The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has long been tracking the decline of paper checks over the past few years. In addition, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta recently came out with a statement saying people only write about three checks per month on average.
Checks are even rarer than cash these days, in a time when plastic cards and even alternative currencies enjoy the spotlight. However, banks have recently made it easier to deposit checks via your smartphone without having to step foot outside your home.
This convenient way of mobile depositing checks is common among several major banks, including those you already bank at. If you’ve never used the mobile check deposit feature or just want to find out what your daily and monthly limits are, you’ve come to the right place.
Our guide includes a list of major banks that offer mobile check deposits as well as what limits exist. These limits often vary based on what account you own with that bank, though sometimes the limits are universal.
If you don’t want to jump through a bunch of hoops to deposit a check, including visiting an ATM or a local bank branch, mobile deposits can help. Plus, you can deposit checks any time you want to.
Are you ready to learn more about mobile check deposit limits at major banks? Let’s get started!
How Does Mobile Check Depositing Work
Most banks will accept the following types of checks if they are deposited via a mobile device:
- Government checks
- Business checks
- Personal checks
- Tax refund checks
Banking apps will require you to upload a photo of the front and back of the check for review. You’ll need to sign the back of the check before you snap a photo to complete the mobile deposit.
Most major banks allow mobile check deposits and the majority of those deposits clear in about one to three business days. You should keep your check until it clears the bank to ensure those funds get deposited.
Mobile Check Deposit Limit Changes
As mobile check depositing grows in popularity, banks may change limits and rules surrounding this deposit method. Be sure to pay attention to any texts, emails, or other notifications you may receive from your bank about mobile deposits to ensure you’re aware of any recent changes.
Most mobile check deposit limits are set by which account you have, how long you’ve been a customer, and other account activity. Changes in federal law can also affect mobile check deposit limits and terms.
How to Mobile Deposit a Check
Depositing a check via your mobile device is easy and looks similar no matter which of the best national banks you bank with. Most of the largest banks in the U.S. have a similar mobile check deposit procedure.
Here are the basic steps to mobile depositing a check:
- Download and create an account on your bank’s mobile app. If you already have an account, log in.
- Navigate to your account and choose an option similar to “Deposit checks.” The specific name for the feature that lets you mobile deposit checks varies from one bank to the next.
- If you have multiple accounts, you’ll need to choose which one you want to deposit the money into.
- Enter the amount of the check.
- Endorse the back of the check on the printed line.
- Take a photo of the front and back of the check as prompted.
- Verify the details of the check, including routing and account numbers.
- Submit the photos.
Banks typically notify you via your selected method (email, text, push notification) that your mobile check deposit is processing. They will also typically notify you when the check has been processed.
If you ever want to reference the pictures you took of your mobile check deposit, your bank may offer the option to look at them when you access your statement. Most mobile banking apps do not allow you to store pictures of the checks you deposit on your phone.
Mobile Check Deposit Limits
Every bank has its own limits when it comes to depositing checks through the mobile app. Here’s a list of the mobile check deposit limits at major banks that you can reference.
| Financial Institution | Daily Limits | Monthly Limits |
| Ally Bank | $50,000 | $250,000 |
| Bank of America | $999,999.99 | $50,000 for Preferred Rewards members with accounts older than 90 days $25,000 for Preferred Rewards members with accounts newer than 90 days $10,000 for all other accounts older than 90 days $2,500 for all other accounts newer than 90 days |
| Bank of Internet | $10,000 per check per mobile deposit | $10,000 per check per mobile deposit |
| Capital One | $5,000 | Varies by account |
| Charles Schwab | Varies by account | Varies by account |
| Chase | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Citi | $1,000 for accounts older than six months $500 for newer accounts | $3,000 for accounts older than six months $1,500 for newer accounts |
| Citizens Bank | $10,000 per check per mobile deposit for basic accounts $25,000 per check per mobile deposit for Circle Checking accounts over 90 days old $50,000 per check per mobile deposit for Citizens Quest Checking accounts over 90 days old | $10,000 per check per mobile deposit for basic accounts $25,000 per check per mobile deposit for Circle Checking accounts over 90 days old $50,000 per check per mobile deposit for Citizens Quest Checking accounts over 90 days old |
| HSBC Bank | $25,000 for Premier accounts $5,000 for Advance accounts $4,000 for Personal Banking accounts | $50,000 for Premier accounts $15,000 for Advance accounts $10,000 for Personal Banking accounts |
| Key Bank | $10,000 per check per mobile deposit | $10,000 per check per mobile deposit |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | $50,000 per check per mobile deposit | $50,000 per check per mobile deposit |
| PayPal | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| PNC Bank | $2,500 for accounts older than 30 days $1,000 for newer accounts | $5,000 for accounts older than 30 days $2,500 for newer accounts |
| TIAA | $25,000 per check per mobile deposit | $25,000 per check per mobile deposit |
| TD Bank | Varies by account | Varies by account |
| U.S. Bank | Varies by account | Varies by account |
| Wells Fargo | $2,500 | $5,000 |
Bank of America
Bank of America account holders with less than three months of history are limited to $2,500 per month. If you have more than three months of history, that amount increases to $10,000.
If you are a Preferred Rewards member with an account less than 90 days old, you can deposit up to $25,000 per month. That number increases to $50,000 if your account is older than 90 days.
Bank of America has a practically unlimited daily mobile deposit cap for any account holder.
Charles Schwab
In addition to a network of ATMs that let you overdraft, Charles Schwab sets the daily and monthly mobile check deposit limits based on your account. If you’re curious as to what your limits are, you can always call customer service to find out.
Citi
Citi accounts that are younger than six months have a $500 daily limit and a $1,500 monthly limit. If your account is older than six months, those limits are increased to $1,000 per day and $3,000 per month.
PNC Bank
PNC Bank differentiates between accounts based on whether or not they’ve been open for a month. Accounts younger than 30 days have a $1,000 per day or $2,500 per month limit, while accounts older have a $2,500 per day and $5,000 monthly limit.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank is not as forthcoming about what mobile check deposit limits exist for their members. It all depends on what account type you have and your deposit history.
Ally Bank
The Ally Bank mobile app made our list of the best banking apps. It also offers the chance to mobile deposit up to $50,000 per day or $250,000 per month.
Capital One Bank
The Capital One 360 Checking account made our list of the best checking accounts for 2023. However, the daily and monthly mobile check deposit limits at Capital One vary from one customer to the next.
With that said, most Capital One accounts come with a $5,000 daily limit.
Chase
Chase offers some of the best bank account bonuses out there, but this bank also lets you deposit up to $2,000 per day or $5,000 per month when you make mobile deposits.
HSBC Bank
This bank lets Personal Banking accounts deposit up to $4,000 per day or $10,000 per month. Advance accounts are allowed up to $5,000 per day and $15,000 per month.
If you own a Premier account, those limits increase to $25,000 per day and $50,000 per month.
TD Bank
Unfortunately, TD Bank’s mobile check deposit limits vary by account and customer. You’ll need to contact customer support to find out your particular mobile check deposit limits.
Wells Fargo
This bank makes it simple with mobile check deposit limits of $2,500 per day and $5,000 per month.
PayPal
If you bank with PayPal, you’re limited to $5,000 in mobile check deposits per day and $10,000 per month.
You can deposit up to $50,000 via the NFCU mobile app.
Citizens Bank
If you have one of the following Citizens Bank accounts, you are limited to $10,000 per check per mobile deposit:
- One Deposit
- Student Checking
- Ever Value
- Personal Checking
Circle Checking accounts that are over 90 days old can deposit up to $25,000 via a smartphone. You’ll need to have a Citizens Quest Checking account that’s over 90 days old to deposit up to $50,000.
TIAA
You can deposit up to $25,000 via a mobile device with TIAA.
Bank of Internet
You’re limited to $10,000 per check per mobile deposit with Bank of Internet.
Key Bank
Key Bank only lets you deposit up to $10,000 with your smartphone.
Alternatives to Mobile Depositing a Check
If you run into issues depositing a check with your mobile banking app and smartphone, you have a few alternative methods available to you. These include visiting an ATM and depositing the check in person at a local branch.
Sometimes accepting checks as payment can open you up to fraud. If you’re worried about depositing checks or even receiving a fake check, you can request payment in cash or through a peer-to-peer payment platform such as PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle.
FAQs
Is it safe to deposit checks via a smartphone?
Yes, it’s safe to deposit checks via a smartphone. Just make sure that you’re logged into your correct banking app before you begin snapping pictures and uploading them.
Why was my mobile deposit rejected?
Your mobile deposit could be rejected for several reasons, including blurry images or an unsigned check. Most mobile banking apps will tell you what’s wrong so you can fix it, but if you’re having issues with mobile depositing a check, it might be worth it to visit a local branch instead.
Can I shred or throw away a check after I’ve deposited it on my smartphone?
You can shred or throw away a check after you deposit it via your smartphone, but you should hold onto it for a few days after. Sometimes it may look like the check will clear fine but if you have any issues, it’s best to have the original document handy in case you need to try again.
Know Your Mobile Check Deposit Limits
Mobile depositing a check can help you put money into the bank without having to leave your couch. Many banks offer this service to their customers but it’s often difficult to find out how much you can really deposit via your smartphone.
We hope this article has helped you to find the mobile check deposit limits at major banks like the one you bank with. Once you’re armed with this knowledge, you can rest easy knowing your check will deposit without issue.
Mobile check depositing is just one of many modern features most banks and their corresponding accounts offer. What other bank features do you enjoy?
