Warrant management at the State Treasury directs the printing and release of all warrants for the state of Washington
Beginning 12/18/2025, the State of Washington started printing warrants using a new process with new paper which resulted in a slightly different look to warrants.
Warrants issued 12/18/2025 through 01/16/2026 were printed on a new type of paper. Warrants issued after 01/16/2026 are printed on a different new type of paper.
Please contact us (see below) if you have questions about a warrant you received or that is being presented for payment.
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.