It's a way to pay in cheques using your mobile device. The app uses your device camera to capture an image of the cheque and 'reads' the details to pay the money into your account. It's simple, convenient and secure - and can save you a trip to a branch.
The funds should be available to you within 2 working days, as long as you submit your cheque before 6pm. If you submit your cheque before 6pm on a Tuesday, for example, the funds should be available to you on Wednesday. If you submit your cheque after 6pm on Tuesday, the funds should be available on Thursday.
If the cheque is submitted after 6pm it will be processed the next working day which means that funds will be available 2 days after submission.
We do not process payments over weekends or bank holidays, so if you submit cheques after 6pm on Friday or over the weekend, funds should become available to you on Tuesday.
The below table provides examples of timescales.
| Day & Time Deposited | Funds available by 23:59 on |
|---|---|
| Monday before 18:00 | Tuesday |
| Monday after 18:00 | Wednesday |
| Anytime on Bank Holiday Monday | Wednesday |
| Friday before 18:00 | Monday |
| Friday after 18:00 | Tuesday |
| Anytime on Saturday | Tuesday |
| Anytime on Saturday before a bank holiday on Monday | Wednesday |
Yes, you can submit a cheque 24 hours a day 7 days a week using our Retail Banking mobile app. However, if you do choose to submit a cheque on a bank holiday, we won't process this until the next business day. So if Monday is a bank holiday and you submit your cheque, you won't see the funds available until Wednesday.
This is a free service for personal customers, however data rate charges may apply which might be charged by the mobile network provider if you are using your device whilst not connected to a wifi network.
If you pay for depositing cheques, your usual cheque tariff will be applied for each deposit. You will not be charged a credit fee.
Yes, however it’s quicker and simpler to use our app.
If there are any problems with the cheque you've paid in, we'll contact you using the most recent postal address you’ve given us. You can check the address we hold for you in the Profile section of your app. The first line of your address is shown in Manage my personal details. Please retain the cheque until the money is available in your account.
You should write 'paid in' on the back of the cheque and keep it for at least 7 days in case we need to contact you about it.
Each cheque deposited using the app in the past 99 days is listed in the Deposit History tab at the top right of the 'Deposit a cheque' screen. This shows you the cheque details including images.
To check the status of cheques deposited via the app, please click on the account the cheque was deposited to and click 'My Transactions' where your detailed balance information is displayed. Any cheques not yet cleared will be shown as a pending transaction. If there are any issues with cheques you've paid in, we’ll contact you. Please retain the cheque until the money is available in your account.
The history tab only shows cheque imaging deposits made by you from a registered mobile device in the past 99 days. This won’t include cheques deposited in branch or at a Cashpoint® or ATM. If you have a joint account, it also won’t include any cheques deposited by the other person using another mobile device. You'll see a total of all cheques deposited in your account details. They're shown as a pending transaction first, until the funds are made available.
Once the cheque is accepted, mark the back of the cheque as 'paid in'. You should keep it for at least 7 days in case we need to contact you about it. Then securely destroy the cheque(s) - tearing or shredding are good ways to do this.
You can pay cheques into any of your accounts that are eligible for cheque deposits.
No, as long as the total amount is less than £1,500 in a day you can pay in as many as you have. Each cheque has to be £1,000 or less.
No, this isn't possible however, you can deposit multiple cheques in one session, subject to limits, and they will be credited to your account individually. Just select deposit another cheque from the on-screen prompt.
Yes - the app aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) at Level AA, so it works with Assistive Technologies built into mobile devices. The traditional way of cashing in cheques by visiting a branch, Post Office or via the post will continue to be available if this technology is not suitable for customers.
The Mobile Deposit a Cheque feature is a new functionality introduced into our mobile app as an initial offering. We are continuously working to improve its functionalities based on planned future mobile releases and customer feedback received.
You can deposit most types of cheques as long as they are in pounds sterling. This includes UK Government Payable Orders, postal orders, bankers' drafts and Building Society cheques - but not travellers' cheques, bank giro credits and various non-standard cheques.
If we don't accept a particular type of cheque, the app won't accept the cheque and you will be directed to take the cheque to a branch or Post Office where applicable.
Yes. You can pay in most sterling cheques from UK banks.
We process cheques written in English, Welsh and Gaelic. The recipient name can be in any language as long as it matches the account name.
No; You can deposit most types of cheques as long as they are in pounds sterling. This includes UK Government Payable Orders, postal orders, bankers' drafts and Building Society cheques - but not travellers' cheques, bank giro credits and various non-standard cheques. If we don't accept a particular type of cheque, the app won't accept the cheque and you will be directed to take the cheque to a branch or Post Office where applicable.
Also, we are currently offering a service where you can you post your cheques to us, if you are unable to visit a Branch or Post Office. Please send cheques, along with a paying in slip, to: NatWest NICPU, PO Box 41, The Drapery, Northampton, NN1 2EY.
Sterling cheques will be processed within 5 working days of receipt. We are now also able offer this service for Foreign Cheques too. It will take up to 12 weeks for the foreign cheques to be paid.
Camera permissions need to be switched on to take a photograph of the cheque and proceed with the deposit. Please go to your phone Settings to switch on camera permissions.
Some cheques aren't blank on the back but just so we can double check we would need you to scan the back of each cheque even if it is blank.
No. For security, cheque images are not stored in the app and they won’t appear in your device’s photo library or any cloud service connected with it. Cheque images are only stored securely on bank systems. Similarly, you can’t upload cheque images from your device’s photo library, or use a photocopy of a cheque.
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