OVER 6,000 bank branches have closed since 2015, making a trip to the bank a real trek for some.
Despite this, many of us may have received a cheque as a gift this Christmas.
With even more high street bank branches set to disappear in 2025, you might be frustrated, thinking you must visit your nearest branch to cash in the slip of paper.
This could mean a lengthy journey for some, while it might be more convenient for others.
However, don’t let that cheque go to waste.
Cashing a cheque from the comfort of your sofa is much easier than you might think.
Most banks and building societies now allow customers to deposit cheques using their online or mobile banking apps.
The system is simple and easy to use, and all you need is a flat surface and a bit of light.
It works the same way a QR code does – you lay the cheque out as flat as possible and take a picture when prompted by your banking app.
Once you’ve submitted this, your bank will issue the funds to your current account, often within a matter of minutes.
However, each firm sets its own daily limits, so it’s essential to know how much you can deposit according to your bank’s rules.
Here’s how to avoid making the trip and cash your cheque from your sofa instead.
Plus, we’ve explained the limits imposed by different banks and building societies per day.
Barclays allows customers to pay in up to four cheques per week via the bank’s mobile app.
Each cheque must be worth no more than £5,000 each, otherwise you’ll need to cash it in at your local Post Office or bank branch.
To cash your cheque in log in to the Barclays app and select ‘Pay & Transfer’ at the bottom of the screen, then tap ‘Pay in a cheque’.
Choose the account you want to pay your cheque into.
Enter the amount and a reference if you need one, then select ‘Take photo’.
Your phone’s camera will automatically switch on.
Place the cheque on a plain background that’s darker than the cheque.
Make sure the whole cheque is visible within the corners of the frame.
Hold your device steady and the app will automatically take a photo of the cheque.
The corners of the frame will change to green when the picture has been taken.
Tap ‘Pay in cheque’.
If you pay in a cheque before 3.59pm on a weekday (Monday to Friday, except bank holidays), it’ll clear by 11.59pm the next weekday.
First Direct allows customers to pay in one or more cheques up to the limit of £2,000 per day via the bank’s mobile app.
All you need to do to pay in a cheque is tap the more options menu (tap the three dots) on the account you’d like to pay your cheque into, then select ‘Pay in a cheque’ from the menu.
Once you have done this then enter the amount that is on the cheque, scan the front and back of it and submit the images.
Cheques that are paid in before 10pm on a working day using the app will be available by 11:59pm the next working day, providing it’s not been returned unpaid.
HSBC allows customers to pay in one or more cheques up to the limit of £2,000 per day via the bank’s mobile app.
To cash your cheque in log into your app and select ‘Pay & Transfer’ followed by selecting ‘Deposit a cheque’.
Select the account where you wish to deposit your cheque and enter the cheque value.
Under ‘cheque images’ select the front and back of the cheque icons to capture both sides of the cheque.
Press continue and review the details, then press ‘deposit now’
Cheques deposited before 10pm on a working day will be available by 11:59pm the next working day.
Monzo allows customers to pay in one or more cheques up to the limit of £500 per day via the bank’s mobile app.
To do this, tap the ‘Home’ icon in the menu of your Monzo App.
Then tap on the account you want to add money into.
Tap ‘Add money’ underneath your card (if you can’t see this button, tap on the three dots) and click on ‘Other ways to add money’.
Tap ‘Cheques’ and follow the steps.
It will then take up to three business days for the money to show in your account.
NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) allow customers to pay in one or more cheques up to the limit of £5,000 per day via the bank’s mobile app.
Each cheque should have a value no greater than £1,000.
To cash your cheque in log into your banking app and select the account that you want to deposit the cheque into.
Select the ‘Deposit a cheque’ option.
Under ‘Cheque amount’, enter the amount of the cheque and select ‘Continue’.
Select ‘Take photo of your cheque’ and allow access to your camera.
Follow the steps on-screen to capture images of both the front and back of the cheque (even if the back is blank) against a dark background.
On the summary screen, review the details to check they have been captured correctly and select ‘Deposit now’.
The money should be available to you within two business days, as long as you submit your cheque before 6pm.
Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds Bank allow customers to pay in one or more cheques up to the limit of £10,000 per day via the bank’s mobile app.
To do this, sign in to our app and select ‘More’ from your account. Then choose ‘Deposit cheque’.
Make sure the cheque is less than six months old and the recipient name is right, then enter the amount on the cheque.
If you want to, add a reference to remind you who the money is from or what it’s for.
Select ‘Front of cheque’. Then, if asked, allow access to your camera.
Lay the cheque on a flat surface with a dark background. Hold the camera level and directly above it.
When a green border appears around the cheque, hold still for a moment.
The app will then scan the cheque.
Select ‘Back of cheque’. Repeat the process, even if it’s blank.
Check the details, then confirm the deposit.
Keep hold of the cheque until the money is available.
The money should drop into your account by 11.59pm on the working day after the bank receives the cheque.
SEVERAL UK banks and building societies do not offer cheque imaging through their mobile banking apps.
These include:
It’s best to check directly with a specific bank or building society if you can’t find the cheque imaging feature in their app.
Keep in mind that information changes frequently, so confirming directly with the institution is always the most reliable approach.
Santander allows customers to pay in one or more cheques up to the limit of £1,000 per day via the bank’s mobile app.
To do this, log in to your mobile banking app and select ‘Pay & transfer’ from the home screen.
Then tap ‘Pay in cheque’.
You’ll then be shown a list of things to check before paying in your cheque.
If everything on this list is correct, tap ‘Confirm & continue’.
Select an account where you want to deposit the cheque to.
Choose ‘Front of the cheque’. If the app asks permission to access your phone camera, tap ‘OK’.
You’ll now be able to take a photo of your cheque. You’ll get tips on how to position your cheque.
The photo will be taken automatically when the image is steady and clear, but you can take the photo manually as well.
Once the front of the cheque is done, now you can tap on ‘Back of the cheque’ to take a photo of the back.
The camera will show again. Take a picture to continue.
Once you’ve taken a photo of both sides of the cheque, tap ‘Continue’.
Check and review the date and amount. If all details are correct, tap ‘Deposit cheque’.
If you need to take the photo again, tap ‘Retake photo’.
The deposited amount should show in your account by 11.59pm on the next working day.
Starling Bank allows customers to pay in one or more cheques up to the limit of £2,000 per day via the bank’s mobile app.
To get started, you need to make sure that you’ve got the latest version of the Starling app.
Once you’ve got the latest version, tap the ‘plus(+)’ sign next to your balance, click ‘Deposit Cheques and Cash’ and then follow the onscreen instructions.
Cheques must be dated within the last six months.
When taking a photo of your cheque, try to place it on a flat, dark surface and photograph it from above.
Once accepted, your cheque usually takes two working days to clear.
When the money lands in your account, Starling will send you a real-time notification to let you know it’s there.
TSB allows customers to pay in one or more cheques up to the limit of £500 per day via the bank’s mobile app.
To do this, log in to your mobile banking app and select the ‘Payments’ tab, then tap ‘Deposit’ a cheque.
Or, go to Home then tap the three dots in the right-hand corner.
Enter the name and amount as shown on the cheque.
Add a reference if you want to.
Then tap ‘Continue’. Use the full name as written on the cheque.
Tap ‘Take photo’.
Hold your phone above the cheque and follow the on-screen prompts.
Your camera will then take the photo automatically.
Check the details.
If they’re correct, deposit your cheque by tapping ‘Confirm’.
Virgin Money allows customers to pay in one or more cheques up to the limit of £5,000 per day via the bank’s mobile app.
Individual cheques worth no more than £1,000 can be deposited one at a time.
To get started:
To do this, open the app and tap on the account you’d like to pay the money into.
Tap the menu in the top right corner and choose ‘Deposit a cheque’ and then follow the instructions on the screen.
