With the convenience of modern technology, you can do virtually anything anywhere, including banking. Most people are well aware of the ability to make banking transactions online, such as transferring money from one account to another, sending payments, checking their balance, and so forth.
Our mobile Remote Deposit Anywhere (RDA) feature can be used to deposit checks into your account from virtually any location. You just need online access to your accounts and a compatible mobile device with a camera.
First, What Is Remote Deposit Anywhere?
Remote Deposit Anywhere is a mobile service available to those who use mobile banking. It is part of our mobile banking services and allows for a greater amount of convenience when it comes to managing deposits. RDA is accessed through our mobile app and uses your devices camera hardware to deposit physical checks into your banking account.
How Remote Deposit Anywhere Works
RDA is fairly simple. In order to use it, you simply follow these steps:
- Open our Mobile Banking app on your phone and navigate to our remote deposit services.
- Endorse the check as you normally would.
- Write “For Remote Deposit” under your signature.
- The app will use the camera on your smartphone or tablet to take a picture of both sides of your check.
From there, the app will examine the pictures to make sure they are clear. It then creates an electronic deposit slip to get the funds into your account. Remote deposits typically go through within one business day, assuming you make the deposit before 5:00pm ET and that everything goes as it should with the process.
After you make the deposit, keep the check in a secure place for 30 days. This is for accuracy purposes since it allows the bank to verify the image quality. After 30 days, write VOID on your check and destroy it.
Requirements and Limitations
This service provides a great deal of convenience to those who bank via their phones or other mobile devices, but it does have some requirements and limitations that you should know about.
The requirements include the following:
- You must be an active Online Banking customer
- You must be enrolled in Mobile Banking
- You must have an eligible checking or savings account
- You must be using an iPhone, iPad, or Android device with a camera
- iPads and iPhones must be running iOS 5.1.1 or higher
- Androids must have Android 2.2, 2.3, 4.0, or higher
Only checks that are made payable specifically to the name on the account can be deposited to that account. As such, checks made payable jointly (i.e. there is more than one person’s name on the check) cannot be deposited through RDA.
Additionally, you cannot deposit the following remotely:
- Checks with obvious alterations
- Checks that may be (or that definitely are) fraudulent
- Any check dated more than six months before the date of deposit
- Non-U.S. checks
- Checks drawn on credit cards
- Checks made out to someone other than the entity whose name appears on your account
There are also limitations on the amount and frequency of deposits via RDA. These are:
- Up to five items each day
- Up to $1,000 each day
- Up to 15 items per month
- Up to $5,000 each month
However, if you have a legitimate business need for depositing more than these limits would normally allow, contact First Bank & Trust Company to discuss your options. Funds are available on the next business day. Also, there is no limit on the number of accounts you can have enrolled for RDA, so if you have a personal checking account, a savings account, and a business account, all three can make use of remote deposit.
For your security, we may place a hold or void on a deposit that looks suspicious or that needs further examination, delaying the availability of those funds in your account. If this happens, you will be notified via email or phone, and the funds won’t appear in your account until the hold is removed and the deposit goes through.
Troubleshooting and Security
As with any piece of technology, errors or issues may occur. Some of these may be due to human error, or they may result from the limitations of your device. We’ll go over a few issues that could occur and how to solve them.
- If the mobile banking app closes while making a deposit: First, make sure you don’t have too many apps running at once. Once you close out all other apps, open the Mobile Banking app and check to see if the deposit went through by going to “Review Deposits” under “Deposits.” If it shows up, then it went through. If not, simply try again.
- If you get an image quality error: If you are notified of an image quality error, you’ll have to retake both pictures. Make sure you have proper lighting, a dark background behind the check, and that the image is focused. The check should also be completely within the camera’s frame, photographed straight on (not at an angle), and fairly flat (no wrinkles or creases).
- If you deposit to the wrong account: You can make the change once the funds appear through Online or Mobile Banking. If it was made to an account that doesn’t match the name on the check, it may be rejected, so call your local First Bank & Trust Company office in that case.
- If you are locked out: In the event that you enter your password incorrectly three times, the mobile banking app will lock you out. Contact First Bank & Trust Company at (276) 623-2323, extension 506 to unlock your account.
- If your device is stolen or lost: In the event that your phone is missing, lost, or stolen, contact First Bank & Trust Company to have mobile banking disabled on the device. You can also disable it through your Online Banking account at any time.
If you have further issues with RDA that aren’t listed here, contact First Bank & Trust Company today to get the issue resolved.
Make Banking Easy With Remote Deposits Anywhere
Remote Deposit Anywhere can be a great way to make your mobile banking experience much simpler and more convenient. To learn more about our remote deposit services, contact us today or get started with Remote Deposits Anywhere here.