What is Mobile Deposit a Cheque?

It's a way to pay in cheques using your mobile device. The app uses your device camera to capture an image of the cheque and 'reads' the details to pay the money into your account. It's simple, convenient and secure - and can save you a trip to a branch.

Basics

How soon will the money be in my account?

The funds should be available to you within 2 working days, as long as you submit your cheque before 6pm. If you submit your cheque before 6pm on a Tuesday, for example, the funds should be available to you on Wednesday. If you submit your cheque after 6pm on Tuesday, the funds should be available on Thursday.

If the cheque is submitted after 6pm it will be processed the next working day which means that funds will be available 2 days after submission.

We do not process payments over weekends or bank holidays, so if you submit cheques after 6pm on Friday or over the weekend, funds should become available to you on Tuesday.

The below table provides examples of timescales.

Day & Time Deposited	Funds available by 23:59 on
Monday before 18:00	Tuesday
Monday after 18:00	Wednesday
Anytime on Bank Holiday Monday	Wednesday
Friday before 18:00	Monday
Friday after 18:00	Tuesday
Anytime on Saturday	Tuesday
Anytime on Saturday before a bank holiday on Monday	Wednesday

Can I submit a cheque on a bank holiday?

Yes, you can submit a cheque 24 hours a day 7 days a week using our Retail Banking mobile app. However, if you do choose to submit a cheque on a bank holiday, we won't process this until the next business day. So if Monday is a bank holiday and you submit your cheque, you won't see the funds available until Wednesday.

Are there any charges for using mobile cheque deposit?

This is a free service for personal customers, however data rate charges may apply which might be charged by the mobile network provider if you are using your device whilst not connected to a wifi network.

For Business Banking customers

If you pay for depositing cheques, your usual cheque tariff will be applied for each deposit. You will not be charged a credit fee.

How will I know if there's a problem?

If there are any problems with the cheque you've paid in, we'll contact you using the most recent postal address you’ve given us. You can check the address we hold for you in the Profile section of your app. The first line of your address is shown in Manage my personal details. Please retain the cheque until the money is available in your account.

How do I know when the money has been paid in?

Each cheque deposited using the app in the past 99 days is listed in the Deposit History tab at the top right of the 'Deposit a cheque' screen. This shows you the cheque details including images.

To check the status of cheques deposited via the app, please click on the account the cheque was deposited to and click 'My Transactions' where your detailed balance information is displayed. Any cheques not yet cleared will be shown as a pending transaction. If there are any issues with cheques you've paid in, we’ll contact you. Please retain the cheque until the money is available in your account.

Are all cheque deposits shown in Deposit History?

The history tab only shows cheque imaging deposits made by you from a registered mobile device in the past 99 days. This won’t include cheques deposited in branch or at a Cashpoint® or ATM. If you have a joint account, it also won’t include any cheques deposited by the other person using another mobile device. You'll see a total of all cheques deposited in your account details. They're shown as a pending transaction first, until the funds are made available.

How should I destroy my cheque after the money is in my account?

Once the cheque is accepted, mark the back of the cheque as 'paid in'. You should keep it for at least 7 days in case we need to contact you about it. Then securely destroy the cheque(s) - tearing or shredding are good ways to do this.

Can I deposit multiple cheques on the same credit?

No, this isn't possible however, you can deposit multiple cheques in one session, subject to limits, and they will be credited to your account individually. Just select deposit another cheque from the on-screen prompt.

Will this system work with assistive technology?

Yes - the app aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) at Level AA, so it works with Assistive Technologies built into mobile devices. The traditional way of cashing in cheques by visiting a branch, Post Office or via the post will continue to be available if this technology is not suitable for customers.

Are there any planned improvements for the Mobile Deposit a Cheque feature in the future?

The Mobile Deposit a Cheque feature is a new functionality introduced into our mobile app as an initial offering. We are continuously working to improve its functionalities based on planned future mobile releases and customer feedback received.

Cheque details

What cheques can I deposit?

You can deposit most types of cheques as long as they are in pounds sterling. This includes UK Government Payable Orders, postal orders, bankers' drafts and Building Society cheques - but not travellers' cheques, bank giro credits and various non-standard cheques.

If we don't accept a particular type of cheque, the app won't accept the cheque and you will be directed to take the cheque to a branch or Post Office where applicable.

Can I pay in non sterling cheques?

No; You can deposit most types of cheques as long as they are in pounds sterling. This includes UK Government Payable Orders, postal orders, bankers' drafts and Building Society cheques - but not travellers' cheques, bank giro credits and various non-standard cheques. If we don't accept a particular type of cheque, the app won't accept the cheque and you will be directed to take the cheque to a branch or Post Office where applicable.

Also, we are currently offering a service where you can you post your cheques to us, if you are unable to visit a Branch or Post Office. Please send cheques, along with a paying in slip, to: Royal Bank of Scotland NICPU, PO Box 41, The Drapery, Northampton, NN1 2EY.

Sterling cheques will be processed within 5 working days of receipt. We are now also able offer this service for Foreign Cheques too. It will take up to 12 weeks for the foreign cheques to be paid.

Images

Why do I need to give permission for the app to use my Camera?

Camera permissions need to be switched on to take a photograph of the cheque and proceed with the deposit. Please go to your phone Settings to switch on camera permissions.

How can I take a good image?

Place your cheque on a dark, flat surface
Hold your phone’s camera directly above your cheque. Make sure it’s level, in focus, and fits in the frame
When you see the blue box, hold still for a moment – we’ll take the photo automatically

Why do I need to take an image of the back of the cheque when it is blank?

Some cheques aren't blank on the back but just so we can double check we would need you to scan the back of each cheque even if it is blank.

Can I take a photo of my cheque and deposit it later?

No. For security, cheque images are not stored in the app and they won’t appear in your device’s photo library or any cloud service connected with it. Cheque images are only stored securely on bank systems. Similarly, you can’t upload cheque images from your device’s photo library, or use a photocopy of a cheque.

Error messages

Why did I receive an error about the amount I entered being out of range?

The daily limit is £1,500. Individual cheques can be up to £1,000 each.

To deposit more than this, please visit your local branch or Post Office where applicable. Also, we are currently offering a service where you can you post your cheques to us, if you are unable to visit a Branch or Post Office. Please send cheques, along with a paying in slip, to: Royal Bank of Scotland NICPU, PO Box 41, The Drapery, Northampton, NN1 2EY

Sterling cheques will be processed within 5 working days of receipt.

Why did I get an error about being unable to process the cheque right now?

Make sure that all fields on the cheque have been filled in correctly and clearly. If they haven't, you may need to either seek a new cheque or an alternative method of payment.

Please try again ensuring that:

the cheque is placed against a contrasting background
there is good lighting
you have a strong Internet connection

If the problem persists and you are sure the cheque is filled in correctly, please visit a branch or Post Office if applicable.

Why am I getting an error about the amount not matching the cheque?

If you get the error message "This amount doesn't match your cheque", but are sure the numbers do match, please visit a branch or Post Office if applicable to deposit the cheque in the normal way.

Why does it say my cheque has already been deposited?

If this cheque hasn't already been deposited please visit a branch or Post Office (if applicable) and deposit the new cheque in the normal way.

I took my cheque to a branch/Post Office, then got a message saying it has already been paid in. What does this mean?

This means we think you have previously paid in a cheque via the mobile app before taking it to a branch. We will investigate this further the next working day after you deposited the cheque.

Don't worry, if we find that the cheque hasn't been paid in previously you will receive your funds, there will just be a slight delay to these being available in your account.

What happens if I lose my mobile connection while I'm paying in a cheque?

The cheque might still have been paid in. You can check by selecting Deposit History. If you can see your cheque there, it worked.

If it didn’t work, try paying it in again when you’re in an area with better reception.

And don’t worry, you can’t pay in the same cheque twice – we'll warn you if you try to do that.

Why does the history in my app show my cheque as deposited but I've received a letter saying it has been returned unpaid?

The app history screen shows what has been deposited with the app and remains so you can review what you deposited. Go to My Transactions to see an up to date view of your account history.

I can't progress on my Android device. What do I need to do?

On some Android devices, the keyboard is covering the option to move on to the next step. Please use your device's "back" arrow to close the keyboard and progress.

Why isn't my cheque being accepted?

There are a small number of pre-printed cheques that don't meet the industry standard and need to be processed over the counter at a branch or Post Office.

Reasons include:

Non-standard size (the Industry standard parameters are Maximum 8.27 inches (210mm) x 4 inches (102mm)/Minimum 61/8 inches (156mm) x 27/8 inches (73mm))
Don't contain a signature
Have boxes in unexpected places
Contains asterisks

If you are struggling to capture the cheque image successfully, and after checking that you:

have placed the cheque against a solid/dark background
have good lighting
have tried taking the picture further away from the cheque

Then please visit a branch or Post Office.

What is Mobile Deposit a Cheque?