---
title: "What is Dual approval (segregation of duties)? Definition"
description: "Dual approval requires two different authorized people to approve a payment or a vendor-record change, so no single person - or single deceived..."
url: https://realpayee.com/glossary/dual-approval
canonical: https://realpayee.com/glossary/dual-approval
date_published: 2026-10-05
date_modified: 2026-10-05
author: RealPayee
---

# Dual approval (segregation of duties)

> Dual approval requires two different authorized people to approve a payment or a vendor-record change, so no single person - or single deceived employee - can move money alone. It is part of segregation of duties: separating who can change payee details, prepare payments and approve them.

_Published 2026-10-05 · Updated 2026-10-05 · By RealPayee_

## Related terms

- [Vendor master file](https://realpayee.com/glossary/vendor-master-file): The vendor master file is the record in your ERP or AP system holding each supplier's legal name, tax ID, addresses, contacts and bank details.
- [Callback verification](https://realpayee.com/glossary/callback-verification): Callback verification is confirming a payment instruction or bank-detail change by phoning the requester on a number you already had on file - never one supplied in the request.
- [Out-of-band verification](https://realpayee.com/glossary/out-of-band-verification): Out-of-band verification is confirming a request through a separate channel and contact details the requester did not provide - for example, calling a vendor's known number after an email request.

## Why it matters for finance teams

Most payment fraud reaches AP as a request that looks legitimate. Understanding dual approval helps your team spot it and apply the right control: verify bank-detail changes and large payment requests with the real person, out-of-band, before money moves. Our free [bank-change policy template](https://realpayee.com/templates/vendor-bank-change-policy) puts that into a written rule.

Full glossary: https://realpayee.com/glossary · All terms as JSON Lines: https://realpayee.com/feeds/glossary.jsonl

## Related

- [Wire fraud prevention: how to stop bank wire fraud](https://realpayee.com/wire-fraud-prevention) - Controls that prevent business wire fraud: out-of-band verification, payment thresholds, dual approval and audit trails. (markdown: https://realpayee.com/wire-fraud-prevention.md)
- [Accounts payable segregation of duties: a practical matrix](https://realpayee.com/blog/segregation-of-duties-accounts-payable) - How to segregate duties in accounts payable, with a role matrix, small-team workarounds and the gap segregation of duties does not close: impersonation. (markdown: https://realpayee.com/blog/segregation-of-duties-accounts-payable.md)

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