Writing Checks To Fidelity Investments: A Step-By-Step Guide

There are several ways to deposit money into a Fidelity account, including setting up payroll direct to an eligible account, sending money to or from a bank account with an electronic funds transfer (EFT), and depositing a check via mobile upload or by mailing a paper check. To deposit a check by mail, enclose a printed contribution form along with your check, and make checks payable to Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC for deposits intended for brokerage, cash management, and 529 accounts. You can also deposit a check using the Fidelity Investments app by selecting Deposit Checks and agreeing to the terms of use, selecting the account for the deposit, entering the dollar amount, signing the check, and submitting a photo of the front and back of the check.

Depositing a check via mobile upload

Firstly, you will need to download the Fidelity Investments app on your smartphone or tablet. The app is available on Apple, Android, and Amazon devices. Once you have the app, follow these steps:

• Open the app and select "Transact" at the bottom of the screen.
• Select "Deposit Checks" and agree to the terms of use.
• Select the account you want to deposit the check into.
• Enter the dollar amount on the check and sign it.
• Take a clear photo of the front and back of your check. Ensure that the photo is not blurry and has a dark, contrasting background.
• Submit the photo, and you're done!

Please note that there are certain types of checks that are not accepted through mobile deposit. These include checks made payable to cash, checks in a foreign currency or drawn on a foreign bank, and stale-dated checks (generally dated more than 180 days prior to receipt). Additionally, there may be maximum contribution limits for certain accounts, which will be presented to you during the deposit process.

Depositing a paper check by mail

Firstly, complete the appropriate deposit or contribution form. The forms available include the 401(k) Contribution Remittance Form, the Non-Prototype Retirement Account Form, and the Annuity Additional Purchase Form. You can also order pre-printed deposit slips.

Secondly, enclose a printed version of the form, along with your check. Write your account number and, if applicable, the contribution year, in the memo field of your check. Make the check payable to the correct recipient, depending on the type of account you have. For example, for Brokerage, Cash Management, and 529 accounts, make the check payable to "Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC". For Mutual Fund accounts, make it payable to the relevant Fidelity fund name, such as "Fidelity Government Cash Reserves".

Thirdly, send your check and form to the correct address, depending on the type of account. For example, for Brokerage, 529, and mutual fund accounts, the address is:

Fidelity Investments

PO Box 770001

Cincinnati, OH 45277-0003

Finally, allow five business days for US mail delivery. If you require a faster service, you can use overnight or certified mail.

Making checks payable to the correct Fidelity Investments address

When writing a check to Fidelity Investments, it is important to make sure that you are sending it to the correct address and that the check is made payable to the correct entity. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:

Firstly, determine the type of account you are depositing to. This is important because the payee name and mailing address will depend on the type of account you have. The different types of accounts include brokerage, cash management, 529, mutual fund, retirement, self-employed 401(k), non-prototype retirement, health savings (HSA), and annuity accounts. Each of these accounts has a specific payee name that you should make the check payable to.

For example, if you have a brokerage, cash management, or 529 account, you would make the check payable to "Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC". On the other hand, if you have a mutual fund account, you would make the check payable to the specific Fidelity fund name, such as "Fidelity Government Cash Reserves". For retirement accounts, the check should be made payable to "Fidelity Investments" or "Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company" (or "Empire Fidelity Investments" if you are a New York resident).

Once you have determined the correct payee name, you will need to include your account number and, if applicable, the contribution year in the memo field of your check. This helps ensure that your funds are deposited into the correct account.

Now, you can address the envelope. The mailing address will depend on the type of account and the method of delivery. For regular mail delivery, you can use the following addresses:

• Brokerage, 529, and mutual fund accounts: Fidelity Investments PO Box 770001 Cincinnati, OH 45277-0003
• Self-employed 401(k) contribution remittance: Fidelity Investments PO Box 770001 Cincinnati, OH 45277-0003
• Non-prototype retirement account: Fidelity Investments PO Box 770001 Cincinnati, OH 45277-0048
• Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company Annuity Service Center: PO Box 770001 Cincinnati, OH 45277-0050 (or "Empire Fidelity Investments" for New York residents, with a zip code of 45277-0051)
• Health Savings Account: Fidelity Investments PO Box 770001 Cincinnati, OH 45277-0047

If you are sending your check via overnight or certified mail, the address is slightly different:

Brokerage and mutual fund accounts (including HSAs): Fidelity Investments 100 Crosby Parkway, KC1H Covington, KY 41015

Lastly, remember to include the appropriate deposit or contribution form with your check. You can find these forms on the Fidelity website. It is important to follow these guidelines to ensure that your check is processed correctly and deposited into the right account.

Acceptable check types for Fidelity Investments

When depositing a check to a Fidelity account, there are several options available to you. You can deposit a check via mobile upload or mail a paper check.

Fidelity will accept the following types of checks:

• Checks payable to one or more Fidelity account owners (second-party checks; see endorsement requirements below)
• Cashier’s or bank checks
• Federal Reserve checks
• U.S. Treasury checks

Fidelity will not accept the following types of checks:

• Checks in a foreign currency or drawn on a foreign bank
• Stale-dated checks (checks dated more than 180 days prior to receipt)

If you are depositing a second-party check, an endorsement may be required. Generally, this is needed if the check payee name does not match the owner name(s) of the Fidelity account the check is being deposited into.

Endorsement requirements for depositing second-party checks

When depositing a second-party check to Fidelity Investments, an endorsement may be required if the check payee name does not match the owner name(s) of the Fidelity account the check is being deposited into.

If you are unable to deposit a check or do not want to cash it yourself, you can sign it over to someone else. This is known as a "third-party check". Before endorsing the check, it is important to confirm that the third party and their bank can accept a signed-over check. The process of cashing or depositing a third-party check can be tricky, so it is important to carefully plan the transaction ahead of time.

To endorse the check, sign the back of the check in the endorsement area, which usually reads "Endorse Check Here" or "Endorse Here". Then, write "Pay to the Order of" followed by the name of the third party. This signals to the bank that you are endorsing the transfer of ownership of the check.

It is recommended to accompany the third party to the bank when the check is deposited and to provide proof of identification. Additionally, some banks may require the presence of the person who signed the check to bring identification as well.

Frequently asked questions