How to Fill Out a Deposit Slip: Step-by-Step

A deposit slip is a small pre-printed or blank form used at a bank or credit union to document the cash and checks you are depositing into a specific account. When you complete a deposit slip and hand it to a teller along with your funds, the teller uses the information to credit the correct account for the correct amount. Deposit slips create a paper record of the transaction and help prevent errors in crediting funds.

Many banks provide pre-printed deposit slips at the back of a checkbook that already include your name, account number, and routing number. Banks may also keep blank generic deposit slips at teller windows for customers who do not have pre-printed slips. FDIC-insured banks are required to provide receipts for deposits, which serve as your proof of the transaction. To understand how savings accounts work, note that deposit slips are used for both checking and savings accounts.

Complete a deposit slip by filling in the following fields in order:

1. Date: Write today's date in the date field, typically located at the top of the slip. Use the format MM/DD/YYYY or as indicated on the form.
2. Account Number: Write your bank account number in the designated field. If you are using a pre-printed deposit slip from your checkbook, your account number is already printed — confirm it matches the account you want to deposit into.
3. Name: Write your full name as it appears on the account. Some slips ask for this; others are pre-printed with your name.
4. Cash Amount: If you are depositing cash, write the total dollar amount of cash in the 'Cash' or 'Currency' line.
5. Check Amounts: List each check separately in the 'Checks' section, including the check's dollar amount. Some slips include a column for the check's routing or transit number (the first set of numbers on the bottom of the check), though this is not always required.
6. Subtotal: Add up your cash and all check amounts to get the subtotal. Write this in the subtotal or total deposit line.
7. Less Cash Received (if applicable): If you want to receive some cash back from the deposit, write that amount in the 'Less Cash Received' line and sign the slip where indicated. The net deposit amount is the subtotal minus cash back.
8. Total Deposit: Write the final net deposit amount in the 'Total' or 'Net Deposit' field. This is the amount that will be credited to your account.

Before depositing a check, you must endorse it by signing the back of the check in the endorsement area — usually within the marked box or space at one end of the check. For a standard deposit, sign your name as it appears on the front of the check (the payee line). If you want to restrict the check specifically for deposit, write 'For Deposit Only' above your signature — this prevents the check from being cashed if it is lost after endorsement.

Checks with no endorsement may be refused by the teller or the bank's processing system. Always endorse checks before arriving at the bank or ATM to avoid holding up the transaction. For a deeper look at endorsement options, see our guide on how to endorse a check and how to endorse a check to someone else.

Several errors can delay your deposit or result in funds being credited to the wrong account:

• Wrong account number: Double-check your account number against your bank card, statement, or pre-printed slip. A transposed digit can direct funds to an incorrect account.
• Incorrect total: Add up each item carefully before writing the total. A math error may cause a discrepancy that requires the teller to re-count and reconcile.
• Forgetting to sign for cash back: If you want to receive cash back from the deposit, sign the slip where indicated — most banks require a signature for the 'Less Cash Received' field.
• Failing to endorse checks: Unendorsed checks are typically rejected at the teller window. Always endorse checks before presenting them for deposit. Check our endorse check guide for quick reference.

Many modern banking options allow you to deposit funds without completing a paper deposit slip:

• ATM deposits: Most bank ATMs guide you through the deposit process electronically — you insert cash or checks directly and the machine captures the amount without a paper deposit slip.
• Mobile check deposit: Most major U.S. banks allow you to deposit checks by photographing them through the bank's mobile app. No deposit slip is required. Services like Cash App check deposit work similarly for balances held in Cash App.
• Direct deposit: Payroll, government benefits, and recurring payments can be directed to your account electronically, bypassing physical deposit entirely. Learn how to set up direct deposit using a voided check.

The FDIC notes that bank accounts at FDIC-insured institutions are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, per insured bank — regardless of how the deposit was made.