Writing your check.

  • Always use ink when writing checks, and make sure your handwriting is clear and legible.
  • Enter the date (month, day and year) on the check you’re writing. You can write a check on any day of the week, but you should never use a future date when writing a check.
  • Make sure to complete all information before submitting your check, including:
    • The date (month, day and year)
    • The name of the person to whom you’re making out the check.
    • The amount of the check in numbers (including cents) as well as written out. It helps to draw a line to fill up the space on the check, after the amount you’ve written, in both sections, to ensure no additional numbers or digits can be added.
    • Write the name of the person or business to whom you are making the payment.
    • Note the reason you’re writing the check in the memo line to help both parties remember what the check is for.
    • Sign the check exactly as you’ve signed your signature card when you opened your account. You should do this step last and only after you’ve filled out everything else on the check.
  • If you make a mistake when signing a check, make sure to write “VOID” across the front of the check and keep it in your possession with your other cancelled checks.

Endorsing a check.

When you receive a check made out to you, you must endorse it in the area indicated on the back side before you can convert it to cash or deposit it into your account. You should not write or mark anywhere on the back of a check other than within the indicated area. There are two main types of endorsements:

  1. Blank endorsement: When you wish to cash a check that’s been made payable to you, simply sign your name on the back of the check. Remember that once you endorse a check for cashing, anyone can cash it, so wait until you are in front of the teller or about to use mobile deposit, before you endorse it. If your name is written on the check incorrectly, you should endorse the check twice—first, exactly as your name appears on the check, and second, as your name really appears on the bank’s record.
  2. Restrictive endorsement: “For Deposit Only” is a restrictive endorsement, when written on the back of the check followed by your signature. It is an instruction to the bank to only deposit that check to your account, not cash it. This protects you, because no one can cash a check endorsed this way.

Recording your transactions.

 

When you receive your checks, you will also receive a check register. This register is important because it is your record of how much money you have in your account, what checks you have written, and what deposits you have made.

  1. List the number of the check you are writing. The check number is found in the upper right corner of each check. This number will be printed on your monthly checking account statement when that check is returned to you.
  2. Write the name of the person or the company to whom you are making the payment.
  3. Write the purpose of the check so you will later remember why you made each payment or which particular month is covered by that check.
  4. Enter the date you are writing the check.
  5. List the amount of the check you are going to write or the amount of the deposit you are going to make. Make sure you record the exact amount that you write on the check or the deposit ticket.
  6. Write the amount remaining in your checking account after subtracting the check or adding the deposit.
  7. Mark off each check that has cleared when you balance your checkbook each month.

Filling out a deposit slip.

  1. Write the current month, day and year at the time you are making the deposit.
  2. Write the total of all the currency (paper money) and coin you are depositing.
  3. List all the checks you are depositing, one per line. There are additional lines on the back of the deposit ticket if you need more space.
  4. Write the total amount you are bringing to the bank.
  5. Specify the amount of cash, if any, you want to take with you.
  6. Specify the amount of money you want to deposit in your checking account.
  7. Sign when you receive your cash.

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