You Sign, and When You Don’t
Sign the slip only if you’re taking cash back. Your signature on that line confirms you received the cash. If every dollar is going straight into the account, skip the signature line.
Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Having your debit card out can speed things up, since the teller often uses it to pull up your account.
Endorse Every Check First
Before you hand the slip and checks across the counter, sign the back of each check in the endorsement area. For protection, write “for deposit only” with your account number above or below your signature.1CFPB. What Does It Mean for a Check to Be Indorsed For Deposit Only> That’s a restrictive endorsement: the check can only be paid into your account, so a lost or stolen check can’t be cashed by someone else.
Under the Uniform Commercial Code, anyone besides a bank who pays out on a check marked “for deposit only” is legally on the hook for the amount.2Cornell Law School. UCC 3-206 – Restrictive Indorsement It’s a simple safeguard, especially if you’re mailing checks or leaving them with a teller.
If the Teller’s Count Doesn’t Match Your Slip
Tellers verify every item. If their count differs from what you wrote, the bank follows its own procedure to reconcile the difference, usually by correcting the slip to match the verified amount before processing.
Look at the receipt before you leave the window, and keep it. If a question comes up later about how much cash you actually deposited, the receipt may be your only proof.
When You Don’t Need a Slip at All
Two common methods skip the paper form entirely.
ATM
Many current ATMs take checks and cash directly through a scanner slot without an envelope or a slip. The machine reads the check image or counts the bills, and you confirm the amount on screen. Older ATMs may still ask you to seal the deposit in an envelope and key in the amount. Either type produces an electronic receipt.3eCFR. 12 CFR 1005.9 – Receipts at Electronic Terminals Deposits at ATMs not owned by your bank can take longer to become available.
Mobile Deposit
For checks, most banks now let you photograph the front and back through the mobile app and submit the deposit from your phone. When endorsing for mobile deposit, write “for mobile deposit only” or “for deposit only at [your bank’s name]” along with your signature. Hold onto the physical check until you’ve confirmed the full amount posted to your account.
One Note on Large Cash Deposits
If you deposit more than $10,000 in cash in a single day at one bank, federal law requires the bank to file a Currency Transaction Report with the government.4FinCEN. Notice to Customers: A CTR Reference Guide The threshold applies to your total cash deposits at the same institution that day, so three $4,000 cash deposits count the same as one $12,000 deposit. The bank files the report on its own; you fill out the slip the normal way.
Do not try to break the deposit into smaller pieces to stay under $10,000. That’s called structuring, and it’s a federal crime on its own, even when the cash is entirely legitimate. A conviction carries up to five years in prison and substantial fines, doubling to ten years if the structured amounts exceed $100,000 within a twelve-month period or coincide with another federal offense.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 31 USC 5324 – Structuring Transactions to Evade Reporting Requirement Deposit the full amount, let the bank file the CTR, and keep your receipt.