Banks with instant mobile check deposit (2024)

Most banks offer online banking services with mobile check deposits that require endorsing the check, taking a picture of it, entering the amount and submitting the deposit — all through your phone without the need to visit a physical branch. However, check deposits can take a few days to clear with most banks, but a handful offer mobile check deposits with instant fund availability.

Banks with immediate check deposit availability

These banks make mobile check funds available immediately — or, at the very least, within the same day. Many offer free same-day mobile check deposit, expect to pay a small fee for banks with instant mobile check deposit availability.

How fast is an instant check deposit?

Mobile check deposits through online banking services typically take one to five days to clear. If a bank advertises an “instant” check deposit, their definition of instant is likely to vary. Some banks may consider instant availability as funds cleared within that same business day, while others consider instant availability as having your funds available within minutes of depositing.

What is the fastest check deposit method?

Depending on the bank and the check amount, most checks clear within one to two business days. Depositing a check at a physical branch is typically the fastest way for funds to clear. Typical speeds for other cash or check deposits include:

• In-person check cashing: May allow $200 to $500 to clear immediately
• ATM cash or check deposit: 1 to 3 business days
• Cash deposit at branch: By the end of the business day
• ACH transfers: 1 to 3 business days
• Peer-to-peer transfer: Instant or within 24 hours
• Incoming domestic wire transfer: About 1 day
• Incoming international wire transfers: 1 to 5 business days

How long does it take for a check to clear through mobile deposit?

Mobile check deposits typically take between three and five days to process, verify and clear. In some cases, only a portion of the check may clear immediately, and the rest clears the next business day. The speed can also depend on the amount that’s deposited. For example, the first $200 of a deposit must be available for cash withdrawal or check writing the next business day.

Mobile check deposit may also be your only way to deposit a check with an online bank. Some banks also allow you to mail checks, but that would likely take longer than a mobile check deposit, thanks to the speed of snail mail.

Reasons your mobile check might get delayed

The timing of when the check was deposited can create delays. Some banks, such as PNC or US Bank, may allow a check to clear within the same day if deposited before 10 p.m. If you attempt to deposit the check after that time, you’ll likely have to wait until the next day for it to clear.

Another delay explanation would likely be from lacking verifications. If you’ve deposited a large amount — or an amount you don’t normally deposit — the bank may need to contact you to verify the check and your identity.

Other common delay causes can include:

• The deposit amount is over the bank’s daily limit
• The bank doesn’t accept the check you attempted to deposit
• Your account is in overdraft, and the check amount is being applied to your negative balance
• You’re a new customer who lacks certain verifications

Bottom line

Most modern banks allow mobile check deposits through their respective banking app, but not all are instant. For more account options, compare our best checking accounts and best high-yield savings accounts.

Frequently asked questions

Does Chime have instant mobile check deposit availability?

Chime offers mobile check deposits, but they’re not instant. They’ll take one to five days to clear. SoFi is a bank like Chime that offers free same-day mobile check deposit availability.

How long does it take for a mobile deposit to clear at Ally Bank?

Ally Bank states that mobile check deposit funds will be available the next business day.

What checks aren’t eligible for mobile deposit?

It depends on the bank, but typically, checks that aren’t eligible for mobile check deposit include US treasury checks, international checks, traveler’s checks, money orders and savings bonds.

Can you get money instantly by cashing a check at an ATM?

In some cases, you can instantly access the money you deposited via ATM. You may only have immediate access to a portion of the funds, depending on the check’s size. But expect to wait a day or two for the check to clear. Only a handful of banks, such as PNC, KeyBank and Fifth Third Bank, offer immediate check deposit availability.

Are mobile check deposits safe?

In most cases, yes. The majority of bank apps encrypt your information and don’t store images of checks, and they’re not stored on your phone.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Alexa Serrano Cruz as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Bethany Hickey

Editor, Banking

Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto.Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt.Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others.Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

Bethany's expertise

Bethany has written 420 Finder guides across topics including:

• Personal finance
• Banking
• Auto loans
• Insurance
• Cryptocurrency and NFTs