Mobile cheque deposit with instant funds availability in Canada

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Many Canadian banks let you deposit cheques online instantly via mobile app by signing the cheque, taking a photo of it with your smartphone and entering a few details—all without visiting a local branch. Cheques may take days to clear, but some banks offer mobile cheque deposits with instant funds availability in Canada.

Which Canadian banks offer instant mobile cheque deposit?

Most of these banks let you access mobile cheque funds immediately or, at the very least, within the same day. You typically don’t need to pay a fee for mobile cheque deposits.

7 steps for how to cash a cheque instantly

There are typically 7 steps for how to cash a cheque instantly:

1. Sign the back of the cheque
2. Log in to your mobile banking app
3. Select mobile cheque deposit
4. Enter the amount the cheque is worth and select the account you want to deposit it into
5. Upload photos of the front and back of the cheque
6. Review the details and submit the deposit
7. Set the cheque aside for at least five to 14 days

At that point, all or a portion of the cheque will typically have been deposited into your account instantly and be available for immediate access. The whole process to complete a mobile cheque deposit typically takes only around two minutes.

You can read our full guide to how to deposit a cheque online for more details about each step and for a step-by-step picture guide outlining the whole process.

Banks that don’t offer mobile cheque deposit in Canada

While most banks and credit unions in Canada let you deposit cheques by mobile app, not all do. Here are just a few financial institutions that don’t offer cheque services or require cheque deposits the traditional way—via teller or ATM.

• Laurentian Bank
• Oaken Financial
• PC Financial
• Neo Financial (but Neo claims it’s coming soon)

Can you cash cheques online instantly in Canada?

Yes, it is possible to cash cheques online instantly, if by “cash” you mean deposit. If you want physical cash in hand, you have two options:

1. Deposit the cheque through your banking app using a bank that offers instant mobile deposit, and then visit an ATM to withdraw the cash
2. Deposit the cheque in person at your local bank branch

There may be a third option available depending on your bank, where you can deposit the cheque directly through your bank’s ATM machine and then immediately withdraw the cash.

Between all of these options, it’s definitely possible to cash cheques online instantly in Canada—whether you’re looking for cash in hand or to have it deposited in your account.

How fast is an instant mobile cheque deposit?

Mobile cheque deposits typically appear in your account immediately, and in many cases, you can access funds right away. But banks may sometimes hold deposits for one to five (or more) business days to make sure cheques clear and don’t bounce.

If a bank advertises “instant” cheque deposits, its definition of “instant” is likely to vary. Some banks consider instant availability as funds cleared within that same business day, while others consider instant availability as making your funds available within minutes of depositing.

What is the fastest cheque deposit method?

Depending on the bank and the cheque amount, most cheques clear within one day up to several business days. Depositing a cheque at a physical branch is typically the fastest way to clear funds. Depositing via ATM or mobile app will take longer.

For federally regulated financial institutions like banks, Canadian dollar cheques drawn from Canadian bank accounts can’t be held for longer than eight days. Provincially and territorially regulated financial institutions like credit unions may have different policies.

Cheques aren’t the only way to move money between bank accounts. Faster—and more modern transfer methods—include Interac e-Transfers and using a dedicated money transfer service like Wise or Western Union.

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Online banks with immediate funds availability in Canada

Beyond the Big 6 Banks in Canada, there are many online-only banks that provide immediate funds availability in Canada, including Simplii Financial, EQ Bank and Tangerine.

That said, both online banks and banks with physical branches in Canada usually offer mobile banking apps that enable online cheque deposits with instant (or nearly instant) access to funds. You can also typically sign up for an account in mere minutes using a bank’s mobile app. Check out account options above.

How long does it take for a cheque to clear through mobile deposit?

In Canada, mobile cheque deposits may be available right away but can take up to five business days or more to process, verify and clear. In some cases, only a portion of the cheque may clear immediately, and the rest clears the next business day.

The speed can also depend on the amount that’s deposited. For example, by law, the first $100 must be available immediately if you deposit a cheque in person at a branch or by the next business day for other cheque deposit methods like ATMs and mobile apps.

Mobile cheque deposit may also be your only way to deposit a cheque with a digital bank. Some banks also allow you to mail cheques, but that would likely take longer than a mobile cheque deposit, thanks to the speed of snail mail.

Reasons your mobile cheque might get delayed

The timing of when the cheque was deposited can create delays. Some banks like RBC may allow a cheque to clear the same day if deposited before 6PM on business days. If you attempt to deposit the cheque after that time, you’ll likely have to wait until the next day for it to clear.

Another likely explanation for a delay could be a lack of verification. If you’ve deposited a large amount—or an amount you don’t normally deposit—the bank may need time to verify the security of the transaction and ensure that the sending account has enough funds to clear the cheque.

Other common delay causes can include:

• The deposit amount is over the bank’s daily limit
• The bank doesn’t accept the cheque you attempted to deposit
• Your account is in overdraft, and the cheque amount is applied to your negative balance
• You’re a new customer, and limits apply for the first few months of having an account

Best free mobile banking apps

Can you deposit a cheque at an ATM?

Yes, many banks in Canada offer ATM cheque deposits, where customers can deposit their cheques entirely through their bank’s ATM just like they would deposit cash through the ATM, without having to visit a teller. Banks that offer ATM cheque deposits include Scotiabank, RBC, TD and Tangerine (at Scotiabank ATMs).

Can you deposit a cheque online without a bank account in Canada?

Yes, it is possible to deposit a cheque online without a bank account in Canada, but your options will be mostly limited to cheque-cashing services, like Money Mart and Speedy Cash, which typically charge a fee for the service. Some retailers, like grocery stores, will occasionally cash a cheque for their customers for a small fee as well.

Our expert says: Keep an eye out for the extra fees.

"When it comes to getting instant access to cheques, the fastest deposit method is through a bank’s mobile app. Every other deposit option—via ATMs, payday loan companies or at a bank branch—all require someone to leave their home and will consequently take more time. Payday loan companies can seem like a friendly alternative to traditional banks, but they’ll typically take a cut of the cheque for their service.

And while it’s becoming increasingly popular for mobile banking apps to offer it, you still need to double-check that the bank offers mobile cheque deposits, that the mobile app gets good reviews on iOS and Android, and that you’re not paying extra account fees.

There’s no point in signing up for a bank account simply to access instant mobile cheque deposits if you’re going to be stuck paying a monthly fee or transaction costs for account features you won’t use. So instead, make sure the banking app not only supports mobile cheque deposit, but also offers a fee structure that you’re willing to pay. Watch out for banking fees that can eat away at your deposited funds."

Chelsey Hurst

Growth Manager (Banking & Investments)

What technology do banks and credit unions use for mobile deposits?

While most of Canada’s banks (like BMO, Scotiabank, TD and Tangerine) tend to use their own proprietary technology to enable mobile cheque deposits through their apps, many credit unions like Vancity, Meridian, Servus and NLCU use technology from external sources to integrate mobile deposits into their banking apps.

For example, many credit unions use Deposit Anywhere—a secure remote deposit capture technology owned by Central 1 Credit Union—to power their mobile deposits. Credit unions typically go that route because it’s easier to develop and more affordable than creating a custom mobile cheque deposit framework from scratch.

What else can you use instant mobile deposit for?

Many banks in Canada also use their mobile cheque deposit process to support deposits of other types of money transfer methods, like bank drafts, money orders or certified cheques. The process is typically the same as required to deposit a standard cheque instantly through the bank’s mobile app. The only caveat for these other types of deposits is that the bank that issues the deposit usually needs to be Canadian-based as well.

Alternatives to mobile cheque deposit for instant funds availability

If you’re with a bank or credit union that doesn’t support mobile cheque deposit, there are other ways to deposit a cheque to get instant access to the funds.

For example, you could visit your local bank branch to cash the cheque and ask the teller to give you all or any part of the cheque in cash immediately. Or you can have the entire amount deposited into your account for immediate access through your debit card or for e-transfer.

Alternatively, like we mentioned above, some ATMs in Canada support cheque deposits entirely through the ATM. Once the cheque is deposited, you can immediately withdraw the amount in cash if necessary.

If you’re with an online bank that doesn’t have physical branches or ATMs that support cheque deposits, then your best option will likely be to open a free account with a bank that supports instant mobile cheque deposits (which can usually be done online in only a few minutes), deposit the cheque into that account and then e-transfer the funds into your original account.

Is mobile banking an important feature to Canadians?

While Canadians clearly prioritize their mobile banking access—with 14.25% choosing a better mobile app experience as one of the top three most important factors when choosing a new bank account—it’s not among the most common top priorities, according to the most recent Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey March 2026.

In fact, the majority of Canadians believe that the account’s monthly fee (63.72%), transaction costs (50.42%) and access to free e-Transfers (44.18%) are the top three most important features to consider when opening a new account. Understandably, fees and costs outrank mobile banking features for most Canadians.

That is not to say that mobile cheque deposits are not a key factor to consider, as previous survey results have shown that Canadians are increasingly using their bank’s mobile app to manage their everyday banking needs as opposed to visiting a bank branch.

That makes choosing a bank that offers mobile check deposit with instant funds availability more and more important to ensure people can get access to their funds in an increasingly mobile-dependent age.

Bottom line

Most modern banks allow mobile cheque deposits through banking apps, but not all are instant. For more account options, compare the best chequing accounts and the best high-interest savings accounts.

Frequently asked questions

• Where can I mobile deposit a check and get funds instantly?

  Banks and credit unions in Canada that allow you to get funds instantly after a mobile check deposit (or "cheque" as it's commonly spelled in Canada) include Scotiabank, Coast Capital, Simplii Financial and the other financial institutions listed above. Keep in mind that depending on how much you're trying to deposit, some of your funds could be placed on hold for several days before you can get access.

• What options does PC Financial offer to deposit cheques?

  Unfortunately, PC Financial does not offer the option to directly deposit cheques into its accounts. If you have a PC Money account and want to deposit a cheque, you'll have to deposit the cheque at a different financial institution and then transfer the funds into your PC Financial account.

• How long does Simplii hold a cheque?

  Simplii Financial does not typically put a hold on cheques. That said, Simplii does reserve the right to put a hold for up to 5 business days at its discretion.

• What types of cheques aren't eligible for mobile deposit?

  It depends on the bank, but treasury cheques, traveller's cheques and money orders may not be eligible for mobile cheque deposit.

• Can you get money instantly by cashing a cheque at an ATM?

  In some cases, you can instantly access the money you deposited via ATM. You may only have immediate access to a portion of the funds, depending on the total amount deposited. But expect to wait a day or two for the cheque to clear.

• Are mobile cheque deposits safe?

  In most cases, yes. The majority of bank apps encrypt your information and only let you view deposited cheque images through secured bank portals.

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Written by

Bethany Hickey

Banking editor

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Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

Bethany's expertise

Bethany has written 3 Finder guides across topics including:

• Personal finance
• Banking
• Auto loans
• Insurance
• Cryptocurrency and NFTs

Co-written by

Chelsey Hurst

Growth Manager (Banking & Investments)

Chelsey Hurst is a Growth Manager at Finder, specializing in banking and investments. She loves empowering people to avoid financial pitfalls and make better decisions with their money. Chelsey has a Bachelor of Science from Redeemer University, a Master of Science from McMaster University, and has won multiple awards for research communication. In her spare time, Chelsey enjoys cooking and taking long walks in nature. See full bio

Chelsey's expertise

Chelsey has written 126 Finder guides across topics including:

• Banking
• Stock Trading
• Cryptocurrency