How to redact your pay stub for a loan application

Why a lender asks for your pay stub

Lenders verify your identity and that you can repay. A pay stub shows your earnings and employer, and usually your address and a partial or full SSN or employee ID.

A lender needs your identity and income confirmed — not your full account numbers or SSN kept on file. The catch: a stub combines your SSN, employer, and pay — a near-complete profile for identity and employment fraud. That's why you should hand over a redacted copy — see the full pay stub redaction guide or what to redact for a loan application.

What to redact on your pay stub

• Social Security number / national ID Stubs often print part or all of your SSN — black it out.
• Employee ID and direct-deposit / bank details These identify you in payroll systems and expose your bank account.
• Home address Not needed to prove income.

What to keep visible (so it's still accepted)

• Your name
• The employer name, if you are proving employment
• Gross/net pay and the pay period

The watermark to add

Stamp a purpose watermark so the copy can't be reused beyond a loan application:

Redact your pay stub in 4 steps

1. Pick the photo. Open Cachera and choose the photo of your pay stub with the system picker — only that photo is read, never your whole library.
2. Black out the sensitive fields. Drag a black block over the social security number / national id and employee id and direct-deposit / bank details. On export those pixels are destroyed — there's no hidden layer to recover underneath.
3. Add a purpose watermark. Stamp "For this loan application only" so the copy can't be reused beyond a loan application.
4. Export and send. Lay it out on A4, export a PDF, and share it with a lender. Everything happened on your iPhone — nothing was uploaded.

Is this OK to do?

FAQ

Will a lender still accept a redacted pay stub?

Yes. Keep your name and the employer name visible so they can confirm what they need, redact only the sensitive fields, and add a clear "For this loan application only" watermark. A watermarked, partially-redacted copy is normal, accepted practice.

What should I never show on a pay stub?

Hide social Security number / national ID, employee ID and direct-deposit / bank details, home address. A stub combines your SSN, employer, and pay — a near-complete profile for identity and employment fraud.

Can the black bars be removed from the copy later?

No. Cachera flattens the redaction into the image on export — there is no hidden layer beneath the black blocks, so the covered text cannot be recovered from the PDF.

Should I send the original pay stub instead?

Loan paperwork passes through brokers and back-office staff. Send redacted copies for review and complete sensitive steps on the lender’s secure portal. A redacted copy with a purpose watermark is usually the safer choice.