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Medallion Signature Guarantee

Medallion signature guarantee

It confirms your identity, signature and legal authority to transfer securities

Common reasons for needing a medallion signature guarantee

  • Moving securities to a new account (for example transferring a 401(k) after switching jobs)
  • Giving securities as a gift (such as transferring shares of stock to a child or donating them to a nonprofit)
  • The owner of the securities has died and ownership needs to transfer to a court-appointed representative

We provide medallion services free of charge for Bank of America or Merrill clients who have been with us for at least 6 months (if you're a Merrill or Private Bank client, please contact your Advisor for assistance).

A medallion signature guarantee must be completed in person because it confirms your identity, signature and legal authority to transfer securities. In order to protect your assets, certain documentation is required to approve medallion requests.

We do not provide medallion signature guarantees for assets you're transferring out of a Bank of America or Merrill account (guarantees are typically provided by a third party not involved in the transfer or by the firm receiving the assets). We also do not provide guarantees for powers of attorney and business accounts.

medallion stamp
Please note: A medallion signature guarantee is not the same as a document notarization (which assures that a signature is genuine) or a signature and endorsement guarantee (used for negotiable items such as checks or U.S. Treasury Bond forms). Learn more about Bank of America notary servicesLearn more about Bank of America notary servicesLearn more about Bank of America notary services

Before you schedule your financial center appointment

Tell us why you need a medallion — and find out what documents to bring to your appointment:
View additional reasons >>

Beneficiary confirmation or transfer of death acceptance letter

These documents are provided by the firm to which assets (not subject to probate) are to be transferred and disbursed to designated beneficiary or beneficiaries upon death of the account holder

To obtain this form, please consult your personal legal counsel.

Trustee certification form

This form is provided by Bank of America. It includes a summary of the trust and identifies the owner(s) of the assets listed.

Letters Testamentary or Small Estate Affidavit

Letters Testamentary are issued by the court/court clerk and appoint a personal representative. Letters must be received within 60 days of original issuance by the court (6 months in New York).

Small Estate Affidavits are used to obtain a decedent's assets without formal administration. Not all states offer Small Estate Affidavits and filing requirements may be different (contact your local courthouse for specific filing requirements).

To obtain either of these forms, please consult your personal legal counsel.

Common questions you may have Additional resources
Common questions you may have

What is a medallion signature guarantee?

A medallion signature guarantee is a special stamp that’s used when you transfer securities. It confirms that the signature authorizing the transfer is genuine and that the signer has the legal capacity and authority to sign the document.

Can I get a medallion signature guarantee from Bank of America?

Yes. Medallion Services for account maintenance, or the transfer of securities held in accounts outside of Bank of America or Merrill, are available. Please note: Each signer must be a Bank of America or Merrill client for at least 6 months.

If you are a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management or Bank of America Private Bank client, please contact your Advisor for assistance.

What types of documents do I need to provide to get a medallion signature guarantee?

All medallion requests require you to provide a valid government-issued photo ID, the document or documents being stamped and supporting documents (which vary depending on the request type). For complete details, please select your specific needselect your specific needselect your specific need for a medallion to see a complete list of documents you’ll need.

What steps are involved in getting a medallion signature guarantee?

Step 1. Meet with a financial center associate to discuss your needs and begin the request. Please bring all the supporting documentation with you. All clients requesting the service must be present to sign.

Step 2. Your request and a copy of your signed documents are submitted to a medallion signature guarantee specialist (for your protection, a specialist handles all medallion signature guarantee requests for the transfer of securities from a non-Bank of America or Merrill account).

Step 3. The medallion signature guarantee specialist will review the request (in most cases, a review takes no longer than 2 business days after we receive all documents; complex cases may take up to 5 business days). The specialist will provide email status updates and let you know if any additional documents are needed. If additional documents are required, you can scan and email them to BankofAmericaMSGsupport@ML.comBankofAmericaMSGsupport@ML.comBankofAmericaMSGsupport@ML.com (please include your case number in the subject line) or bring them to a financial center.

Step 4. Once approved, your stamped document will be mailed to you via an overnight carrier (you will have the option to require a signature at delivery). Select financial centers with a medallion signature guarantee stamp on site may be able to provide stamped documents on the same day if all required documents are provided at the time your request is made (speak to a financial center manager to find out of on-site stamps are available in your area).

How long does it take to get a medallion signature guarantee?

In most cases, a review takes no longer than 2 business days after we receive all documents; complex cases may take up to 5 business days. Select financial centers with a medallion signature guarantee stamp on site may be able to provide stamped documents on the same day if all required documents are provided at the time your request is made (speak to a financial center manager to find out of on-site stamps are available in your area).

Additional resources
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Better Money Habits has a variety of resources focused on life priorities when it comes to saving and investing, for example:

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Merrill has a robust investor education section online that includes:

Use the Merrill application at https://www.ml.com/ to find market research, financial guidance and retirement tools.

Clients who have at least one Bank of America product and at least one account with Merrill Lynch®, Merrill Edge®, Bank of America Private Bank® or Benefits OnLine® can use a single sign-on in Online Banking to see all of their accounts on one convenient page. Once linked, these clients can also see all of their accounts in the mobile app. Learn more here.

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Preferred Rewards: We've found that many customers who request medallion services qualify for our Preferred Rewards program, yet may not be taking advantage of all the benefits the program offers. We encourage you to learn more about Preferred Rewardslearn more about Preferred Rewardslearn more about Preferred Rewards or contact your Merrill advisor for details.

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Need to make changes to an account?

Most account changes require that you schedule an appointment to meet with an associate in one of our financial centers.

See what's needed to make account changesSee what's needed to make account changesSee what's needed to make account changes

Handling finances for someone who recently died?

Losing someone can be stressful. Navigating their financial affairs doesn't have to be. We're here to help.

Learn about Bank of America estate servicesLearn about Bank of America estate servicesLearn about Bank of America estate services