The Short Answer
Very few. If you have been calling banks trying to get a medallion signature guarantee, you are not alone. Most people who need a medallion signature guarantee spend hours on the phone only to discover that the vast majority of banks and financial institutions no longer provide them, even to their own customers.
This is not a temporary situation or a staffing issue. It reflects a long-term shift in how banks think about medallion guarantees, and it is unlikely to reverse.
Why Banks Stopped Offering Medallion Signature Guarantees
Banks that provide a medallion stamp are taking on real financial liability. When a bank stamps a document, it is guaranteeing that the signature is genuine and that the signer has the legal authority to make the transaction. If something goes wrong, such as a forged signature or an unauthorized transfer, the bank that applied the stamp is financially responsible.
For most banks, this liability is simply not worth the risk. Here is why:
Low demand, high stakes. A typical bank branch might get a handful of medallion requests per year. Training staff, maintaining compliance protocols, and carrying the liability for a service that generates almost no revenue does not make business sense.
Complexity of the transactions. Medallion guarantees often involve estates, trusts, corporate entities, and other situations with layered legal requirements. These are not simple transactions. A single mistake can expose the bank to significant financial loss.
Consolidation of banking services. As banks have moved toward digital services and streamlined their branch operations, specialized services like medallion guarantees have been among the first to go.
Regulatory burden. Participating in a medallion program (STAMP, SEMP, or MSP) comes with ongoing compliance requirements. Many banks have decided the administrative overhead is not justified.
None of this is the fault of the individual bankers you speak with. They are often just as frustrated as you are, because they know how difficult it is to find this service elsewhere.
Which Institutions Can Technically Offer Them
A medallion signature guarantee can only be provided by a financial institution that is a member of one of the three recognized medallion programs:
STAMP (Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program) - The largest program, whose members include banks, broker-dealers, and trust companies.
SEMP (Stock Exchanges Medallion Program) - Members include regional broker-dealers and banks.
MSP (New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program) - Members include NYSE member firms and banks.
This means the institutions that can legally provide a medallion guarantee include commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions, broker-dealers, and trust companies, but only if they are active members of one of these programs. Membership is voluntary, and many institutions that were once members have since withdrawn.
The Common Experience
If you have gone through the process of trying to find a medallion stamp at a bank, this will sound familiar:
You call your bank and are told they do not offer medallion guarantees. You call a second bank and get the same answer. You try a credit union. They have never heard of it. You call a larger national bank. They say they offer the service, but only at certain branches, and the person who handles it is unavailable. You finally find a branch that says yes, but then you learn about the requirements.
This cycle of calling five, ten, or even fifteen institutions is extremely common. It is one of the most frequent experiences people describe when they reach out to us.
Requirements Banks Impose When They Do Offer the Service
Even when you find a bank that still provides medallion guarantees, you will typically encounter several conditions:
You must be an existing customer. Most banks will not stamp documents for non-customers. Some require that you have held an account for a minimum period of time, often six months or more.
Minimum account balance. Some institutions require you to maintain a certain balance, sometimes $10,000 or more, before they will provide the service.
Appointment required. Walk-ins are rarely accepted. You may need to schedule an appointment days or weeks in advance, and the service may only be available at specific branches.
Transaction value limits. Banks set limits on the dollar value of the transaction they are willing to guarantee. If your securities exceed that limit, they may decline to stamp your documents.
Limited transaction types. Many banks will not stamp documents for estates, trusts, or corporate transfers. These are considered higher-risk transactions, and the bank may not have the expertise or appetite to take on the liability.
Geographic restrictions. Some banks only offer the service at their main branch or at branches in certain regions.
The result is that even when a bank technically offers medallion guarantees, the practical barriers can make it nearly impossible to actually get one.
The Alternative: Online Medallion Guarantee Services
Because of the difficulty of obtaining a medallion stamp through a traditional bank, online medallion guarantee services have emerged to fill the gap. These are financial institutions that are members of a recognized medallion program and have built their operations specifically around providing this service.
eSignature Guarantee is one such service. We are a STAMP-participating institution that provides medallion signature guarantees online starting at $300, with processing typically within 5 business days.
How eSignature Guarantee Works
The process is straightforward:
Create an account and verify your identity. This takes about 10-15 minutes and can be done from your computer.
Submit your documents. Upload the forms that need to be stamped, along with any supporting documentation for your specific transaction type.
Compliance review. A dedicated compliance officer reviews your submission. Processing typically takes 5 business days. If anything is missing, we will let you know promptly.
Medallion stamp applied. Once approved, we apply the physical medallion stamp to your documents.
Documents returned to you. Your stamped documents are shipped back to you via 2-day shipping, along with scanned copies sent by email.
Our medallion stamps are accepted by all major transfer agents, including Computershare, EQ Shareowner Services (formerly AST), Continental Stock Transfer, and others. Standard processing starts at $300 with no hidden costs.
For a detailed walkthrough of each step, see The eSignature Process: What to Expect.
Is an Online Medallion Guarantee Legitimate?
Yes. A medallion signature guarantee is valid based on the guarantor institution’s membership in a recognized medallion program, not based on whether the process happens in person or online. Transfer agents accept medallion stamps based on the stamp itself and the guarantor’s credentials, not on how the customer interacted with the guarantor.
This is an important distinction. The stamp carries the same legal weight and the same liability regardless of whether you walked into a bank branch or submitted your documents through an online service.
What to Do Next
If you have been searching for a bank that offers medallion signature guarantees and have come up empty, you have options. You can continue calling institutions in your area, or you can use a service like eSignature Guarantee that was built specifically to solve this problem.
To learn more about what a medallion signature guarantee is and when you need one, see What is a Medallion Signature Guarantee?.
When you are ready to get started, visit esignatureguarantee.com to create your account.
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