If a check is made payable to two payees with 'and' between their names, who must endorse the check?

• A. The bank must endorse
• B. Both named payees must endorse and include both T-bars or account numbers
• C. Endorser must be a manager
• D. Only one of the two needs to endorse

Answer: (B)

When a check is payable to two people with “and” between their names, it is a two-party instrument. To negotiate it, both payees must endorse the check—each signs the back. In addition, they typically should include both T-bars (the two vertical lines that separate endorsements) or their account numbers so the bank can clearly identify and credit the funds to the correct accounts. A single endorsement by just one payee isn’t sufficient for this kind of instrument, so the necessary action is that both named payees endorse and include their identifying marks or numbers.