When you need to deposit a check for yourself, you have a few options. You can take it to a teller, deposit it at an ATM or use your bank’s mobile check deposit feature. But what if you’re asked to deposit a check for someone else?
Here’s what you need to know to deposit a check for someone else, whether they want the funds deposited into your account or theirs.
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Can I Deposit a Check for Someone Else?
Yes, it’s possible to deposit a check for another person, either to their account or yours. Individual banks and credit unions set their own guidelines for depositing checks that aren’t made out to you, so the exact process and requirements vary.
Here are a few scenarios when someone might ask you to deposit checks on their behalf:
- One of your siblings owes you money. Rather than go withdraw cash, they decide to sign a check made out to them over to you.
- An aging relative receives a check but is unable to get to the bank to deposit it and doesn’t use mobile banking. You offer to deposit the check into their account for them.
- Your best friend, who doesn’t have a bank account, gets a rebate check in the mail. They ask you to deposit the check into your account, then give them the cash.
How To Deposit a Check for Someone Else
The steps to deposit a check for someone else depend on whether you’re depositing into your account or theirs. Both are explained below, but make sure to check the bank’s policies as well to avoid any potential complications.
If you’re depositing a check for someone else to your own account:
- Review the details of the check to make sure all the information has been filled out properly. That includes the date, payable to, amount and signature line.
- Have the person write “Pay to the order of (your name)” on the back in the space for endorsements, then sign their name underneath it.
- Take the check to your bank and fill out a deposit slip with the check amount, your name and account number.
- Give the check and deposit slip to the teller to make the deposit. If you’re not offered a receipt, ask for one so you have a record of the transaction.
If you’re wondering how to sign a check over to someone else for deposit, it works the same way. Instead of cashing or depositing the check yourself, then giving the money to someone else, you could write “Pay to the order of + their name” on the back, sign it and hand it over to them for deposit.
If you’re depositing a check for someone else to their account:
- Have them review the details of the check to make sure the information is correct. If it is, they can then sign the back of the check and write “For deposit only” in the endorsement box.
- They’ll need to fill out a deposit slip with their name, account number, the date of deposit and the check amount.
- Take the check and deposit slip to their bank to make the deposit. Getting a receipt as proof of the transaction is a good idea.
Depositing a check for someone else into their account is easier since you’re just taking it to their bank for them. When it comes to depositing a check for someone else into your account, however, the bank can deny you.
Once someone signs a check over to another person, it becomes a third-party check. Banks can accept third-party checks for deposit or cash them, but they’re not required to. If your bank has a no third-party checks policy, then you won’t be able to deposit a check for someone else to your account.
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Should You Deposit Someone Else’s Check?
Depositing someone else’s check is possible, but it might not always be a good idea. Whether or not you should do it depends on how well you know the person and how certain you are the check is good.
A common scam involves someone sending a check to you, asking you to deposit it into your account, then asking you to send a certain amount of cash back to them. Someone may ask you to deposit a $5,000 check to your account and then wire them $4,000. You get to keep the other $1,000 as a thank you.
The problem is the check is no good. You deposit the check, assuming it will clear in a few days. Meanwhile, you send the $4,000 as agreed, only to find out later the check has bounced. Now you’re out $4,000 and at risk of incurring overdraft fees in your account.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind before depositing a check for someone else:
- Only accept checks from people you know and trust.
- Inspect the check to ensure it hasn’t been altered and all the information is correct, including the name and amount.
- Contact the bank you plan to deposit the money at beforehand to make sure you’re able to do so.
- If you’re depositing a third-party check to your account, make sure the check owner has signed the back and written: “Pay to the order of + your name.”
- Keep your receipt and wait until the check clears before attempting to access any of the funds from the deposit.
How long does a deposited check take to clear? It depends on your bank’s funds availability policy. Generally, it takes about two business days, but larger checks can take longer to verify. It’s worth waiting to spend the money so you don’t trigger any returned item or overdraft fees.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When can you deposit a check for someone else?
You can deposit a check for someone else if the bank receiving the deposit allows it. It’s possible to deposit checks for someone else to your account or theirs, as long as bank policy permits it.
Can someone else deposit a check for me?
Someone else can deposit a check into your account if you’re unable to get to the bank. They can also deposit a check for you into their account if you’re signing it over to them and their bank’s policies allow it.
Can you deposit a check with someone else's name?
You can deposit a check with someone else’s name on it if they’ve signed it and either made it payable to you or written “For deposit only” under their signature on the back. How they endorse the check usually depends on whether you plan to deposit it into their bank account or yours. If you have a check made out to you and another person, either of you can deposit the check into your bank account.
