Warrants

Overview

A warrant is a legal, negotiable instrument drawn against the state treasury in place of a commercial bank. A warrant acts like a check and can be cashed or deposited like any other check you receive.

State agencies disburse funds to vendors or other payees by issuing warrants that are signed by the State Treasurer. Contact information for the issuing agency is usually printed on the face of the warrant.     

Warrant Redemptions

The Treasurer’s Office is responsible for processing warrants received from cashing agents or depositing financial institutions. Warrant management reconciles and maintains the database of redeemed warrants and authorizes payment from the state’s bank account. All stale dated warrants more than 180 days old are returned to the presentment bank within 24 hours. The Treasurer’s office does not accept pre-authorized debits/checks.

Warrant Cancellations

The issuing agency authorizes the warrant to be cancelled when issued in error, reported lost, or destroyed. Cancellation procedures are provided in the State Administrative and Accounting Manual (SAAM 85.38.20). 

Warrants that are not presented for payment to the State Treasurer’s office within 180 days of the issue date are cancelled by statute of limitations per RCW 43.08.062.

State agencies can refer to our Treasurer’s Office Cancellation Memo.

Warrant Forgery Claims

When the payee of a warrant claims they did not endorse a redeemed warrant they must contact the issuing agency to start a forgery claim. The issuing agency will submit an Affidavit of Forged Endorsement to OST Warrant Management. Forgery claim procedures are provided in the State Administrative and Accounting Manual (SAAM 85.38.30). 

Warrant management will work with the issuing state agency and the depositing financial institution to resolve all valid forgery claims.