Can you deposit a check by picture

Instead of driving to the bank, you can deposit your check with your Chase Mobile App. Just snap a picture of the front and back of your endorsed check and send it using your Chase Mobile App.

This is one of those ideas that sounded great until I actually tried it. In practice, here’s how this works:

1. Log into the app, which means typing at least your long, complex banking password, and probably also your long, complex username, on the iPhone keyboard.
2. Navigate to the deposit screen. Pick the target account. (The interface is very navigation-heavy, requiring numerous unnecessary taps throughout the whole process.)
3. Type in the check amount manually.
4. Photograph the front of the check. Chase recommends taking the picture in good lighting on a dark, non-reflective surface while standing up. They also caution you to ensure that it’s not blurry, and if any of these conditions aren’t met, it might not be accepted.
5. Photograph the back (endorsed, of course) with the same precision and warnings.
6. Submit it.

I’ve tried photo-depositing six checks. Two of them failed that last step with “Unable to connect to Chase, try again later” messages. When that happens, all of the fields and photos are cleared and you need to start over.

Did you want to deposit multiple checks? That’s multiple separate deposits. There are photo-deposit limits of $2,000 per day and $5,000 per month, neither of which the app tells you until you attempt to cross those limits.

If I have a few checks to deposit, and any one of them is refused for photo deposit, I need to go to the bank anyway, removing the convenience that the app was supposed to provide.

But assuming that a check successfully gets submitted, then what? Simply being submitted doesn’t mean that the check has been accepted. You need to wait a few days to see if the check posts to your account before you know whether it has been accepted. And then you’re supposed to destroy the paper check.

So I need to keep this check somewhere, remember not to deposit it again, and remember to check my account in a few days to ensure that it clears. This is a physical and mental organizational burden: this check effectively stays in my mental “incomplete” box, and sitting on my desk, until it clears, which I probably won’t be notified about.

And then, after it clears, I’m told to rip it up and throw it away, which goes against all of my instincts as a responsible person.

My alternative is depositing checks into an ATM, which is much simpler:

1. Go to the ATM. (The pain-in-the-ass factor on this varies per person, but I end up walking past a Chase ATM regularly.)
2. Enter a 4-digit PIN, tap Deposit, tap checking account.
3. Insert a stack of checks.
4. Wait about 10 seconds for it to automatically scan them and recognize their amounts. I rarely need to manually enter a check’s amount, even when it’s handwritten.
5. Take my receipt, walk across the street to the deli, and get a sandwich.

It’s much faster and simpler than a photo deposit. (I can also get cash while I’m there. Can’t do that with the iPhone app.)

And then it’s done. The check is out of sight and out of mind. I know that if anything goes wrong, the bank will mail me something about it, although I’ve never had an ATM-deposited check get rejected by the bank later.

Thanks to progressive technology and security that’s tighter than ever before, banking from any location has never been easier. It’s simple to check a balance, transfer money, pay bills, or perform other common tasks from the comfort of your desk or using a phone. Everyone knows about it.

What every everyone DOESN’T know, however, is that you can deposit checks remotely, too. If you’re starting a business that expects to process dozens, even hundreds of checks each month, it’s a fantastic way to save time.

Driving to the nearest branch can be a choice, rather than a necessity.

1. Remote deposit via a smartphone app
2. Remote deposit via a scanner
3. Online deposit followed by mailing a check

It’s important to note that remote deposit is typically a service limited exclusively to business checking accounts, but online deposit may be available for personal checking. Let’s dive into their differences and how they work.

What is remote check deposit?

Remote deposit allows someone to deposit checks to an account without handing over the physical check to the bank. They simply snap a photograph or scan the front and back of a check, then  transmit it electronically.

The transaction is instantly received at the bank for validation and processing, often triggered automatically by the software upon receipt of the images. Because of legislation and the Check 21 Act (aka Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act), the image of the check is accepted as a legal document.

Does it clear the same day?

Money from a check deposited remotely can often be processed faster than a paper check, and customers can easily track scanned checks and deposit history online. Whether the money is deposited the same day or must clear the other party’s bank first may depend on the type of checking account, and is subject to that specific bank’s policies and procedures. Be sure to ask questions so you understand how remote deposit works for your checking account.

It’s also important to understand any fees, deposit limits, security features or requirements, and other details before participating in remote deposit.

Can I use a third-party app?

Most banks require remote deposit to be accomplished using a specific app or software system they provide, which is linked to their systems for fast, smooth processing. Using a third-party solution found in an app store, for example, can cause significant time delays or issues with the deposit, and should be discussed with your banker prior to use.

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If scanning checks rather than using an app, many banks will provide or lease a specific type of scanner to their customers. A consumer scanner or combination copy machine and scanner may not be suitable.

What is online deposit?

Online deposit allows a customer to record the check to their account using an app or software for rapid posting to their account, then mail the check to the bank. It doesn’t typically involve an image of the check, instead relying on creditworthiness of the customer to “loan” the funds to the account until the check clears, similar to the implied promise of a check that’s “in the mail.”

This is different than remote deposit, which grants images of a check the same legal consequences that a paper check physically deposited in the bank would have.

Which one is better for my business?

The smartphone option for remote deposit is most suitable for businesses with a small volume of checks to deposit, but those with a larger volume benefit from a scanner that can handle them in bulk.

While online deposits are available to most customers who meet certain levels of creditworthiness to cover the check if it doesn’t clear or the physical version doesn’t arrive at the bank, not everyone is approved for remote deposit. Most banks have an extremely rigorous screening process to prevent fraud and nonpayment issues with remote deposit.

What do I do with the checks?

Once check images are transmitted for a remote deposit transaction, it’s then up to the customer to store or destroy the physical check once bank processing is complete, depending on their bank’s requirements. It’s wise to keep them for at least five business days, so there’s a tangible check at hand if problems occur with the transaction.

Online deposit is different, in that it requires all checks to be delivered to the bank, since fund aren’t officially “in the account” until the checks have cleared.

Speak to your banker before making a decision

To thoroughly understand both methods of check deposits and determine which is best for your business, it’s important to speak to a banker.  Customer’s may be able to apply for either service online in conjunction with an existing checking account, but a conversation will avoid misunderstandings around how the services work at a specific bank.

Can you deposit an emailed picture of a check?

How does depositing a check by picture work?