May never need an ATM again

[disneysteve]

I've posted in the past about how much I hate the ATMs they now use at Bank of America. They are the deposit image machines that actually scan each check as you deposit it so that you don't need an envelope. Their spin on it is that making deposits has never been easier. The reality is that it is a huge pain in the butt. What used to be a 30-second transaction can now take 5 minutes or more.

So I was excited to see the notice in my latest statement that they are now doing deposits via smartphones. I updated my app and just made my first check deposit to test it out. If that works okay, I may never go to an ATM again. Rather than waiting until I have a stack of checks to deposit and then making a special trip to the bank, I will be able to snap a photo and deposit each check when I receive it, right from my desk or kitchen table. Works for me.

[kork13]

USAA has had this option for at least 5 or 6 years now (you can also deposit with a desktop scanner), and I absolutely love it. Deposited checks instantly reflect in the available balance, and once you snap a couple photos (or scans) of a check, you can just shred it. IMO this is the best innovation in banking technology since online account access. I'm glad it's continuing to spread to the larger banks like BoA -- congrats on your ATM freedom!

[ShawnaC123]

Yup ING Direct started this recently too and it has been awesome. I don't have a smartphone so I just take a picture with my phone and then email it to myself and upload it to the site. It's a couple extra steps, but still way more convenient than going to the bank.

[tasha123]

Nowadays lots of people using the same and happy with this service. Visit ATM takes time, but here you can do your stuffs anywhere. This is easy and fast also. Only we need to keep our password safe and keep attention toward transaction.

[rennigade]

Wells Fargo also has that check image scanning and it only takes a couple seconds per check. There must be something wrong with BoA's machines if it takes anymore than 1 minute.

Ive heard about using your smartphone to take pictures...havent tried it yet. That would be fun to try out.

[JoeP]

What are you people still using BofA for? They're evil!

[creditcardfree]

We also have USAA and have been depositing our checks online for years. We just use our scanner. Glad your smartphone will help make the process easier for you!

[disneysteve]

Wells Fargo also has that check image scanning and it only takes a couple seconds per check. There must be something wrong with BoA's machines if it takes anymore than 1 minute.

Ive heard about using your smartphone to take pictures...havent tried it yet. That would be fun to try out.

BoA's machines are painfully slow. When they first installed them, they could only accept one check at a time which was really bad. Now, some of the machines can accept up to 10 checks at a time. That's better but the processing time on each check is still far slower than in the past when I could just stick in an envelope full of checks, punch in the total and be on my way. Honestly, many times when I'm at the ATM, I don't complete my full deposit because I feel bad making everyone behind me in line wait while I deposit a stack of checks. And then you also have to wait while the machine prints out a 2-foot-long receipt.

As for the mobile deposit, I checked my account this morning and the check did clear so I guess I'll be doing that from now on.

[asmom]

Wells Fargo also has that check image scanning and it only takes a couple seconds per check. There must be something wrong with BoA's machines if it takes anymore than 1 minute.

Ive heard about using your smartphone to take pictures...havent tried it yet. That would be fun to try out.

Agree. Chase takes seconds to process even if it's a stack of checks. Fortunately I don't have to go the the ATM often, I love to deposit with my smartphone. Unfortunately, it won't take "unusual" deposits like very small deposits (under a dollar) and if the writing on a personal check is not clear, it can't read the amount.

[KiwiJo09]

Agree. Chase takes seconds to process even if it's a stack of checks. Fortunately I don't have to go the the ATM often, I love to deposit with my smartphone. Unfortunately, it won't take "unusual" deposits like very small deposits (under a dollar) and if the writing on a personal check is not clear, it can't read the amount.

I have direct deposit, so the only time I go to deposit checks is around my birthday. I have Chase. I can't believe Bank of America has such slow ATMs. I never knew.

[disneysteve]

if the writing on a personal check is not clear, it can't read the amount.

If the BOA machine can't read the amount, it lets you punch it in manually.

[rennigade]

Bummer...it appears Wells Fargo does not have the option for depositing checks via smartphone in the DC area. I guess they started rolling it out in test markets. Hopefully it goes live soon.

[josetann]

Well, had to trick the phone into thinking it was in the US (Market Enabler for Android) before I could install the BoA app. Once installed, was able to log right in and deposit some checks I had lying around with no way to deposit them. This is great if you end up with a US-based check but are living in a different country. Just snap a good pic of the front and back, deposit, done!

[UnknownXV]

The ATMs that you can deposit a check in are very handy, we've had them in Canada for a while. What takes 5 minutes about them? Enter your PIN, deposit, check, put check in. Done. 1-2 minutes tops. Whereas waiting in a line for 10 minutes and having to deal with people, ugh.

Anyhow, I don't receive checks anymore. I get everything via direct deposit. My pay, and government refunds, etc.. you can even get rental income online via paypal or a wire transfer. Checks are old school.

[YLTL_Dan]

Unfortunately, I use Chase... but they've had this feature for at least a year and I love it. However, I still need the ATMs for cash!!