FINRA Rule 4514 requires a firm or associated person to get a customer's express written authorization before obtaining from the customer, or submitting for payment, a negotiable instrument on the customer's checking, savings, share, or similar account.
Firms must preserve this written authorization, when the customer's signtature is not on the negotiable instrument. This record must be retained for 3 years following the date the authorization expires.
Link to Rule: http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/display.html?rbid=2403&element_id=9960
Helpful Link: http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/display.html?rbid=2403&element_id=10105