How to fill out a deposit slip

What a deposit slip is for

A deposit slip is the short form you fill out when you add money to a bank account in person or at an ATM that asks for one. It records your account number, the date, and a breakdown of the cash and checks you are depositing, then a total. The teller uses it to credit the right account for the right amount, and your copy is a receipt if anything needs to be checked later.

You will usually find blank deposit slips at the back of your checkbook or in a stack at the bank counter. Many are already printed with your name and account number. If yours is blank, you fill in the account number yourself.

The fields on a deposit slip

• Name and date. Your name and the current date.
• Account number. The account you are depositing into, often preprinted.
• Cash. The total dollar amount of paper money and coins you are depositing.
• Checks, listed individually. One line per check, with its amount, and sometimes the check number or bank.
• Subtotal. Cash plus all checks added together.
• Less cash received. Any amount you want back in cash at the counter.
• Total deposit. The subtotal minus any cash received, which is the amount actually added to your account.
• Signature. Required only if you are getting cash back.

Fill out a deposit slip step by step

1. Write your name and the date. Print your name if it is not preprinted, and add today's date.
2. Confirm the account number. If the slip is preprinted, check that it is the right account. If it is blank, write the account number you are depositing into.
3. Enter cash. On the "Cash" line, write the total value of all bills and coins you are depositing. If you have no cash, leave it blank or write 0.00.
4. List each check. Write each check on its own line in the checks section, with the amount in dollars and cents. If there are more checks than lines, use the back of the slip and carry that total to the front.
5. Add the subtotal. Add the cash and all the checks together and write the sum on the subtotal line.
6. Enter any cash back. If you want some money back in cash, write that amount on the "less cash received" line. If not, leave it blank.
7. Write the total deposit. Subtract any cash received from the subtotal. This final number is what goes into your account.
8. Sign if needed. Sign the slip only if you are receiving cash back. A plain deposit with no cash back usually does not need a signature.

Adding up cash and checks correctly

The math on a deposit slip is simple, but it needs to be exact because the bank verifies it against the actual money.

• Cash line is one combined number for all bills and coins, not a list.
• Checks are listed one per line so each can be checked against the physical check. Endorse the back of every check before you hand it over, usually by signing and writing "For deposit only" with your account number.
• Subtotal equals cash plus every check.
• Total deposit equals the subtotal minus any cash you take back.

Double check that the subtotal and total match the money you are actually handing over. If your total does not match the cash and checks in front of the teller, they will correct it, which slows down the line.

Getting cash back at deposit

Some banks let you take part of a deposit in cash. If you deposit a 500 dollar check but want 100 dollars in your pocket, you would show a 500.00 subtotal, 100.00 on the "less cash received" line, and a 400.00 total deposit. Because you are taking money out, the bank requires your signature on the slip, and you generally need to do this with a teller rather than at an ATM. Photo ID is often requested.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting to endorse the checks. The bank cannot deposit a check you have not signed on the back.
• Adding cash and checks in the wrong boxes. Cash goes on the cash line, and each check goes on its own check line.
• Math errors. A subtotal or total that does not match the money causes a correction and a delay.
• Wrong account number on a blank slip, which can send your money to the wrong account.
• Signing when you should not, or not signing when you take cash back. A signature is needed only when you receive cash.

Deposit slip vs mobile deposit

Many banks now let you deposit a check with your phone by taking a photo of the front and back in the app, which skips the paper deposit slip entirely. Mobile deposit is quick and works from home, but it usually has a daily or monthly dollar limit, and it is only for checks, not cash. A paper deposit slip at a teller or ATM is still the way to deposit cash, to deposit a large batch of checks, or to take part of the deposit back as cash. It helps to know both, so you can pick the faster one for the job in front of you.

How long until the money is available

Depositing money does not always mean you can spend it the same minute. Banks often make the first part of a check deposit available quickly and hold the rest for a day or more, especially for large checks or a new account. Cash deposits made with a teller are usually available sooner. Because of these holds, keep track of what you deposited and when, and avoid spending against a check that has not fully cleared. If a check bounces after you have spent the money, you can end up with an overdraft.

Running low on deposit slips

If your checkbook is out of deposit slips, you have a few options. Blank counter slips are available at any branch, where you fill in your account number by hand. You can order more preprinted slips through your bank, often from the same place you order checks. Some people keep a printable deposit slip as a PDF so they can fill it in and print a clean copy whenever they need one, which is handy if you make regular deposits.

Keep a copy for your records

Always keep the carbon copy or a photo of the deposit slip, and record the deposit in your check register so your running balance stays accurate. Note the date, the total deposited, and whether any part was cash back. Deposited funds are not always available immediately, so knowing exactly what you put in and when helps you avoid spending against money that has not cleared.

Fill and save deposit slips and banking forms online

If you keep a digital banking log, print your own slips, or want a clean record instead of a smudged carbon copy, you can fill everything out on your computer. Open our fill a PDF tool, add a deposit slip or banking log template, type the cash and check amounts into the correct boxes, and download a neat copy. The file is processed in your browser, so your account number and balances stay on your device.

For related banking paperwork, the form templates library includes a direct deposit form so you can have paychecks sent straight to your account and skip the trip to the counter. Fill it in the same way, then download or print it for your employer.

Try fillable.ca free and keep your records tidy

Filling out banking forms should take seconds, not a hunt for a pen at the counter. Create a free account on fillable.ca to save your filled deposit slips and banking logs, reuse a template each time you make a deposit, and keep a clean history in one place. Start with the fill tool and add your first form.