You received a check from a relative, friend, or for a business transaction and want to deposit it sooner rather than later. Many financial institutions offer a mobile check deposit feature that makes it easy to deposit checks while on the go without visiting a physical branch. In this guide, you’ll learn more about how it works and where to find a good bank that offers this service for free.
What Is Mobile Check Deposit?
Mobile check deposit lets you deposit checks while on the go without having to visit a physical branch. Instead, you’ll open your bank or credit union’s mobile app, select the mobile deposit feature and capture the front and back of the check using your smartphone’s or other mobile devices’ camera.
Is Mobile Check Deposit Safe?
Mobile check deposit is safe. However, you want to confirm you’re using the correct mobile app for your financial institution before initiating a mobile deposit to minimize your chances of being victimized by a fraudster.
What To Do With A Check After Mobile Deposit
Once you complete a mobile deposit, you shouldn’t toss the check in the nearest trash bin or shred it. Here’s what to do instead.
How Long To Keep A Check After Mobile Deposit
Ideally, you should keep your check until the funds are posted to your account for 30 days. Be sure to mark it as “VOID” with a permanent mark or pen once the deposit is complete.
When To Shred The Paper Check After A Mobile Deposit
You’re free to shred the paper check after you confirm the check is posted to your account and is no longer in pending status.
How To Find A Good Bank With Mobile Check Deposit
You can walk into just about any bank or credit union, and the teller will inform you that a mobile check deposit is available through the financial institution’s mobile app. But if you want to upgrade your experience, consider the Current mobile app.
It offers transparent services on the go, convenient access, and high-yield savings accounts while allowing users to deposit checks via their mobile app. Members also enjoy faster direct deposit, overdraft protection, generous cashback rewards, fee-free ATM withdrawals, and so much more.
Current offers two accounts to choose from:
Current Account (free)
- Basic White Visa debit card with a secured chip
- Instant purchase notifications
- One budget for a single spending category
- Standard direct deposit
- One savings pod that earns up to a 4 percent bonus
- Valuable spending insights
Teen Account (free)
- White or Black Visa debit card
- Instant purchase notifications
- One budget for a single spending category
- Standard direct deposit
- One giving pod for charitable contributions
- Immediate release of gas station holds
Sign up for the account that best suits your needs in under two minutes. Visit their website to get started with the mobile app and open a bank account. It’s available on Google Play and AppStore.
Mobile Check Deposit FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding mobile check deposits.
Do banks have a maximum amount for how much you can deposit?
Yes, some financial institutions cap the amount you can deposit by check using the mobile deposit feature. It depends on your bank or credit union, so connect with a representative to confirm limits that apply to your account.
Can banks place holds on mobile deposits?
Mobile check deposits are sometimes available immediately, while others are released the next business day, depending on the time of day the deposit is initiated. There are also instances where the bank will hold your account for several business days until the funds clear.
Can banks return a deposit if a check bounces?
If the check comes back unpaid, you’ll be on the hook for any funds you spend. You could also incur non-sufficient funds fees or overdraft fees.
How to endorse check for mobile deposit correctly
To correctly endorse a check, flip it over and sign it using a black or blue pen. Notate that it’s “for mobile deposit only” directly under your signature, and check the “mobile deposit” box if applicable.
FAQs
Ideally, you should keep your check until the funds are posted to your account for 30 days. Be sure to mark it as “VOID” with a permanent mark or pen once the deposit is complete.
What do I do with the check after mobile deposit? ›
What should I do with my check after my deposit?
- Write "Mobile deposit" and the date on the front of your check.
- Store it in a safe place for 5 days, and then destroy it. Five days is enough time in case the original check is required for any reason.
This is called a “restrictive indorsem*nt,” and it should prevent you or any other person from cashing the check. If you receive a check that was made out to someone else and that person endorsed it “for deposit only,” you should not be able to cash it.
What to do with checks after mobile deposit chase? ›
To ensure the funds are transferred correctly, it's wise to hang onto your checks until the deposit has cleared. This way, you have the check on hand in case anything goes wrong during that time.
How long do you have to keep a cheque after mobile deposit? ›
The funds will be deposited into your account right away, but it may take a few days for these funds to become available. You can now tap on either “Home” to return to the main menu or “Deposit Another Cheque” if you have another one. Keep your cheque for 5 to 10 business days before destroying it.
How does a bank verify a mobile deposit check? ›
Bank Verification Steps:
Capturing front and back images of the check: Clear images are crucial for bank verification. Transmission to the bank via secure internet connection: Ensuring safe and encrypted transmission.
Can you cancel a mobile deposit? ›
So long as the mobile deposit status is “held for review,” you can delete the deposit. Simply tap on “Deposit” in the menu and the “View History” icon at the top right of the screen. Locate the deposit labeled “Held for Review,” and swipe left to delete it.
What happens if a mobile deposit is rejected? ›
A mobile check deposit can show approved in your mobile check deposit history and later be rejected during processing. This happens when we attempt to collect the funds but can't do so. If this happens, the rejected reason is available on digital banking by selecting the deposit from the account overview.
Why would a mobile deposit be declined? ›
Reasons that deposit items may be declined include ineligible or non-negotiable checks, missing signature or missing endorsem*nt, a stale or post-dated check, poor image quality, daily or monthly deposit dollar amount exceeded, or an unacceptable item.
Why does a check say for mobile deposit only? ›
Mobile check deposits typically require a restrictive endorsem*nt for the bank to recognize them. Banks may ask you to write out a custom restrictive endorsem*nt that looks like the following: “For mobile deposit only.” “For deposit into checking account [Account Number] only.”
While there are some exceptions, depending on your bank, here's how to deposit a check by phone:
- Download your financial institution's app.
- Understand your bank or credit union's policies.
- Endorse the check properly.
- Take photos of the front and back of the check.
You cannot cancel a check after it has been deposited and processed by a financial institution.
Does Chase make money available after depositing a check? ›
When do checks clear? By law, banks are required to make at least the first $225 of a personal check deposit available for use by the next business day. Note that certain checks may take additional time, particularly if it's an international transfer as those may take longer to verify.
What happens if you deposit a check before the date? ›
Yes. Banks are permitted to pay checks even though payment occurs prior to the date of the check. A check is payable upon demand unless you submit a formal post-dating notice with your bank, possibly for a fee. Contact your bank about how to provide such notice.
What happens if I mobile deposit a check twice? ›
If you discover that you accidentally deposited or cashed a check twice, contact your bank or the check cashing store you visited. Your bank may be able to stop or reverse the payment before money is drawn from the check writer's account for a second time.
What happens if you cash a check that has already been deposited? ›
The bank may later identify the duplication, leading to the withdrawal of the funds and possibly imposing fees for the error. It's wise to approach this situation with caution. It would be prudent to contact your bank directly to explain the situation. Ask them to verify whether the check was previously deposited.
How do I deposit a mobile deposit check? ›
- Download your bank's app.
- Endorse the check.
- Open the bank app on your mobile device and select the mobile deposit function.
- Choose the account where you want to deposit the check.
- Enter the check amount.
- Take clear pictures of the check with your mobile device.
- Review the deposit details, then hit submit.
Hold your device steady, directly over the check, and the photo will be taken automatically. Once both sides are captured, you can select the right account to receive the deposit … then enter the amount. After you tap "Continue", you can confirm the details and select "Deposit."
