What is a Signature Card Form?

A signature card form is generated when a customer opens a checking or savings account at a bank. The signature card form contains data fields to collect information about the person requesting the account, specifies who may withdraw funds from it, and includes the signature(s) of those authorized to access the account.

Deposit Account Customer Data

When establishing a new deposit account, a financial institution’s account manager enters information into a deposit account creation platform. Among other information, this typically includes the authorized individual’s:

• Name
• Social security number
• Driver’s license number
• Address
• Phone number

The software then produces a signature card form containing the customer’s new account number and personal information. The signature card is printed, signed by the account holder(s), and retained by the bank.

Signature Card Use Cases

A signature card allows tellers to compare the signature of an individual requesting a withdrawal with the signature(s) on file for that account. The signature card form also indicates the number of authorized signatures required for an account withdrawal.

For example, in the case of a married couple, only one of the two individuals’ signatures may be needed to make a withdrawal. However, a business account might stipulate two authorized signatures.

Electronic Signature Card Forms

Most modern banks now enjoy the convenience of electronic signature card forms produced by either a core banking system or a third-party banking account management platform. Once signed and stored within the digital system, a teller can access the electronic file to compare a customer’s signature with an authorized account holder’s signature.

Some third-party solutions, like AccuAccount Teller View, offer the option of including a driver’s license image as an extra fraud prevention measure. 

Account Management Resources

For more information about digital account management in the banking industry, be sure to check out our extensive resource library with free spreadsheets, whitepapers, and ebooks.

Browse our banking definitions page for more terminology.