Checks may seem old-fashioned compared to digital payment methods, but they are still a part of many people’s financial lives. In fact, there are an estimated 11 billion checks written every year in the U.S, according to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve.
You have options in terms of how to deposit a check, including in person at a bank, at an ATM, or via a mobile app. Here’s what you need to know about the different methods to deposit checks and the easiest way to get the job done.
Table of Contents
Key Points
• Depositing a check typically involves five steps: selecting a deposit method, gathering materials, endorsing the check, confirming the amount, and verifying it reaches your account.
• In-person bank deposits may require completing a deposit slip with your name, account number, and deposit amount, though some banks allow debit card deposits at teller windows.
• Mobile app deposits require logging into banking apps and photographing the front and back of the check, with dark backgrounds producing clearer, more accurate images.
• ATM check deposits require a debit card, PIN entry, selecting the deposit option, inserting the endorsed check, and confirming the deposit amount.
• Endorsing checks for deposit requires signing the back of the check in the designated area, with a “for deposit only” notation ensuring funds will be deposited in your specific account.
How To Deposit a Check: A Simple 5-Step Guide
Typically, depositing a check involves these five simple steps (unless of course you automate the process with direct deposit). Follow these guidelines to successfully get a check into your bank account where you can then use it.
1. Select Your Preferred Method
Your financial institution may have different ways you can deposit a check, including in person, at an ATM, or through their mobile app. The method you choose will affect the specifics of what you need to do to deposit your check.
If you choose to go in person, double check the bank’s open hours. For mobile check deposit, you will need to download the app. Most ATMs will let you deposit a check as long as the machine is in your bank’s network.
2. Gather What You Need
Aside from your paper check, whether it’s a personal check, a business check, or a cashier’s check, the exact type of documentation you’ll need will depend on how you go about depositing a check:
• In person: This procedure can vary depending on your financial institution. At some banks, you may be able to use your debit card at a teller’s window to deposit a check, no deposit slip required.
In other cases, you may need to get and fill out a deposit slip. This piece of paper outlines how much you want to deposit and to which account. Information you will need to fill out includes your name, bank account number, and deposit amount. Banks may also need to see a government-issued photo ID when you make the deposit.
• Mobile app: You will need to log into your bank’s mobile app on your device. Be prepared to take a photo of the front and back of the check. Typically placing the check on a dark background helps the app take a clearer photo.
• ATM: To deposit checks at an ATM, you’ll need your debit card. Check to see if the ATM accepts check deposits for your financial institution (SoFi, for example, only offers ATM withdrawals, not deposits, at this time).
Also, in terms of how you deposit a check at an ATM, you’ll need to know your PIN (personal identification number).
3. Endorse Your Check Securely
Endorsing your check means to sign your name on the back of it in the appropriate place (it typically says “Endorse here” or provides a line to sign on). You can write “for deposit only” on the back when making a deposit so that the money can only go to your account.
Some checks also have a box you can tick if you’re making a mobile deposit. Or your bank may request that mobile deposit checks are endorsed with your name and a phrase like, “for electronic deposit at [bank]” or “for mobile deposit at [bank].”
4. Confirm Deposit Amount
If you deposit checks in person, you may need to indicate the amount on a deposit slip. If you’re using a bank’s mobile app, you will enter in the payment amount of your check. Same goes if you deposit it at an ATM.
Before confirming your deposit, make sure you have indicated the correct information. Being even one digit off from your savings or checking account number, for example, could result in delays to access the funds you’ve deposited.
5. Wait for Confirmation
Once you’ve successfully deposited a check in person, the bank teller may give you a confirmation slip reflecting the transaction or you can request one. You can also check your bank’s website or app to see the pending deposit.
With mobile deposits, you may receive a pop-up confirmation message or an email acknowledging receipt of the check. Some banks may show the pending transaction in the app right away.
At an ATM, you usually receive a receipt of the transaction. Hang onto this piece of paper until you confirm that the deposit has indeed been posted to your account.
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Where Can You Deposit a Check?
When it comes to depositing a check, the method you choose will depend on what your bank offers and what is most convenient for you.
How Do You Deposit a Check at an ATM?
Traditional and some online-only banks offer the convenience of depositing a check at an ATM, whether to your checking or savings account. Read your account’s fine print or contact customer service to see if this needs to be at an ATM in your bank’s network.
To understand how you deposit a check at an ATM, you’ll need your debit card, which you’ll insert into the machine. You’ll also need to punch in your PIN. Then, select “Deposit” from the menu of options, insert the endorsed check into the machine when prompted, confirm the amount, and you should be set. The ATM will offer you a receipt of the transaction.
How to Deposit a Check Using a Mobile Banking App
Many banks and credit unions offer mobile apps for their customers. A popular feature is mobile check deposit, which allows you to snap photos of the front and back of the check with your phone and deposit it remotely, no trip to a bank or ATM required.
How to Deposit a Check at a Traditional Bank Branch
Though not always convenient, you can take your check to a local branch of a traditional bank and deposit it into your account. You can do this by going up to the teller. Endorse the check; you may also need to write your bank account number on the back of the account underneath your signature. You may be able to use your debit card for the transaction or a deposit slip.
How Long Does It Take for a Deposited Check to Clear?
In terms of how long it takes for a deposited check to clear varies, depending on such factors as how you deposited it, the amount, and the bank it’s drawn on. It could take between one and several days.
Understanding Bank Holds and Funds Availability
When you deposit money into your bank account, you may not be able to use all of the money right away because of something called funds availability. This is when your bank places a hold on a portion of the money while they process the transaction and make sure it clears. Banks do this to protect themselves and their customers. For example, if a check bounces after it’s been processed, the bank account owner would generally have to repay the money and they will also likely be hit with fees.
The amount of time a bank can keep a hold on a deposit varies from bank to bank and depends on the factors mentioned above. A hold typically ranges from one day (the next business day) to up to five to seven days, for larger deposits.
How to Protect Yourself and Stay Safe When Depositing Checks
No matter which method you choose, it’s important to be safe when depositing checks. Keep these safety tips in mind:
• One key step is to make sure a check is valid and comes from a legitimate source. If you’re not expecting a payment and receive a check in the mail, you’re not wrong to be suspicious. It could be part of a scam. The same holds true for checks you were expecting but that arrive for a higher amount of money than you anticipated.
• If you want to verify a check, or see if it’s legitimate, hold the check up to the light to see if there are any watermarks (which are a good thing) or if there’s any evidence that it’s been tampered with (a bad thing). In addition, get a feel for the paper the check is printed on; if it feels thin, like the paper you put in a printer, it may be fraudulent.
• Checks also have a safety feature called an MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) line. Located at the bottom of the check, this usually shows details like the issuing bank’s routing number. The ink should look flat and dull. If it looks shiny when you hold it under the light, it may be a fake check.
Think you have a fake check in hand? Talk to your bank about how to proceed, and you may want to report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which has a Scam Tracker database.
One last suggestion: You might also keep in mind that mobile deposit and direct deposits are often good options in terms of safety. These techniques can be preferable to looking for a bank branch or ATM that can accept your check, especially at night or in bad weather.
These methods also provide convenience. For instance, you can have your paycheck direct-deposited each payday, saving you the step of having to deposit it yourself. Setting up direct deposit with your employer is usually simple. You will need to provide your bank account number and ABA number, so it’s a good idea to have those things on hand.
You’ll likely have to fill out a form for your employer with your personal information, including those account numbers noted above. You may also be asked to void a check and submit that as well.
Recommended: Certified Check
The Takeaway
Depositing a check typically involves five simple steps: Select a deposit method, gather materials, endorse the check, confirm its amount, and be sure that it’s hit your account.
While checks are a common, time-honored way to receive funds, you have plenty of options today to send and receive money. Check out what different banks offer (and how much services cost) to make sure you have the right banking partner for you.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
How do you deposit a check at an ATM?
You can deposit a check at an ATM by going to a machine that will accept your deposit — your bank may stipulate which ATMs are in your bank’s network. Insert your debit card and enter the PIN number. Choose “deposit” from the menu, then insert the endorsed check into the machine. Confirm the transaction and the amount, and the machine should give you a receipt of the transaction for your records.
Can I deposit a check at an ATM without a debit card?
Possibly. You can deposit a check at an ATM without a debit card if your bank supports cardless ATM access. You may be able to use a verification code or QR code issued through your banking app to confirm your identity and authorize the transaction. Just be aware that, although they are growing in popularity, cardless ATMs are not yet available everywhere.
How long does a check take to clear after an ATM deposit?
Checks deposited via an ATM typically take one to two days to clear. However, larger amounts of money (generally amounts over $275) may take longer.
What is the safest way to deposit a large check?
Generally speaking, the safest way to deposit a large check is in person at the bank with a bank teller. That way you can get an immediate receipt and know that the check was safely received. You could also deposit the check through your mobile banking app — just make sure the amount is within your bank’s daily limit.
Do I need to endorse a check if I use mobile deposit?
Yes. Most banks require you to endorse a check when using mobile deposit. You will generally need to add: “for mobile deposit only” (or similar wording specified by your bank) under your signature.
Photo credit: iStock/AndreyPopov
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Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network every 31 calendar days.
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Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, Wise, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder's Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility.
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