Blank Endorsement

  

Categories: Regulations

Remember that dream you had in which you found a blank check that was signed by the account holder, and you took a trip to the bank, followed by a shopping spree?

That’s a type of “blank endorsement.” A check made payable to “cash” is the most well-known type of blank endorsement. Because it says “cash” instead of someone’s name, the check is similar to cash, in that it can be used by anyone.

Blank endorsements are things like checks (i.e. “financial instruments”) that are signed off by the account owner, but without a payee specified. Don’t try blank endorsement at home, kids.

Related or Semi-related Video

Finance: What is a Comfort Letter?6 Views

00:00

Finance a la shmoop what is a comfort letter? S....See the smooth curves there is [An S letter appears]

00:09

that comforting okay okay comfort letter is a letter

00:13

this kind of letter written by an expert usually someone like an auditor or a tax [Expert appears with comfort letter]

00:18

attorney in one form or another who has done deep due diligence into a company

00:24

looked at myriad details and data and volume counts of plastic cubes in their

00:31

inventory and then they've looked at their distribution contracts

00:35

you know with truckers and retail stores and drone deliverers and then they've [Drone flying in the air]

00:40

looked at their bank accounts both the onshore ones and the offshore ones that

00:45

you know they don't really like to talk about and then about 87 ish other things

00:50

that all those people look at and then they write a letter like an actual

00:55

letter which is usually given to the Board of Directors or an acquirer or

01:00

the investigating party whoever that is and that letter states that what the

01:05

company says it has or does is in fact what it has or does which is a good [Man discussing comfort letters]

01:10

thing to know so this letter well it just gives comfort to everyone

01:14

the only challenge can be you know trying not to become too comfortable [Man working near a waterfall]

Up Next

Finance: What is collateral?
98 Views

What is collateral? Any type of asset or property that a borrower pledges as security for a loan is classified as collateral. As the lender has a c...

Finance: What is a Banker's Acceptance Note?
205 Views

What is a Banker’s Acceptance Note? Banker’s acceptance notes are short-term debts that companies can issue; they differ from general debt offe...

Finance: What is a Blank Check Company?
14 Views

What is a Blank Check Company? A Blank Check Company is a company that is just starting out. They are often created as new penny stocks that presen...

Finance: What is a Co-signer?
7 Views

What is a Co-signer? A Co-signer is a 3rd party who agrees to also be held liable for a financial obligation in the event that the primary signer d...

Find other enlightening terms in Shmoop Finance Genius Bar(f)