Medallion signature guarantee

A guarantee seal applied to securities, in the process of transfer, by member institutions of the Medallion program.

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This Medallion seal certifies that the signature is genuine and has legally binding authority. Furthermore, the guarantor of the seal assumes any financial responsibility associated with the endorsement.

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Financial institution's endorsement applied to securities in the process of transfer, certifying the owner's signature is genuine and has legally binding authority. The leading medallion signature gurarantee programs are the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), whose members include more than 7,000 U.S. And Canadian banks, savings institutions, and credit unions, and the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP), servicing major securities brokerage firms.

In the United States, a medallion signature guarantee is a special signature guarantee for the transfer of securities. It is a guarantee by the transferring financial institution that the signature is genuine and the financial institution accepts liability for any forgery. Signature guarantees protect shareholders by preventing unauthorized transfers and possible investor losses. They also limit the liability of the transfer agent who accepts the certificates.

Individuals would normally obtain the guarantee from selected banks or other financial institutions. Different institutions have different policies as to what type of identification they require to provide the guarantee and whether they charge a fee for such service (usually nominal if any.) Most institutions would not guarantee a signature of someone who has not already been their customer.

A medallion signature guarantee is a legally different type of certification than that of a notary public, which is a general legal witnessing.

References

• SEC information on medallion signature guarantees
• 15. U.S. Department of State telegram to all U.S. diplomatic and consular posts abroad concerning medallion stamp guarantees, May 21, 2001.

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