The verb endosar comes from the French term endosser and in turn from the Latin indorsare, which means behind or on the back of. In this way, to endorse is to place something on another person.
The term that concerns us has two different meanings. To endorse means to give or give something to another person, being that which is given something normally unpleasant in some sense. Thus, if someone says "I entrusted the turtles to my neighbor before I went on vacation" they are indicating that they have freed themselves from taking care of the turtles, which is a responsibility that implies a certain work and a burden. The person to whom an activity is endorsed assumes a responsibility that is not, in principle, desirable.
The second meaning of the term has an economic dimension and it is worth explaining its meaning in some detail.
Endorse a bank check
An endorsement is a signature on the back of a check. The signature of the check is intended to indicate that the person signing is the holder of the check. Thus, there are two protagonists in this action: the endorser is the one who transmits the bank title (the check), while the one who receives it is the endorsee and becomes the new owner of the check. It should be borne in mind that the only checks that can be endorsed are bearer checks or checks made to order or nominative (those in which the beneficiary who is authorized to cash it appears).
The purpose of the endorsement of a bank check is very specific: that the recipient of the same has all the rights to the check. This means that the endorsee can cash the check at the bank, deposit it in an account or endorse it to a different person. Consequently, on the back of the check it is possible to establish a chain of endorsements, but for this succession to be valid it must be clearly specified.
Which are the requirements?
The necessary requirements for its correct operation are the following: the signature and the stamp with enough space for other endorsements, the maintenance of a logical order in the chain of endorsements and not incorporating erasures that could confuse a correct interpretation of the document. Failure to meet these requirements is considered an incomplete endorsement.
Although endorsing a bank check is a very common financial practice, bank security experts recommend being cautious when using checks, as there are a number of possible frauds (valid checks that are endorsed and then cashed by someone who is not the beneficiary, as well as other fraudulent procedures through the falsification of the signature or the alteration of the check)
