When you put a check into your bank account or receive money through direct deposit, you might expect to use that money right away. But sometimes, it doesn’t happen immediately. So, why is your mobile deposit accepted but not in account? Don’t worry, there are a variety of reasons it may take several days for new funds to become available to withdraw or spend.
In this article, we’ll be going over some of the reasons why a mobile deposit was accepted but not in account, looking at both the bank’s side and the customer’s side.
We’ll also discuss how deposits are handled and why there could be delays. This information will help you understand why you can’t spend the money right after depositing a check and prevent any accidental overdrawing of your account while waiting for the deposit to go through.
[box title=”Key Takeaways” style=”soft” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″]- Banks may hold deposits due to regulations, causing delays in fund availability.
- Deposits made after the bank’s business day cutoff time can lead to delays.
- Common customer mistakes like not endorsing checks or exceeding deposit limits can prevent deposits from showing up.
- Technical issues with the bank’s app or problems with the check’s images can also cause deposit delays.
Mobile Deposit Accepted but Not in Account: Common Reasons
To start, let’s dive into why sometimes a mobile deposit is accepted but doesn’t show up in your account from the bank’s point of view. Here we go…
Banks’ Perspective
1. Funds-Availability Regulations
When you deposit money in your bank account, the bank usually lets you use it right away. But there are rules they have to follow. These rules, called “Expedited Funds Availability Act,” say that sometimes the bank can hold onto your money for a bit before you can take it out. Different types of deposits have different rules, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. For example:
- Checks up to $225
- Cash you give to the bank
- Electronic payments like your paycheck
- Government checks under $5,000
- Other types of electronic money transfers
But, you should know, the day you can use the money might not be the same as the day the bank gets the money. For example, if you deposit a check, your bank sends it to another bank to make sure the check is good. This can take about 10 days. While the bank is checking, you’re kind of “borrowing” the money.
2. Exception Holds on Deposits
Sometimes, the bank can decide to hold your money for longer than usual. They do this for a few reasons, like if you’ve had problems with checks before or if they think they might not get the money from the other bank.
Also, if you deposit a lot of money, the bank might want to be extra careful. The bank will tell you in your account rules how long they might keep your money. Usually, it’s:
- Up to 5 more days for most checks
- Up to 8 more days for big checks over $5,000
- One more day for checks from the same bank
- One more day for cash deposits not at the teller
- Up to 6 more days for deposits at an ATM not from your bank
This is because the bank wants to be sure they’re not taking too much risk. They usually still let you use the first $200 of a big check right away though.
3. Business Day Cutoff
To figure out when you can use the money you deposit, banks use something called a “business day.” But they don’t count every hour as a business day. They usually stop counting at a certain time, and after that, they start counting for the next day.
For example:
- If you deposit money at the bank, they usually stop counting around 2 p.m.
- If you use an ATM to deposit money somewhere else, they stop counting around noon.
They do this so they have enough time to process everything they received during the day. This also applies to checks. When you deposit a check and the receipt says “next business day,” it means the bank got the money, but they won’t take it out of the other person’s account until the next business day – Forbes.
If the bank is already on the next business day, they’ll put that on your receipt. You can also ask the person at the bank if it’s the next business day and when you can use the money.
Some banks will switch over the ATMs first, so you may be able to complete a transaction on the same business day by going inside.
4. Bank Mix-Ups
Sometimes, there might be a mix-up at the bank, and your deposited money doesn’t show up like it should.
You can catch this by checking your account every day. When you put money into your account, you should see it in your account history, even if you can’t use it right away.
Once in a while, there might be a mistake. The money might be the wrong amount, or it could go into someone else’s account by accident. If that happens, you might not see the right record of your deposit when you look at your account online.
If there’s a mistake, you can show the bank your deposit receipt, or you can get a copy of the check from the person who gave it to you.
If you see a problem with your deposit, call the bank right away. They’ll help you figure out what went wrong and fix it. Your account rules will tell you how long you have to tell the bank about mistakes. And according to The Balance, Usually, you have about 30 days from when they send you a statement to let them know if something doesn’t look right.
Customer’s Perspective
Now, let’s see why you might be facing the issue of “mobile deposit accepted but not in account” from your side. Here’s what could be happening:
5. You didn’t endorse the check
The most common reason for your mobile check deposit not working is that you forgot to sign the back of the check.
What to do
Before capturing images for mobile deposit, make sure to sign the back of the check. Endorse the check with your signature and any required additional information, such as “For Mobile Deposit Only” or your account number. This way, you won’t have to go back and do everything all over again.
6. You have a deposit limit
Some banks let you decide how much money you can put into your account through your phone. If the check you’re depositing is more than your limit, it won’t work.
What to do
Contact your bank’s customer service to inquire about your deposit limit. If necessary, request an increase in your deposit limit to accommodate the check amount. Ensure you provide any required documentation for the limit adjustment.
7. You’re not waiting long enough
When you use a mobile app to deposit, the rules are a bit different from going to the bank or an ATM. Instead of having the money right away, you might need to wait a few business days for it to show up in your account. Even though you can’t use it right away, it’s on its way.
What to do
Be patient. Mobile deposits may take a few business days to process. Check your bank’s processing times and guidelines for mobile deposits to know when the funds should appear in your account.
8. You don’t have a good connection
If your mobile check deposit isn’t going through, it might be because your internet isn’t strong enough.
What to do: Ensure you have a stable data or Wi-Fi connection before attempting to make a mobile deposit. Switch to a stronger network if needed to improve the chances of a successful deposit.
8 Your banking app isn’t working
Sometimes, the bank’s app might have a problem, not you. If you feel the app is not working, do this:
What to do
- Check your bank’s website or social media channels for any announcements regarding app outages or issues.
- If the app is indeed experiencing problems, contact your bank’s customer service for assistance and updates.
9. More Than One Payee on a Check
If a check has the names of two people, both need to sign it. Don’t forget both signatures.
What to do
Ensure that all required signatures are present on the back of the check. Both parties should endorse the check as necessary, or it won’t work.
10. Images Are Blurry
When you take pictures of the check, make sure they’re clear. If they’re not clear, it might take longer to deposit the check.
What to do
Place the check on a flat, well-lit surface with a contrasting background. Make sure both sides of the check are captured clearly within the mobile app’s camera frame. Retake the pictures if they appear blurry.
11. Amounts Don’t Match
Before you take a picture of the check, make sure the amount you type into the app is right. If it’s not the same as the check, you can’t deposit it.
What to do
Double-check the amount you entered in the app before capturing images. Ensure it matches the actual amount written on the check. Correct any discrepancies to successfully deposit the check.
12. No Payee Indicated
If the line that says who the check is for is empty, you can’t deposit it.
What to do
Ensure that all necessary information, including the payee’s name, check amount, and payer’s signature, is properly filled out on the check. A blank “Paid to the Order of” line can prevent the deposit.
13. Duplicate Deposit
If you already put the same check in your account, you can’t do it again. If you see a message saying you already deposited it but you don’t remember, call your bank’s customer service. They’ll help you out.
What to do
Review your transaction history in the banking app to confirm if the check has already been deposited. If you’re unsure, contact your bank’s customer care to verify and resolve any potential duplicate deposit issues.
There are also many other possibilities, such as a blocked account, missing signature, stale-dated check, pre-dated check, closed account, etc.
Mobile Deposit Accepted but Not in Account – What to Do?
- If you notice that a deposit didn’t work, don’t try to deposit the same check again on your phone, unless you get a message telling you it didn’t go through.
- Be a little patient (a day or 2), and make sure you keep the check safe until you’re sure the money is in your account.
- As a last resort, you can call your bank or credit union’s customer service to figure out what happened. They’re in the best position to guide you on how to fix the issue.
How Long Does it Take for a Mobile Deposit to Go Through After Being Accepted?
When you deposit money on your phone, it can be really fast – sometimes just a few minutes long. But it’s a good idea to expect it to take about one business day.
If you follow a few simple steps, you can make sure there are no problems that could slow things down. In today’s world, where everyone wants things quickly, waiting too long for your money isn’t necessary.
Why is My Mobile Deposit Still Not in My Account?
As mentioned earlier, mobile apps don’t have to follow the same rules as an ATM or when you go to the bank. So, you might not get your money right away. Instead, you might have to wait a few business days for the money to show up in your account.
If you’re using mobile check deposit for a prepaid card (like a card you use instead of a bank account), you can get the money right away – but you might need to pay a fee. Still, there can be delays.
For example, with the American Express Bluebird prepaid card, they won’t put the money in your account until six business days after you deposit the check.
What to Know About Mobile Check Deposits
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Your bank can cap how much you can deposit
Banks sometimes limit the amount of money you can deposit through your phone. They do this to make sure that no one puts in fake checks. These limits can change from bank to bank. If you need to deposit more than the limit, you can go to the bank or an ATM.
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Deposited checks can bounce even after confirmation
Checks can still be bad even if you get a message that they’re accepted. Just like if you put the check in at the bank, it can still be a problem if the person who wrote the check doesn’t have enough money.
The bank might tell you it’s okay but then change its mind later. This can take a few days, which might surprise you if you’re used to things happening fast.
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Banks can place a hold on mobile-deposited funds
When you deposit money with your phone, the bank can make you wait before you can use it. This is like when you put a regular check in the bank. If you deposit the money too late in the day, you might need to wait an extra day for the bank to make sure everything is okay.
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Check images aren’t stored on your phone
You might worry that someone can see your check if you take a picture of it. But don’t worry, the pictures are not saved on your phone. The bank’s app keeps the pictures safe on a special computer, so your information stays private and secure.
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Taking the right picture is a snap with an app
Getting the perfect picture for a mobile deposit might seem hard, but don’t worry. Banking apps are smart and can help you do it right. We suggest using the automatic snapshot feature. It takes the picture for you when the check fits inside the outlined box on the screen.
Having a dark background behind the check can also make the picture better. Once you put the check in the right spot, the app will take the picture or tell you to take it. You do the same thing for both sides of the check.
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Endorse the check
Before you start taking pictures, don’t forget to sign the back of the check. It’s like what you do when you put a check in the bank. But for mobile deposits, there might be an extra thing to do. Some checks have a box that says ‘For Mobile Deposit’ on the back. You should check that box. If your check doesn’t have that, write ‘For Mobile Deposit Only’ under your signature.
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Hold on to the check
After you take pictures of the check, keep it safe for a few days. This makes sure the money goes into your account properly. If you deposit a mobile check using Wells Fargo, for example, it is recommended that you keep the check for 5 days. It might be tempting to throw it away, but it’s better to keep it just in case the bank has questions about your deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions
While identifying the reasons for mobile deposit accepted but not in account, we also identified these commonly asked questions:
How do I know if my mobile check deposit went through?
After you deposit money using your phone, the bank might send you a message to say that everything is okay and the money went through.
If a deposit is pending, can I use the money?
If the money you deposited is still being checked by the bank, you might not be able to use it right away. Sometimes, banks might let you spend some money while you wait, but it’s not always guaranteed. Some banks have special rules or loans that let you do this, but there could be fees.
Final Thoughts – Mobile Deposit Accepted but Not in Account
We do hope you now understand some of the reasons why your mobile deposit might not show up in your account instantly or at all. So before you go into panic mode, it uis best to exercise a bit of patience to find out what the problem is.
It might be a fault of yours or you might just need to sit pretty for a few hours or a day- who knows. In the worst-case scenario, you can always reach out to your bank. They’re going to have a perfectly good explanation of what’s happening.
Read also: FM Deposit Hold See SM (Meaning and Complete Guide)
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