Medallion Signature Guarantee vs. Notary Stamp: Which Do You Need?

A medallion signature guarantee is a special stamp from a participating bank, credit union or broker-dealer that guarantees your signature on a securities transfer. A notary cannot provide one. If a transfer agent or brokerage asks for a medallion signature guarantee, a notary stamp will not substitute for it, no matter how official it looks. The good news is that many transfer packets ask for both: a medallion on the transfer form and a notary on a sworn statement such as an affidavit of domicile. This guide explains which is which, where to go and what to bring.

Medallion signature guarantee vs notary: the key differences

	Medallion signature guarantee	Notarization
Who provides it	A financial institution in a medallion program: banks, credit unions, savings associations, broker-dealers	A commissioned notary public
What it confirms	That the signature is genuine and the signer has authority to transfer the securities described	The signer’s identity, and that they signed or swore willingly before the notary
Liability	The guaranteeing institution is financially responsible if the signature is forged	The notary is responsible for performing the notarial act properly
Typical uses	Stock powers, transfer of ownership forms, moving certificated shares or some account transfers	Affidavits, powers of attorney, deeds, acknowledgments
Who usually qualifies	Mostly existing customers of that institution	Anyone with acceptable ID

The SEC’s investor site describes the Medallion Signature Guarantee Program as a way to make it harder for someone to steal securities by forging the owner’s signature. There are three programs: the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP).

Why a notary stamp can’t stand in for a medallion

Transfer agents, the companies that keep a corporation’s shareholder records, set their own rules for which guarantees they will accept. Under SEC Rule 17Ad-15, each registered transfer agent must have written standards for accepting signature guarantees from “eligible guarantor institutions,” a list that includes banks, brokers and dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations. A notary is not on that list.

Transfer agents say so bluntly. Equiniti’s transfer of ownership package, for example, states that no other form of signature verification, including a notary seal, can be accepted in place of the medallion guarantee. That is a limit of the notary’s role, which we cover more broadly in what a notary can and cannot do.

Where to get a medallion signature guarantee

If you searched for a medallion signature guarantee near me, the most reliable answer is: your own financial institution. Participating banks, credit unions and brokerages generally prefer to guarantee signatures for their own customers, because they are putting their money behind your signature. Not every branch has a staff member authorized to use the medallion stamp, and some institutions cap the dollar value they will guarantee.

1. Call your bank or credit union first. Ask whether they provide medallion signature guarantees, at which branch and whether an appointment is needed.
2. Ask about limits. Tell them the approximate value of the transfer, since some institutions will not guarantee above a certain amount.
3. If you hold the shares through a brokerage, ask the brokerage. Sometimes a transfer between brokerages does not need a medallion at all.
4. If none of those work, ask the transfer agent what alternatives it accepts.

What to bring to the bank

Requirements vary, so ask in advance, but institutions commonly want:

• A current government photo ID (some ask for a second form of ID).
• The unsigned transfer form or stock power. You will usually sign it in front of the bank officer.
• Proof of ownership, such as the original stock certificate or a recent account statement.
• Proof of authority if you are signing for someone else: letters testamentary or of administration for an executor, a small estate affidavit, a trust document or a power of attorney.
• Every registered owner whose signature is required, in person.

If you are signing as an agent under a power of attorney, bring the full document; our power of attorney notary services page explains how those documents are signed in the first place.

When a notarized document is what you need

Estate transfers are where the two services meet. A typical transfer agent packet for a deceased shareholder, like Equiniti’s, asks for:

1. A transfer of ownership form signed by the executor or personal representative, with a medallion signature guarantee.
2. Proof of the representative’s authority, such as court-issued letters or, where the state allows it, small-estate paperwork.
3. An affidavit of domicile, a sworn statement of where the deceased lived, which must be signed before a notary public.
4. The original stock certificates, if the shares are held in certificate form.

So a notary may be exactly what you need for the affidavit, even though the transfer form still goes to a bank. If a Tennessee estate is small enough to be handled without full probate, our guide to the Tennessee small estate affidavit in Hamilton County explains that option. For other sworn statements, see our page on affidavit notarization.

Some transfer agents also offer a medallion waiver for smaller transfers (Equiniti’s package describes one for transfers of $10,000 or less), usually with its own forms and fees. Check your transfer agent’s current packet rather than assuming.

A quick way to tell which one your form wants

• A box labeled “Medallion Signature Guarantee” or “Signature Guaranteed” on the form means a participating financial institution.
• Wording like “sworn to and subscribed before me,” “notary public” or a blank for a commission expiration date means a notary.
• If the instructions say “a notary is not acceptable,” believe them.
• If the form is unclear, call the transfer agent or brokerage that sent it and ask which signatures need a medallion and which need a notary. Getting the answer before you visit a bank saves a second trip and a rejected packet.

For the general notarization process, see how to get a document notarized.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a notary public provide a medallion signature guarantee?

No. A medallion signature guarantee can only be given by a financial institution that participates in one of the medallion programs. A notary stamp is a different thing, and transfer agents that ask for a medallion will not accept a notary seal in its place.

Where can I get a medallion signature guarantee near me?

Start with the bank, credit union or brokerage where you already have an account, since most participating institutions provide guarantees mainly to their own customers. Call ahead to confirm the branch offers the service and ask what to bring.

Why won’t my bank give me a medallion signature guarantee?

The guaranteeing institution takes on financial liability if the signature turns out to be forged, so many limit the service to established customers, cap the dollar amount, or require proof of ownership and authority before they stamp anything.

Does an estate stock transfer need a notary too?

Often yes, for a different document. Transfer agents commonly ask for a notarized affidavit of domicile along with a medallion-guaranteed transfer form. Read the transfer agent’s instructions to see which signature needs which.

Is there any way around the medallion requirement?

Some transfer agents offer a waiver or an alternative process for smaller transfers, usually with extra paperwork or a surety fee. Whether one exists, and its limits, depends entirely on that transfer agent, so ask them directly.

What Priority Mobile Notary Services can and can’t do here

To be clear: Priority Mobile Notary Services does not provide medallion signature guarantees, and no notary can. For that stamp, go to a participating bank, credit union or brokerage. What Karen McCormick can do, as a Tennessee notary, is notarize the other pieces of a transfer packet, such as an affidavit of domicile or a power of attorney, at a home, hospital or office around Hixson and Chattanooga. See the full list of notary services, call (423) 401-8316, or send a message through the contact page.