How long does take for a check to deposit

While a check may clear on the same day it's deposited, in many cases the full amount will be available in two business days or more.

Some aspects of check deposits are federally regulated, while others depend on the financial institution where it originated and the institution where it's deposited. Factors that affect the availability of funds include the size of the deposited check, the type of check, the issuer, how you deposit it and your particular bank or credit union's policies.

Here's how to determine the likely date when a check you deposit will clear.

How Long Does It Take Check Funds to Become Available?

Federal law requires financial institutions to make the first $225 of a larger deposit available the next business day. A typical timeline is for a bank to make that $225 available the next business day, and the rest on the following business day. That means if you deposit a check on a Friday, you can expect $225 of the funds to be available in your bank account on Monday and the rest on Tuesday. Some banks have other policies: TD Bank, for instance, says that, generally, $100 worth of funds will be available immediately, and the rest on the next business day.

The fastest way to have access to check funds is to deposit the check in person at a bank or credit union branch. That ensures the deposit is made before the bank's cut-off time, which speeds up the process. Mobile check deposits and those made at ATMs after hours typically take longer to clear.

The full amount of your check may clear as soon as the next business day if you deposit it at the same bank where it originated, if it's a certified check or if it was issued by the government. Depending on your bank and its account features, you may be able to set email, text or mobile app alerts so the bank will notify you as soon as the money is available.

Why Your Check May Take Longer to Clear

In some circumstances, your bank can hold check funds beyond the second business day after the deposit, meaning you must wait longer to access the money. This may happen if:

  • You deposit more than $5,525 in one day
  • You recently opened your bank account
  • You regularly overdraw the account
  • The bank experiences a technical issue
  • You make the deposit at an ATM your bank does not own
  • The bank has cause to believe it won't be able to collect the check funds from the original bank

These holds are typically temporary, though the length of time a bank will hold your check depends on the company. Chase, for example, says it can hold your funds up to the seventh business day after the deposit. Capital One says its holds can last up to four or five days.

It's best to check with your bank about its specific policies, especially if you need access to the funds right away or within a certain period of time. You can find the details on deposit timelines in the "Account Disclosures" or "Deposit Account Agreement" documents associated with your account.

Ways to Get Money Faster

There are several strategies that can shorten the typical check-clearing timeline.

If you have access to direct deposit at your workplace, enrolling will generally give you access to your paycheck sooner. By law, financial institutions must clear direct-deposited funds the next business day after they're received from your workplace. But banks and credit unions often clear direct-deposit funds right away.

Peer-to-peer payment services like Zelle, Venmo and Cash App may also offer access to quicker transfers. Instead of cashing a check and waiting for the funds to clear, you may use an app to receive funds, then transfer those to your account. Since Zelle directly connects several different banks, if you and the other user enroll in the service, you may be able to transfer money to each other instantly for free even if you work with separate banks.

Both Venmo and Cash App say transfers typically take one to three business days. But for a fee of 1.5% of the transfer amount—up to a maximum of $15, in Venmo's case—you can have access to the money immediately.

How to Prepare for a Check Deposit

Particularly when you need to use a check's funds right away, it's crucial to know how soon the check will clear. That starts with understanding your bank's requirements by law, then checking directly with the bank about its specific policies. Just as important, make sure you choose a deposit method and time frame that will make your money available as soon as you need it.

How long a check takes to clear: Quick summary

Here’s how long it generally takes for a check to clear:

  • Usually within two business days for personal checks; up to seven for some accounts.

  • Usually one business day for government and cashier’s checks and checks from the same bank that holds your account.

  • The first $200 or so of a personal check is usually available one business day after the day you deposited the check.

How long does it take to clear a check?

This will depend on the amount of the check, whether your account is in good standing, and how long you’ve been a customer of the bank. Most types of checks clear within two business days, though some banks and credit unions are speedier (jump to a list of banks that clear checks fast). Usually the first $200 of a check is made available the business day after the bank receives the check.

A business day is a weekday that isn't a bank holiday. For any deposit, the clock starts on the business day a check is received, before the institution's cutoff time. For check deposits outside of ATMs, banks can’t have a cutoff hour before 2 p.m, but otherwise it varies by bank. Here's an example of the two-day standard:

Day of deposit: You deposit a $1,000 check.

First business day: $200 of the check is available.

Second business day: The rest of the check ($800) is available.

Cashier’s and government checks, along with checks drawn on the same financial institution that holds your account, usually clear faster, in one business day.

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Why might a check take longer to clear?

In some cases, checks can be held for up to seven business days. (For example, if you deposited on a Monday, the check might take until Wednesday of the following week.) Delays usually occur because:

  • You’re depositing a large amount in checks — generally more than $5,000 — in a single day.

  • The account has been open for less than 30 days.

  • The account has repeated overdrafts in the past six months.

  • The bank believes the check won’t be paid, for whatever reason.

Your bank or credit union should tell you if it’s holding your check for an extended time. If you aren’t sure when the money will be available, check the deposit receipt or ask the teller. Even with a hold, generally the first $200 of a check is credited to your account after one business day, so you can have earlier access to at least some of your money.

So what’s the holdup?

To process a check, your bank or credit union needs to acquire the money from the payer’s checking account. If the account is at another financial institution, the check is typically sent to a clearinghouse that handles the request.

The process can take a few days. If the check isn’t deemed “risky” — it’s less than $5,525, your bank account has been open for more than 30 days, there isn’t a history of multiple overdrafts, and there’s no reason to believe the check is fraudulent — your financial institution may decide to credit your account before the check technically clears.

If it later learns the check can’t clear — because the payer’s account is overdrawn, for example — your institution could take the money back out of your account. Be sure to read your deposit agreement and disclosure forms for more detail on your institution's policies.

Banks and credit unions that clear checks fast

Some banks and credit unions make funds available faster than the two-day standard. Here are some of the larger institutions with same-day or next-business-day availability on personal checks. This assumes the checks aren’t being held for one of the reasons above.

Alliant Credit Union

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Same-day availability up to $225 for personal checks deposited via mobile, shared branch or mail before 5 p.m. CST on a business day.

Bank of America

3.0

NerdWallet rating 

Generally next business day up to $5,525. Cutoff times are 2 p.m. local time for branches and 5 p.m. local time for ATMs.

Cutoff times for mobile deposit are 9 p.m. Eastern time if you’re in the Eastern and Central time zones or 8 p.m. Pacific if you’re in the Mountain or Pacific zones.

Capital One 360

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Next business day up to $5,525. Cutoff is branch closing, or 9 p.m. Eastern time, for Capital One ATMs.

Citi

3.5

NerdWallet rating 

Next business day up to $5,525 when deposited with a teller. Business day cutoff time is 10:30 p.m. Eastern time for all ATMs.

Consumers Credit Union

3.5

NerdWallet rating 

Same-day availability for in-branch deposits made during regular business hours.

For Consumers Credit ATMs, the first $225 of the deposit is available on the next business day, and the rest after the seventh business day. Non-Consumers ATM deposits may take up to five business days.

PNC Bank

4.0

NerdWallet rating 

Same-day availability for the first $100, and next business day for the remaining amount, up to $50,000.

Cutoff is 10 p.m. Eastern time for mobile deposits and PNC Bank ATMs, 3 p.m. Eastern time for non-PNC ATMs and branch closing hours for in-person deposits.

Wells Fargo

3.5

NerdWallet rating 

Same day up to the first $400 if deposited at a branch or a Wells Fargo ATM. Cutoff time varies by branch but is generally 9 p.m. local time for ATMs.

Union Bank

3.5

NerdWallet rating 

Next business day up to $5,000. Cutoff time is close of business or 9 p.m. Pacific time for ATMs.

Alternatives to checks

The time it takes for a check to clear depends on the check itself and the status of the bank account. But it’s usually a matter of days, not minutes.

Direct deposits, wire transfers and P2P transfers are generally faster. Consider asking the payer for direct deposit or to wire the funds if you’re expecting a large amount. You could also ask the payer to send you money using a mobile peer-to-peer payment app. Transactions are inexpensive and fast — and unlike checks, there’s no need for pen and paper.

How quickly is a check deposited?

Most checks take two business days to clear. Checks may take longer to clear based on the amount of the check, your relationship with the bank, or if it's not a regular deposit. A receipt from the teller or ATM tells you when the funds become available.

Do checks hit immediately?

Generally, a bank must make the first $225 from the deposit available—for either cash withdrawal or check writing purposes—at the start of the next business day after the banking day that the deposit is made. The rest of the deposit should generally be available on the second business day.

How long should a check in process take?

Usually within two business days for personal checks; up to seven for some accounts. Usually one business day for government and cashier's checks and checks from the same bank that holds your account. The first $200 or so of a personal check is usually available one business day after the day you deposited the check.