Depositing a check is a seemingly-straightforward task when it is written to just one person — you. It’s a different case when a check is written to multiple payees because many people encounter problems when they try to deposit these checks. If you are faced with this dilemma, see what hurdles you have to jump through and what you can do to properly deposit your money.
Ally6770 | | 2,277 posts since 2010When I worked at a bank we could not cash checks without both people being there with picture ID. We could only deposit checks with 2 signatures into a joint account.
Many taverns and grocery stores got stuck with income tax checks returned to them with forged signatures of a spouse.
paoli2 | | 2,363 posts since 2011The main premise of a Joint account especially one stating "or" is supposed to allow either party to deposit or cash the check even if the other isn't present. Most banks have informed me that they don't even bother to print the "or" on checks with two names since it is usually a given that it is a joint account. I frequently cash checks with both my and my spouses name on them with only my signature and have had no problems.
Ally6770 | | 2,277 posts since 2010This is what I stated. We could only deposit checks with 2 signatures into a joint account.
In the bank that I worked at you couldn't deposit a check with 2 names on a check unless both were on the account.
Why would it matter if just one name was on the check.
We could cash checks at the bank if both people had their names on the account after we had computers and could verify their signatures. After they moved signature cards to the property management for fireproof safe keeping and before we all had computers we could not cash checks with 2 signatures that could not be verified. But that was stopped also there were cases that signatures were copied. One lady put the check on a window in her kitchen when the sun was shining to copy her husbands signature. She was sued by her husband for fraud. She would also sign the check as the person receiving the funds.
