Bank Notary Services

Susan GuilloryUpdated August 18, 2023

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Many banks offer services beyond checking and savings accounts, including bank notary services. If you find yourself in a situation where you need a formal document notarized, it can be helpful to understand what these services look like, what sort of documents can be notarized, what you’ll pay, and who offers bank notary services.

How Notarization Services Work

If you’re unfamiliar with bank notary services, here’s a quick overview.A notary is someone who is legally authorized to act in an official capacity as a witness to you signing legal documents, such as contracts and wills. Once you sign the document with the notary as a witness, the notary will also sign the document and stamp it with an official seal. The notary will then record the transaction in a ledger, with details on the photo identification you provided at the transaction.Recommended: Guide to Opening a Savings Account

Types of Notarization Services

While witnessing a signature is the most common type of bank notarization service, there are other services, as well.

Signature

Sometimes when you complete a transaction, such as taking out a mortgage on a home, you are required to have a notarized agreement. In this situation, you would visit a notary public, who would verify your identification matches who you are, and then witness your signature on the document.

Acknowledgment

This service is provided when you have documents that show ownership, such as a deed for land or a home. It may be used for transferring assets from one party to another. It can also be used for trusts or powers of attorney, which can come in handy when someone dies. For an acknowledgment notarization, the notary public stands witness to you, and you provide photo identification to prove who you are. You sign the document to declare that the signature on the document is yours and that you agree with what is in the document.

Jurat

Some court cases require a notarization for depositions or affidavits. The notary witnesses you signing the document and swearing that the information in the document is true.

Copy

If you need a copy of a college transcript, driver’s license, passport, or other official document, you may need to have the copy notarized to certify that the copy is true.

Do Banks Have Notaries?

Often, the answer is yes. Many banks offer bank notary services, but sometimes not every branch has a full-time bank notary on staff. It’s a good idea to check with your bank’s website to see which branches offer notary services.Additionally, you can find notaries at businesses like UPS or FedEx stores, tax preparation agencies, real estate firms, insurance agencies, and even government offices.

Bank Notarization

Bank notary services work like they would at any business that offers notary public services.You may need to schedule an appointment since not every bank employee is likely to be a notary public. Also, make sure your bank branch offers notary services.You will need to bring the document you need notarized as well as photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.Keep in mind that some documents require a third-party witness, so in addition to the notary public witnessing your signature, you may need to bring a friend to act as a witness and sign the document. They will also need their photo ID.Once the notary has witnessed your signature on the document, they will record your ID information, as well as your name and address. The notary will stamp the document with either a notary stamp (for legal documents) or a medallion signature guarantee (for financial documents). It’s a good idea to make a copy of the notarized document, but you will likely need to present the original notarized document to whoever has requested that you get it notarized.Recommended: How Much Money Should You Be Saving Each Month?

Do Banks Charge for Notary?

Often, banks offer bank notary services free to customers who have a checking account, savings account, or another type of financial relationship with the bank. This, as well as the expediency of the service (which, if the notary public isn’t busy with another customer, can take just five minutes), is a major perk of going to your bank for notary services.If you’re not a customer of the bank, the bank may charge you for the notarization of a document. Fees are set by state, but you can expect to pay from $2 to $15 per document, depending on the complexity.Recommended: Differences Between Credit Union and Banks

How to Find Out If My Bank Offers Notary Services

Not every bank and not every branch offers notary services, so before you’re in a time crunch to get a document signed, find out where you can get your document notarized.The easiest first step is to check your bank’s website to see what services it offers and which are available at your preferred branch. If you can’t get the information you need on the website, call the branch. You may need to schedule an appointment, so plan ahead. If you can’t get an appointment on your timeline, look at other options, such as other banks, a UPS store, or your local post office.

The Takeaway

Bank notary services are useful in many situations, such as when you’re buying a home or have a legal document that needs an official signature. If you’re lucky, your bank offers notarization services, and you might not even need to pay to get access to them.If you’re in need of a savings account, consider Lantern by SoFi. Lantern can help you find an interest-bearing savings account from top banks all in one place, including interest rates, fees, and minimum balance requirements.Compare high interest online savings accounts and find today’s best rate with Lantern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents can be notarized at a bank?

Can anyone use a bank notary service or do you need to be a customer of the bank?

How long does it take to get a document notarized at a bank?

Photo credit: iStock/AndreyPopov

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About the Author

Susan Guillory

Su Guillory is a freelance business writer and expat coach. She’s written several business books and has been published on sites including Forbes, AllBusiness, and SoFi. She writes about business and personal credit, financial strategies, loans, and credit cards.

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