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Email this10:34 pm
October 21, 2013
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Does anyone know if an account exists anywhere which can be set up without going into a branch, where you can deposit a cheque through smartphone?
I am expecting a USD cheque, about $500, and don't want to go into a branch if I can avoid it as I'm supposed to self-isolate at my age. I do have a USD account, but it doesn't allow this kind of deposit.
6:05 am
September 7, 2018
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Mail the cheque if you dont want to go to an ATM or Branch.
If you dont want to go out to mail, then have someone do the mailing for you, perhaps the person who is bringing you groceries.
9:26 am
December 20, 2016
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Loonie,
If you deal with TD, then with a Canadian based USD account, you can deposit a USD check using mobile deposit.
I don't know if an account can be set up remotely at TD if it does not already exist, however.
There are good reasons for having a TD USD account because TD had seamless transfers between a Canadian based account and U.S. based account.
I presume the same would be true with BMO, though I don't do USD business with them; however, I do know BMO has mobile deposits, so I would expect that functionality would apply to a USD account there as well.
Unfortunately Hubert, which has USD account that can be set up online, does not allow mobile deposit.
DUCA has USD account and provides for mobile deposit, and I would expect an account could be set up online.
Any of those options seem plausible?
Stephen
9:45 am
December 12, 2009
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Loonie said
Does anyone know if an account exists anywhere which can be set up without going into a branch, where you can deposit a cheque through smartphone?
I am expecting a USD cheque, about $500, and don't want to go into a branch if I can avoid it as I'm supposed to self-isolate at my age. I do have a USD account, but it doesn't allow this kind of deposit.
Loonie,
It depends on if the USD cheque is drawn on a Canadian or U.S. bank. If it is drawn on the former, then it might technically be possible for a financial institution to enable remote deposit capture for Canadian-drawn USD paper-based clearing items. If it is drawn on the latter, though, though the U.S. has had remote deposit capture since before Canada, the different payment and settlement systems make this impracticable.
As Stephen notes, TD has reportedly, just recently, allowed Canadians to open accounts in the U.S. with its U.S. subsidiary and, similarly, HSBC Premier customers can open accounts in the U.S. if they qualify for Premier. However, these are really the only two exceptions. Know that while it may be possible to do this, for a $500 USD cheque, it is far too much paperwork and legwork. At best, you will be de-prioritized by your bank and told they have other more pressing appointments (like mortgage and loan deferral payment requests) to attend to. At worst, you may be mocked or ridiculed. Not trying to be negative in any way, but rather just leveling with you and keeping it real.
Honestly, you are best off with mailing in or dropping off your USD cheque at a local branch and depositing it that way. A 30 business or calendar day hold will apply, but it would've in any case. By the time it would take you to book, and receive, an appointment to open a TD USD account with TD Bank, N.A., you would've had the cheque deposited already. Moreover, by the time it would take to process your request, your hold would've already naturally expired. 
Unless you will be depositing multiple USD cheques per month, don't honestly bother. I say this with the strongest, and friendliest, possible emphasis. 🙂
Note: you do not need to attend a branch to deposit a USD cheque. Just mail it in to your branch as you would with any other deposit item. Verify the street address of your branch with the postal code using Canada Post's postal code lookup tool. If you are still uncomfortable mailing a tiny $500 USD clearing item via postal mail (I wouldn't be; I've never had a cheque lost and have mail deposited larger items), then you can drop it through the door at your branch, in a sealed envelope, to the attention of your Manager Customer Service or Branch Manager, after-hours when the doors are all locked, with clear deposit instructions written on the verso of the cheque. There is no fee for this, though they may charge a $2.00 fee for a mailed in deposit (but you could probably get that reversed easily, particularly with the public health orders in place).
Also, depending on your bank branch, their night depository may have a separate slot for thin envelopes to fit through, or you may be able to open it a smidge to drop an envelope.
As well, depending on the bank, their ATM may be set up to allow other transactions (i.e., bill payments, messages, instructions, and the like) that will open their ATM depository slot. You will not receive same-day credit, but when they open up and service their ATM, they will find your envelope and manually credit your USD account.
Cheers,
Doug
9:46 am
April 26, 2019
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Loonie said
Does anyone know if an account exists anywhere which can be set up without going into a branch, where you can deposit a cheque through smartphone?
I am expecting a USD cheque, about $500, and don't want to go into a branch if I can avoid it as I'm supposed to self-isolate at my age. I do have a USD account, but it doesn't allow this kind of deposit.
I recently had to pick up a cheque that could not be deposited at credit union due to the date saying 2022. I had decided to put it in an envelope I brought an leave ASAP. The teller said I could change the date and initial it and she would deposit.
And I am thinking....I have to touch cheque, pen etc. I will stick with plan....get it...verify it.....grind it.....then do an e-transfer from home.
We had a number of covid email updates from that credit union and I replied to the CEO. I mentioned the great service and asked if they could step up sanitizing the ATM machine. A quick response....they clean twice a day....and I can ask to see the log that they keep.
So.....can you take a wipe, clean the ATM, and deposit? Or can one deposit a USA funded cheque at an ATM?
Or better yet....just stay home and wait? Or call your bank and ask for some options.
9:51 am
April 26, 2019
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I see BMO accepts by phone.
Do you have a bank that allows phone pic deposits?
If no USA $ Account.....most banks allow setting up a new account online.
Do you see what I am getting at?
9:59 am
December 12, 2009
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GICinvestor said
So.....can you take a wipe, clean the ATM, and deposit? Or can one deposit a USA funded cheque at an ATM?
Depositing to the USD account at an ATM isn't possible, and it's best not to deposit it to the Canadian account as this would (a) incur currency conversion and (b) incur a fee for the adjustment. Only use the ATM if they have another function besides "deposit" that opens the depository slot (i.e., "bill payment," "instructions," or "messages").
It's honestly best to slide it through, in a sealed envelope, the locked branch doors with clear payment/deposit instructions. Alternatively, drop it in a night depository slot. If the night depository doesn't open even a smidge without a key, you can attend a branch and request night depository access. There will usually be a refundable key deposit to get a key. No same-day credit, but at least you can safely deposit your USD cheques and have them credited by the next business day.
Or better yet....just stay home and wait? Or call your bank and ask for some options.
See above.
Cheers,
Doug
11:35 am
October 21, 2013
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The USD account that I have is at TD.
I don't have any deposit slips.
It will be drawn on a US bank.
I don't care how long it takes to clear.
I never visit the US and never will do so again, so I don't care about cross-border banking.
I don't want to wait until the pandemic quietens down as I have no idea how long that will be and I could lose the cheque in the meanwhile.
Canada Post is not 100% reliable for me. I lose about one item per year.
Maybe I should call TD and ask. I didn't think anything would be possible with them.
Thanks for your responses.
12:50 pm
December 12, 2009
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Loonie said
The USD account that I have is at TD.
I don't have any deposit slips.
It will be drawn on a US bank.
I don't care how long it takes to clear.
I never visit the US and never will do so again, so I don't care about cross-border banking.
I don't want to wait until the pandemic quietens down as I have no idea how long that will be and I could lose the cheque in the meanwhile.
Canada Post is not 100% reliable for me. I lose about one item per year.Maybe I should call TD and ask. I didn't think anything would be possible with them.
Thanks for your responses.
Hi Loonie,
You don't need a deposit slip to deposit via mail or through their door. If you are concerned with losing the cheque, then I really feel as though your best solution is to write your branch a short note indicating the account number and currency of said account in which you wish to deposit your USD cheque. Write on the reverse of the cheque to "deposit to the credit of account number in USD currency". If your USD account number's transit differs from the transit of your main TDCT CAD account, record that branch transit as well. Seal it, and your note, in an envelope, signed with your signature over top of the seal and, for added protection, add two pieces of Scotch tape if you are concerned with the envelope glue coming undone. Drive down to your branch when it's closed, and, when no one is in the ATM vestibule of your branch, drop your envelope through either of, in preference, (a) night depository slot or (b) the crack locked interior door. By noon the next day, if you've not yet seen the deposit posted to your account, call your branch and confirm they received, and will be posting, your cheque.
I would very strongly recommend against trying to open a cross-border TD account with TD Bank, N.A. Such processes typically take 4-6 weeks in normal times. With COVID-19, it will be even longer. You will certainly and unequivocally be disappointed with TDCT's service delivery and timeframes, not unlike your experience with trying to get a RRIF opened and transferred into Motus Bank around this time last year. At least this time, though, TDCT has COVID-19 to fall back on; in the Motus case, it was sheer incompetence and antiquated processes.
Cheers,
Doug
1:09 pm
October 21, 2013
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Thanks for the detailed instructions. I didn't know such things could be done. Will have to look for the night deposit box as I've never used one. Cleaning staff could lose it if through slot, so I won't do that. It would be a huge nuisance to replace this cheque. I just hope it gets here OK as it's coming by post.
As I said, I have no uses for cross-border accounts.
2:29 pm
April 6, 2013
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It doesn't look like the mobile phone deposit of a US$ cheque drawn on a non-Canadian bank would have been possible. 
How to deposit a cheque on the TD app from TD says the following:
Remember - you can only deposit cheques from Canadian financial institutions.
- CAD cheques will require a Canadian dollar account
- USD cheques will require a US dollar account
In Tangerine Bank: Mobile Terms, only Payment Canada standard cheques, which are drawn on Canadian financial institutions, can be deposited using their mobile deposit service:
4. Cheque Criteria
You agree to the following whenever you use Cheque-In to deposit a cheque remotely.a. Only paper cheques that are made payable to you directly can be deposited using Cheque-In. We will not accept a cheque that was payable to someone else and endorsed over to you.
b. Each cheque must be in the standard format approved by the Canadian Payments Association. The date, drawee institution, payee, amount in words and figures, signature of the Payor and magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) information must be clearly legible.
…
2:54 pm
October 27, 2013
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The latest I am aware, BMO will not let one deposit a USD cheque drawn off a Candian USD account to a BMO USD Canadian account by phone. Nor can it be done at their ATMs. I have to go into the branch to deposit it to my Cdn USD bank account
If I want it to go to BMO Harris in Illinois, I have to login to BMO's website and transfer, I think, no more than $2500 at a time from my Cdn USD account to my BMO Harris USD account.
Re: Post #4, not sure what Doug is getting at, but one can open a BMO Harris account in Illinois over the phone with BMO Harris staff, with a signature page couriered later.
4:57 pm
April 26, 2019
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Loonie. Is it possible, in the future, for your source to do a direct deposit? My mother in law has a USA government pension on direct deposit.
5:04 pm
February 16, 2013
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And no matter what you do with the cheque, be sure to take a picture or photocopy of it first Loonie.
5:19 pm
October 21, 2013
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Thanks for additional comments.
GICInvestor: This is a one-off cheque and I don't expect any more.
Norman: This is what I suspected. Was hoping for a FI that would allow it.
MG: Good idea! I will do that.
Do y'all think Doug's plan, using the night deposit, will work?
If not, I suppose I can try to wait it out until the virus calms down.
Do US cheques stale date after six months like ours or is there a different time frame? I don't want to hang onto it too long.
5:23 pm
April 6, 2013
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AltaRed said
The latest I am aware, BMO will not let one deposit a USD cheque drawn off a Candian USD account to a BMO USD Canadian account by phone. …
That's still the case, according to the FAQ at BMO: How to Deposit Money Using Mobile Cheque Deposit:
What can I deposit through the BMO Mobile Banking App?
You can use mobile cheque deposit to deposit cheques, including certified cheques and travelers cheques, money orders, and bank drafts issued by a Canadian financial institution or the federal or provincial governments in Canada, in Canadian dollars, that are payable to you.
5:42 pm
April 6, 2013
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Loonie said
…
Do y'all think Doug's plan, using the night deposit, will work?
If not, I suppose I can try to wait it out until the virus calms down.Do US cheques stale date after six months like ours or is there a different time frame? I don't want to hang onto it too long.
According to Forbes: How Long are Undeposited Checks Good? US banks are allowed to, but not required to, refuse a cheque that is more than 180 days old.
I would confirm if the TD branch is one of the branches that is still open. TD has said they have closed some branches temporarily.
TD has said that "effective March 26th, 2020, we are temporarily dedicating the first opening hour to serve seniors, those who need extra assistance and populations with greater health risk with urgent in-person banking needs."
Maybe you could call and arrange to drop off an envelope with that cheque as a "mail-in" deposit during that first hour.
5:50 pm
April 26, 2019
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Loonie said
Thanks for additional comments.GICInvestor: This is a one-off cheque and I don't expect any more.
Norman: This is what I suspected. Was hoping for a FI that would allow it.
MG: Good idea! I will do that.
Do y'all think Doug's plan, using the night deposit, will work?
If not, I suppose I can try to wait it out until the virus calms down.Do US cheques stale date after six months like ours or is there a different time frame? I don't want to hang onto it too long.
If you don’t have a key for night deposit....if you don’t want to go into bank.....I would say no.
If you put it in an envelope with a note and push into bank under door......I would say no.
If you put into an envelope with a note and if you hung around until some one opened the night deposit or know a reliable shop owner....that could be considered.
You could put it in the ATM with a note with the incorrect amount and let them reverse the ATM deposit and deposit as per note.
In the real real old days I would use a deposit slip and mail by Canada Post with the cheque to the bank. And that worked. Did same a few years ago to open Manitoba CU accounts.
I would phone the bank and mail it to the attention of xx with a note to deposit.
7:27 pm
October 21, 2013
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Hmm. It seems to get ever more complicated!
I'll phone when the cheque arrives. Maybe wait until crisis is waning.
7:56 am
December 12, 2009
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Loonie said
Thanks for the detailed instructions. I didn't know such things could be done. Will have to look for the night deposit box as I've never used one. Cleaning staff could lose it if through slot, so I won't do that. It would be a huge nuisance to replace this cheque. I just hope it gets here OK as it's coming by post.As I said, I have no uses for cross-border accounts.
No, you can trust the cleaning staff; they are bonded. Typically, they will pick up any envelopes and put them on the reception desk or similar, but the night depository is worth a shot. Even if you have to get a key, at most banks, it's a refundable deposit when you close the agreement and return the key.
Cheers,
Doug
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