topic Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check in Community Chat

Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

gidgetgh — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:03:12 GMT

I have Power of Attorney for my father. I have a few checks, made payable to him, that I need to deposit into his checking account and he's having some health issues and I don't know that he's going to be able to endorse the checks so I can deposit them. I'm going to have him sign a blank piece of paper tomorrow and if he does ok with that I'll have him endorse the checks, but in case he can't....

Anyone have experience with this? Do I sign his name on the back and then mine and the note "POA"? Yes, I can certainly ask his bank but his bank seems to have issues with even the simplest transaction so I want to be knowledgable when I go in to do this. I assume I'll need to bring the copy of the Power of Attorney with me to the bank. Do they just look at it or will they keep a copy?

I guess I could also try just writing "for deposit only" and his account number on the bank, but again, his bank makes an issue out of everything. I know that back in the day, you could do that.

I can certainly go to the bank and ask them and will, but I thought I'd check to see if anyone here has experience with this. After all, all of you who post in these forums are just as good as googling!

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

raven-blackbird — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:06:17 GMT

IF you are depositing the money into HIS account.......just sign the check yourself and deposit it..........................................raven

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

gidgetgh — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:07:49 GMT

@raven-blackbird wrote:
IF you are depositing the money into HIS account.......just sign the check yourself and deposit it..........................................raven

@raven-blackbird- sign his name or mine?

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

Maudelynn — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:08:47 GMT

You should bring the original POA papers with you to the bank and have them make a copy and notate the account. Sign the back of the check "John Smith by Mary Smith POA. You shouldn't have any issues.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

raven-blackbird — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:09:54 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
@raven-blackbird wrote:
IF you are depositing the money into HIS account.......just sign the check yourself and deposit it..........................................raven

@raven-blackbird- sign his name or mine?

@gidgetgh

his name.........I used to deposit my grandmothers checks for her and I just signed her name and deposited the check into HER account.........you won't get in trouble for putting money IN the account...........taking is out is a whole other deal LOL.................................raven

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

SaRina — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:28:10 GMT

Most banks, if not all, have their own internal POA forms, which they may require you to complete in addition to presenting your own legal POA document. So once they have their own form on file, you shouldn't have any future issues with any kind of transaction at that bank. The authorization will be in their computer for future reference.

In the meantime, they shouldn't have any problem with a deposit into your father's account.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

violann — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:11:10 GMT

@Maudelynn wrote:
You should bring the original POA papers with you to the bank and have them make a copy and notate the account. Sign the back of the check "John Smith by Mary Smith POA. You shouldn't have any issues.

I always did this and it always worked for me.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

gidgetgh — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:15:19 GMT

Thanks everyone. If he can't endorse them tomorrow, I'll head to the bank Monday, armed with the POA document and see how it goes. It's always an adventure when I go there.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

febe1 — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:18:07 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
I have Power of Attorney for my father. I have a few checks, made payable to him, that I need to deposit into his checking account and he's having some health issues and I don't know that he's going to be able to endorse the checks so I can deposit them. I'm going to have him sign a blank piece of paper tomorrow and if he does ok with that I'll have him endorse the checks, but in case he can't....

Anyone have experience with this? Do I sign his name on the back and then mine and the note "POA"? Yes, I can certainly ask his bank but his bank seems to have issues with even the simplest transaction so I want to be knowledgable when I go in to do this. I assume I'll need to bring the copy of the Power of Attorney with me to the bank. Do they just look at it or will they keep a copy?

I guess I could also try just writing "for deposit only" and his account number on the bank, but again, his bank makes an issue out of everything. I know that back in the day, you could do that.

I can certainly go to the bank and ask them and will, but I thought I'd check to see if anyone here has experience with this. After all, all of you who post in these forums are just as good as googling!

When you do a "deposit only," SunTrust wants your signature and ID.I would just call them and ask. Just recently I wanted to take a check sent to me and give it to another person: a third party check. SunTrust rules that both people must be at the bank to cash the check. They're sticklers.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

dfyre — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:18:54 GMT

I belong to an organization and recently ran a banquet. I am NOT a signatory on the account but collected payments as the treasurer was traveling. I had absolutely no problem just writing "for deposit only" above the account number on the back of each check - and there were dozens of them.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

WenGirl42 — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:23:48 GMT

Does his bank by chance have a mobile app? Many of the chains do now, and they let you take a picture of the check (front and back) and deposit it that way. If you endorsed the checks and deposited them that way, you wouldn't even have to deal with the folks at the branch.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

Big Sister — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 00:54:07 GMT

@gidgetgh Hello. You should not have a problem as others have said.

Bring with you the signed POW; the bank may want one for their files.

Endorse the back with your name followed by "POA."

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

Maudelynn — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:33:48 GMT

@SaRina wrote:
Most banks, if not all, have their own internal POA forms, which they may require you to complete in addition to presenting your own legal POA document. So once they have their own form on file, you shouldn't have any future issues with any kind of transaction at that bank. The authorization will be in their computer for future reference.

In the meantime, they shouldn't have any problem with a deposit into your father's account.

Yes! After the bank has the POA on file, the person who has the POA can make deposits, withdrawals, open accounts and even apply for loans in the name of the person for whom they have power of attorney, as long as that person is alive. Once the person for whom the POA was granted dies, the POA is no longer valid.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

Mz iMac — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:57:38 GMT

@gidgetgh

"his bank but his bank seems to have issues with even the simplest transaction"

"It's always an adventure when I go there."

You need to have a chit chat w/the bank manager.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

jannabelle1 — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:59:24 GMT

Having worked in small and very large banks for over 40 years, I wouldn't advise you to just sign your father's name and deposit the check. The bank needs a copy of your Power of Attorney and they may want you to sign one of their forms/signature cards. I'd encourage you to do that because there may be a time where you need to do more than just make deposits to his accounts. Be glad that the bank is "picky" about these things....you'd rather have them watch out for your father's accounts. Believe me, they have reasons for their security.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

Sister Golden Hair — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 02:06:10 GMT

@gidgetgh If you have one of his deposit slips and write for deposit only on the back of the checks, there will be no problem.

You don't need a POA to deposit checks.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

Sooner — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 02:14:26 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
Thanks everyone. If he can't endorse them tomorrow, I'll head to the bank Monday, armed with the POA document and see how it goes. It's always an adventure when I go there.

If that is the case, I'd find another bank. Banks can be EXTREMELY helpful to their customers. And SHOULD be! Get to know the people there.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

motherinlaw — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 02:14:51 GMT

The attorney that assisted you in drawing up the POA papers should be answering your questions. Every situation is different as are state laws. Everything needs to be addressed perfectly for things to progress smoothly for both you and your Father.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

pitdakota — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 03:44:48 GMT

Usually there isn't a problem with depositing money in the account.

The one thing I will add is that if your father is in agreement and if he is able to make a trip to the bank with you depending on his health in the future....you might consider adding your name to the bank account as a joint account.

Our attorney advised me to do that with my mother and I can't tell you how helpful it was! Any bank business I needed to do for Mom when she wasn't able was no problem, because my name was on the account. Even though I was POA, it still made it much less cumbersome conducting bank business.

Just a thought and good luck with the bank.

Re: Using Power of Attorney to deposit a check

madzonie — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 05:56:50 GMT

When I signed for my mom on her accounts, I signed my name, followed by "as attorney in fact."