How to fill out a deposit slip: A step-by-step guide

If you run a small business, depositing cash and checks is just part of the routine, but the humble deposit slip that goes with it still trips people up. Fill it out wrong, and your deposit can be delayed; fill it out right, and your money is in the correct account in minutes.

But there’s really not much to it. A deposit slip is simply a short form that tells the bank whose account the money belongs to and exactly how much you’re depositing in cash and checks. Learn the layout of a deposit slip once, and filling it out becomes second nature.

In this guide, we’ll walk through what a deposit slip is and where to get one, and we’ll give you a clear, seven-step process for filling it out correctly. We’ll also cover how to generate professional deposit slips for your customers and how to answer the questions people ask most often about bank deposits.

What is a deposit slip?

A deposit slip, sometimes called a deposit ticket, is a paper form that lets you add cash or checks to a bank or credit union account. Think of it as a set of instructions for the teller: It records how much money you’re depositing, what form of currency it’s in, and which account should receive it.

Most deposit slips ask for the same details: your name, your account number, the date, the amount of cash you’re depositing, an itemized list of any checks, and the total amount of the deposit. Some slips include a line for “Less Cash Received” if you want a portion of the deposited funds back in hand, plus a signature line you need to use only in certain situations. 

Deposit slips serve a purpose on both sides of the counter. For the customer, the receipt they get afterward is proof that the bank accepted their money. For the bank, deposit slips create a written record of the day’s transactions so nothing is unaccounted for.

Where to get a deposit slip

You usually don’t have to go far to find one:

• In your checkbook: When you order a set of checks, most banks tuck a pad of preprinted deposit slips into the back of the checkbook. These often already have your name and account number filled in.
• At your bank branch: There’s typically a stack of blank, generic slips near the counter or in the lobby. You’ll fill in your details by hand.
• Print your own: You can download a slip from your bank’s website, pick up generic ones at an office supply store, or generate them from accounting software or an online template.

If your slip is generic, be ready to write in your account information.

The 7 steps of filling out a bank deposit slip

Here’s the whole process, broken down into simple steps. Don’t worry if your slip looks slightly different from the one described here; the layout varies by bank, but the information is almost always the same.

Step 1: Get your deposit slip and gather your money

Grab a deposit slip, and have your cash and checks ready. Separate them into two piles because cash and check amounts are recorded on different lines. Make sure any checks are endorsed (signed on the back) before you hand them over.

Step 2: Write the date

Fill in the current date on the line provided. This is the date you’re making the deposit, and it helps both you and the bank keep an accurate record of the transaction.

Step 3: Add your name and account number

Write your name exactly as it appears on your account, and then enter your account number in the space provided. If you’re using a preprinted slip from your checkbook, this information may already be there, but you should double-check that it’s correct. Some slips also have a spot for your bank’s routing number, though a teller can often fill that in for you.

Step 4: Enter your cash amount

On the line marked “Cash,” write the total value of the paper bills and coins you’re depositing. You’ll usually see two boxes: The larger one on the left is for dollars, and the small box on the right is for cents. If you’re depositing only checks and have no cash, leave this line blank.

Step 5: List your checks individually

Each check gets its own line. Next to the amount, there’s usually a small space to note the check number, which helps the bank track each item separately.

If you have more checks than there are lines on the front, flip the deposit slip over. The back typically has an overflow section. Total the amounts of those extra checks on the back, and then carry that figure to the “Total From the Other Side” line on the front. For example, if you have five checks and only three lines up front, list two checks on the back, add their amounts together, and bring that subtotal to the front.

Step 6: Add it up, and request cash back if you want it

Add your cash amount and check amounts together, and then write this amount on the “Subtotal” line.

If you’d like some cash from your deposit, use the “Less Cash Received” line. Say you’re depositing a $200 check but want $40 in hand; you’d enter “$40” here. Then subtract that amount from your subtotal and write the result on the final “Total” line. If you don’t want any cash back, your total is the same as your subtotal.

Step 7: Sign if needed, then submit

You need to sign your deposit slip only if you’re requesting cash back. If you are, sign on the designated line. Otherwise, you can usually skip this step in the process.

Give the completed slip, along with your cash and checks, to the teller. They’ll process everything and hand you a receipt. Hold onto that receipt as proof of your deposit until the funds show up in your account.

A few tips to help you avoid common mistakes

A deposit slip is forgiving, but a few small errors can slow things down:

• Double-check your account number: A single wrong digit can send your money to the wrong place.
• Keep cents in the right box: Mixing up the dollar and cents columns is a common slip-up.
• Don’t forget the back: If you listed checks on the reverse side, make sure that subtotal is carried to the front, or your total won’t add up.
• Endorse your checks: Unsigned checks can hold up your deposit.

If you do make a mistake, don’t try to scribble over it. Let the teller know so they can help you correct it before the deposit is processed.

What about ATM and mobile deposits?

Paper deposit slips aren’t always required anymore. Many ATMs now read checks and count cash automatically, so you simply follow the onscreen prompts. Most banking apps also let you deposit checks by snapping a photo, while many businesses now prefer to accept payments online instead of handling paper checks and cash.

That said, mobile deposits generally process checks, not cash, so if you’ve got bills to deposit, a trip to the bank (and a quick deposit slip) is still usually the way to go. As such, knowing how to fill one out remains a handy skill.

Generate custom deposit slips in minutes with Jotform

The preceding steps are for individuals making personal deposits, but if you’re running a bank, credit union, or financial services business that needs to issue deposit slips to customers, filling out slips by hand for every transaction simply won’t scale.

That’s where Jotform’s free Deposit Slip Template comes in. Instead of producing slips one at a time, you fill out a short online form with the customer’s contact information, account details, and deposit amount, and the template automatically converts each submission into a clean, professional PDF that’s ready to download, print, or email.

Here are a few ways Jotform’s Deposit Slip Template makes processing deposits easy:

• Professional, on-brand slips: With Jotform’s drag-and-drop PDF Editor, you can add your institution’s logo, adjust fonts and colors, and include your own terms and conditions so every slip matches the rest of your branding.
• Built-in e-signatures: Let customers sign their deposit slip electronically with Jotform Sign. No printing or scanning is required.
• Automatic delivery: Set up an autoresponder to email each customer a copy of their deposit slip the moment the form is submitted, so they always have a record.
• Organized recordkeeping: Add a Unique ID widget to assign every PDF its own deposit slip number, which makes tracking and reconciling transactions far simpler.

Because it’s a no-code template, you don’t need any technical skills to get started. Just customize it to fit your workflow and start generating polished deposit slips in minutes. It’s a practical way to speed up service and give your customers a smoother banking experience.

Let Jotform handle the paperwork for you

Filling out a deposit slip is one of those small banking tasks that feels confusing the first time you perform it and then completely routine every time after. Write in your details, separate your cash from your checks, add everything up, and you’re done.

And if you’re handling deposits on the business side rather than the personal one, you don’t have to fill out slips by hand at all. Jotform’s Deposit Slip Template turns a quick form submission into a polished, ready-to-share PDF so you can spend less time on paperwork and more time serving your customers.