When you open a joint account, you and the other account owner have equal access to the funds. Generally, any account owner can make a withdrawal without the consent or involvement of the other account owner. However, some banks enable people to open joint accounts on which two signatures are necessary for withdrawals. If you have such an account, you can only withdraw funds by going to the bank in-person along with the other account owner.
Arrange to meet the other joint account owner at the local branch of your bank. If you have any checks for the account in question, then either you or the other owner must complete and sign a check. In the absence of any checks, you can use a withdrawal slip that works just like a check except you must write your account number onto the slip.
Go to the teller line. Hand the teller one form of government-issued identification such as a driver's license or a passport. The other account owner must also give one form of ID to the teller so that the teller can look your account up and ensure that you are the account's signers.
Turn over the check or withdrawal slip and sign your name on the first line in the endorsement section. The joint owner must sign his name directly beneath your signature. Hand the endorsed check to the teller and wait for the teller to give you your cash.
Tips
If you have a joint account that does not require two signatures, you can make a withdrawal in the bank by yourself rather than having to involve the joint owner. You can also request to have a debit card for the account in which case you can access cash by entering the card and your personal-identification-number at an automated-teller-machine or by using point-of-sale machines in stores.
In most states, when a joint account owner dies, the surviving account owner assumes full control of any funds in the account. However, in some states when one owner dies, half of the account proceeds become the property of the deceased owner's estate. This can lead to complications for the surviving owner if the estate has to pass through probate.
Warnings
If you have a joint bank account, you must discuss all of your transactions with the other account owner and keep a careful record of all of the deposits and withdrawals. When a joint account becomes overdrawn, you and the other account owner are equally responsible for the debt and any overdraft fees that it incurs.
References
Tips
- If you have a joint account that does not require two signatures, you can make a withdrawal in the bank by yourself rather than having to involve the joint owner. You can also request to have a debit card for the account in which case you can access cash by entering the card and your personal-identification-number at an automated-teller-machine or by using point-of-sale machines in stores.
- In most states, when a joint account owner dies, the surviving account owner assumes full control of any funds in the account. However, in some states when one owner dies, half of the account proceeds become the property of the deceased owner's estate. This can lead to complications for the surviving owner if the estate has to pass through probate.
Warnings
- If you have a joint bank account, you must discuss all of your transactions with the other account owner and keep a careful record of all of the deposits and withdrawals. When a joint account becomes overdrawn, you and the other account owner are equally responsible for the debt and any overdraft fees that it incurs.