Short answer: to deposit a check, first endorse it by signing the back (add “For deposit only” or “For mobile deposit only at [your bank]”). Then deposit it one of four ways: in your bank’s mobile app (photograph the front and back), at an ATM, with a teller using a deposit slip, or by mail. Keep the paper check until the money posts. Facts checked November 11, 2026.
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4 ways to deposit a check
| Method | What you need | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile app | Bank app, phone camera, endorsed check | Fastest; any time, anywhere | Daily and monthly mobile deposit limits |
| ATM | Debit card, endorsed check (some ATMs need an envelope) | After hours, larger checks than mobile | Only at your bank’s or a partner’s ATM |
| Teller at a branch | Endorsed check, deposit slip, ID or debit card | Large checks, cash back, questions | Branch hours |
| By mail | Endorsed check, deposit slip, envelope | No branch nearby | Slowest; use “For deposit only” |
Before any of these, endorse the check: sign the back in the “Endorse here” area with the name on the front. Writing “For deposit only” above your signature limits the check to deposit into an account. See how to endorse a check for every kind of endorsement.
Mobile check deposit, step by step
- Endorse the check. Sign the back and write “For mobile deposit only at [your bank’s name]”, or tick the mobile deposit box if your check has one. Many banks reject mobile deposits without this line.
- Open your bank’s app and choose Deposit or Deposit checks, then the account.
- Enter the amount exactly as written on the check.
- Photograph the front and back on a dark, flat surface in good light, with all four corners in the frame.
- Submit and keep the check. Checks Unlimited’s endorsement guide suggests writing “mobile deposit” and the date on the front and keeping the paper check for at least five days, until the deposit posts, then destroying it.
Depositing a check at a branch or ATM
At a branch, fill out a deposit slip with the date, your name and account number, each check’s amount and the total, then hand it to the teller with the endorsed check. If you want some cash back, write the amount on the “less cash received” line and sign the slip. A pad of personalized deposit slips saves filling in your account number each time.
At an ATM, insert your debit card, choose Deposit, and feed in the endorsed check; most modern ATMs scan it with no envelope and print an image of it on the receipt. Businesses that drop off many checks often use a bank deposit bag and a “For deposit only” stamp.
When the money from a check is available
Federal rules (Regulation CC) generally require banks to make the first part of a check deposit available by the next business day and most of the rest within two business days. Banks can hold funds longer for large deposits, new accounts, repeatedly overdrawn accounts or checks they have reason to doubt, and mobile and ATM deposits made late in the day count as the next business day. Your bank’s funds availability policy, usually in the app, gives the exact times.
After you deposit the check
- Record the deposit in your check register or app.
- Keep the paper check until the deposit shows as posted, then shred it; don’t deposit the same check twice.
- If the check bounces, your bank reverses the deposit and may charge a returned-item fee, so wait for funds to clear before spending a large check from someone you don’t know.
- Old check? See how long a check is good for before you try to deposit it.
Deposit slips and checks: prices
Checks Unlimited sells deposit slips printed with your bank details, and a register to record each deposit. Prices on its own product pages today:
| Checks Unlimited item | What you get | 1 | 2 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit Slips | 80 slips per pack (2 pads), printed with your name, routing and account number | $9.99 | $19.89 | $38.09 |
| Check Register | 1 register to record deposits and checks | $3.49 | $6.98 | $13.96 |
If you also write checks, here is what a box of plain blue personal checks costs on each printer’s own site today:
| Checks | Checks per box | 1 box | 2 boxes | 4 boxes | Duplicates (1 / 2 / 4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checks Unlimited Blue Classic | 80 | $23.49 | $38.99 | $72.29 | $29.49 / $48.99 / $90.49 |
| Checks Unlimited High Security Parchment | 80 | $28.49 | $49.59 | $87.69 | $34.49 / $59.79 / $106.19 |
| Carousel Checks basic blue (VAL-001) | 100 | $20.00 | $39.50 | $79.00 | $22.00 / $44.00 / $88.00 |
| Walmart Checks Blue Secure | 100 | $12.75 | $25.49 | $50.99 | $14.46 / $28.92 / $57.85 |
Prices checked November 11, 2026 on each seller’s own product page, before shipping and taxes. Checks Unlimited says its product prices include handling fees and sells 80 checks per box; Walmart Checks lists free standard shipping and 100 checks per pack; Carousel sells 100 checks per box. Prices change, so confirm them at checkout.
How to deposit a check: frequently asked questions
What do I write on the back of a check to deposit it?
Sign your name as it appears on the front, and write “For deposit only” above it. For mobile deposit, write “For mobile deposit only at [your bank’s name]” instead, or tick the printed box.
Can I deposit a check without a deposit slip?
Usually yes. Mobile and most ATM deposits don’t need one, and many tellers will fill one in for you, but bringing a deposit slip with your account number makes a branch deposit faster.
How long does it take for a deposited check to clear?
Banks generally make the first part of a check deposit available by the next business day and most of the rest within two business days, but they can hold large or unusual checks longer. Check your bank’s funds availability policy.
Can I deposit a check made out to someone else?
Only if it is properly signed over to you and your bank accepts third-party checks; many banks refuse them, so ask first.
Order personalized deposit slips from Checks Unlimited: 80 slips for $9.99.
Shop deposit slips at Checks Unlimited →
Checks Unlimited prices checked November 11, 2026, before shipping. Affiliate link: GetBankChecks.com may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Related guides
- Where to order checks
- How to write a check to yourself
- How to cash a check
- How to balance a checkbook
- How to endorse a check
- Deposit slips
- For deposit only stamps
- Bank deposit bags
- How to read a check
- How long is a check good for?
- How to write a check
Affiliate disclosure: GetBankChecks.com is an independent guide, not a check printer or a bank. Some links are affiliate links, and we earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices and designs change, so check them on the merchant’s site before you pay. This guide is general information, not legal or banking advice; your bank’s rules apply.