To get a medallion signature guarantee, you’ll usually have to visit a bank, credit union, or brokerage firm with documentation proving your ownership of the securities you want to transfer.
Bank of America, Chase Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, Edward Jones, and Morgan Stanley are some of the financial institutions that offer medallion signatures — though only for accountholders.
Additionally, eSignature Guarantee provides a remote option for those who cannot visit a branch or are not a member at a guaranteeing institution.
Below, we explain what exactly a medallion signature guarantee is and provide the list of banks, credit unions, and brokerages that do and don’t offer medallion signature guarantees.
What Is a Medallion Signature Guarantee?
A medallion signature guarantee is most commonly used when you own a physical security, such as a stock or bond, and want to sell or make a transfer without a broker.
Transfer agents commonly require that your signature be “guaranteed” before you can complete any transactions. This helps prevent individuals from fraudulently posing as you and forging your signature to sell the stock.
A signature guarantee is also a way for transfer agents to reduce their liability since an outside agency takes responsibility for verifying your identity. So it’s just a matter of proving you are who you say you are.
There are three different medallion signature guarantee programs, all of which are equally valid. Different types are simply used by different organizations, as outlined below:
- Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP):Used by theUnited States and Canadian financial institutions, STAMP is open to all signature guarantors.
- Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP): Used by regional stock exchange member firms and trust companies, SEMP is open to all members of the American Stock Exchange, New York Exchange, Boston Stock Exchange, Midwest Stock Exchange, Pacific Stock Exchange, and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, as well as clearing and trust companies.
- New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP): Used only by firms that are members of the New York Stock Exchange, MSP is only used for applicable transfers and sales.
What Documentation Is Required?
To get a medallion signature guarantee, you’ll generally be required to visit the guarantor in person and present:
- Documentation showing the exact and complete ownership of the security
- Documentation showing the value of the transaction
- Documentation showing your legal authority (if you are signing on behalf of another individual)
- Photo identification
- Proof of name change as a result of marriage, divorce, or legal name change (if applicable)
Requirements may vary slightly, so it’s always a good idea to check document requirements with your specific providerbefore leaving home.
For those who are unable to visit a bank, credit union, or brokerage firm in person — such as those who are overseas or homebound — it’ll be more difficult to get a medallion signature guarantee.
However, for a fee, you can get a medallion signature online through eSignature Guarantee. You’ll still need to provide documentation proving your identity and ownership of the security. We detail this option in our list below.
If overseas, you can try contacting the U.S. Embassy for assistance. You may also want to try contacting the transfer agent or the company requiring the medallion signature guarantee to explain your situation and ask for assistance.
Locations that Offer Medallion Signature Guarantee Services
Banks and Credit Unions
Banks and credit unions generally don’t detail the process for obtaining medallion signature guarantee services on their websites, so we reached out to each of these financial institutions’ corporate offices to confirm the following information.
Many of these banks and credit unions only offer medallion signature guarantees at some of their branches. When this is indicated, it’s best to use the location finders we’ve included and contact your local branch to see if it provides medallion signature guarantees.
Bank of America
- See our comprehensive article about BofA’s Medallion Signature Guarantee
Bank of the West
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Either free or $10, depending on the branch
- Find your nearest Bank of the West branch
Capital One
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost: Free
- Find your nearest Capital One branch
Chase Bank
- See our article, Chase Bank Medallion Signature Guarantee Services: Requirements, etc
Citibank
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Citibank branch
Citizens Bank
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Citizens Bank branch
Digital Credit Union (New Hampshire and Massachusetts)
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Digital Credit Union branch
Dollar Bank (Pennsylvania and Ohio)
- Medallion signature policy: Available at all locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Dollar Bank branch
Fifth Third Bank
- Medallion signature policy:Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Fifth Third Bank
First Interstate Bank
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Varies by location
- Find your nearest Great Western Bank branch
First Midwest Bank
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest First Midwest Bank branch
First Republic Bank
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders of over one year; securities being transferred must be $2 million or less
- Cost: Free
- Find your nearest First Republic Bank
HSBC
- Medallion signature policy:Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Varies; each branch manager has discretion when it comes to fees
- Find your nearest HSBC
KeyBank
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest KeyBank branch
Navy Federal Credit Union
- Medallion signature policy: Available at all locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Navy Federal Credit Union branch
Northeast Credit Union
- Medallion signature policy:Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost: Free
- Find your nearest Northeast Credit Union
Northwest Bank
- Medallion signature policy:Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:$10
- Find your nearest Northwest Bank
PNC Bank
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest PNC Bank branch
Regions
- Medallion signature policy:Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Regions Bank
TD Bank
- Medallion Signature Policy: Available at most locations and only for account holders; TD Bank strongly recommends contacting your local branch before visiting to ensure the service is available and also to confirm necessary documentation and forms of identification.
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest TD Bank branch
Union Bank & Trust
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:$50
- Find your nearest Union Bank & Trust branch
U.S. Bank
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost: Free
- Find your nearest U.S. Bank branch
Wells Fargo
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for Wells Fargo clients who have had an active Wells Fargo account (including mortgage accounts) for at least 60 days
- Cost:Varies by location
- Find your nearest Wells Fargo branch
Brokerage Firms
Medallion guarantee stamp locations are fairly common at brokerage firms but only for account holders.
Brokerage firms generally don’t detail the process for obtaining medallion signature guarantee services on their websites. Thus, we reached out to each of their corporate offices to bring you the following information.
If you have a good relationship with your brokerage firm, you can request for your stocks to be held in “street name.” This means the stocks are recorded as being held by your brokerage firm instead of you personally.
When it comes time to sell the stocks, no signature guarantee will be necessary since the seller of records is the brokerage firm.
Ameriprise Financial
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders.You must initiate paperwork through your local office, which will then be processed through Ameriprise Financial’s central office.
- Cost: Free
- Find your nearest Ameriprise Financial branch
Charles Schwab
- Medallion signature policy: Available only at the company’s operation centers in Phoenix and Orlando and only for account holders. Both the operation center in Phoenix and the operation center in Orlando will receive documents via regular mail and overnight mail. Contact your local branch for more information regarding specific documents required to be submitted to the Operations Center for verification.
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Charles Schwab branch
Edward Jones
- Medallion signature policy: Available at all locations and only for account holders. You must initiate paperwork through your local office, which will then be processed through Edward Jones’ central office.
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Edward Jones branch
Fidelity Investments
- Medallion signature policy: Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Fidelity Investments branch
Merrill Lynch
- Medallion signature policy: Available at all Wealth Management Services locations and only for account holders
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Merril Lynch branch
Morgan Stanley
- Medallion signature policy: Available at most locations.Smaller locations may not be able to provide services on-site but can forward the paperwork to a larger location. The service is only available to account holders. Morgan Stanley will provide medallion signature guaranteesonly if funds are coming into a Morgan Stanley account, not if funds are leaving a Morgan Stanley account.
- Cost:Free
- Find your nearest Morgan Stanley branch
Raymond James
- Medallion signature policy:Available at some locations and only for account holders
- Cost: Free or varies by institution
- Find your nearest Raymond James branch
Wells Fargo Financial Advisors
- Medallion Signature Policy: Available through any Wells Fargo Financial Advisor and only for account holders
- Cost: Free
- Find your nearest Wells Fargo Financial Advisors branch
Online Signatures
We were unable to find any financial institutions that will grant a medallion signature guarantee to anyone unless they’re an account holder with that bank, credit union, or brokerage firm.
We did, however, find one company that offers a medallion signature guarantee online and doesn’t require membership with a particular financial institution.
eSignature Guarantee
- Medallion Signature Policy:Verify your identity online, make your payment, upload or mail in your documents, and receive your medallion signature guarantee
- Cost:$149 per medallion stamp, plus shipping if you choose to mail in your supporting documents rather than use digital delivery
- Find out more by visiting the eSignature Guarantee website
Locations that Don’t Provide Medallion Signature Guarantee Services
During our research, we found that the following financial institutions do not offer medallion signature guarantees.
Banks and Credit Unions
- San Diego County Credit Union
Brokerage Firms
- E-Trade
- Scottrade
- TD Ameritrade
