As a USAA customer for years, I have to say I'm disappointed by
ZDNet's take. -- The iPhone app is simply a new version of an older
web-based application.
USAA has offered this basic functionality (imaging your own checks and
uploading them) for years -- with a Java-based web app called
Deposit@Home. You scan your check on your digital scanner, and
upload (after cropping appropriately) the image to their servers.
It's actually the reason I moved from using them for just my auto
insurance to opening a bank account with them. It was so much more
convenient than taking any checks I got to my BoA branch or even
ATMs.
I haven't ever had to mail in a check like she said... though I'm sure
people did have to up until Deposit@Home was started.
Also, as noted by some posters:
Yes, I've always kept the check for a week or 3, just to be on the safe
side that they don't complain about your image and not actually credit
your account... although I've never had that happen after the
application accepted the image. But I never "VOID" or destroy the check
until a short period afterwards -- just to be on the safe side -- despite
it apparently not being necessary.
Yes, there are processes in place to make sure you can't deposit the
check elsewhere... The originating bank (the one who is paying the
money out of the check signer's account) will not honor multiple
payments from the same account and with the same check number. --
And I'm sure if you start trying, USAA will help them prosecute you
fully. After all, they have all your vital info from when you opened the
account -- and you have to be signed in to your own account to use
the Deposit@Home and Deposit@Mobile applications -- so they always
know exactly who you are if you were to try anything like that.
Yes, they require you to endorse the check before taking the image --
and at least with Deposit@Home they want you to include "Deposit
Only" and the account number you're depositing into. I endorse them
first, do a scan, and then just have a digital stamp (image with
transparency) with the appropriate text that I layer onto the check
scans before uploading them on the web site, so it's quick and easy
each time.
Discussion on:
Message 12 of 1
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