why is a medallion signature guarantee so hard to get 
medallion signature guarantees expose financial institutions to risks and liabilities therefore they do not issue them readily or to just anyone typically they are provided for well established customers for a nominal fee the bottom linethe medallion signature guarantee validates the identity and signature of a party transferring securities or investments banks credit unions and other financial institutions must belong to one of three select medallion signature guarantee programs to provide this service because of increased financial risks financial institutions tend to react conservatively when issuing them most often medallion signature guarantee stamps are needed for the gifting of securities to transfer assets upon the death of the original owner and when the security or investment holder moves the assets from an account 