Chase iPhone app lets you deposit checks by taking pictures

There’s good news if you’re a Chase bank member and rock an Apple iPhone, as the banking app has been updated to include cool new features.

The iPhone app lets you do what you’d expect, including finding ATMs near you, check account balances and transfer funds. The cool part of this update is that now you can use the Apple iPhone camera to deposit checks.

How does it work? Well, you just fire up the app and then take a clear picture of the front and back of the check you want to deposit (make sure you sign it, too). The app will be able to analyze the amount and validity of the check and then you’ll be able to deposit it to the account of your choosing.

This isn’t the first bank to do this, but Chase is the first mainstream bank to offer this check-depositing capability. I use Chase for my banking needs and I can’t wait to try this out.

I wouldn’t be too worried about security implications, as optical scanning is essentially how ATMs accept checks nowadays. Using your phone to accomplish this can just save you a trip to your bank. Besides, it’s all fiat money anyways, so the physical check’s not that important.

– Download Chase Mobile for iPhone (free) [iTunes Link]

About The Author

Marin Perez

Marin Perez has torture tested cell phones and smartphones for industry leaders like CNET and InformationWeek. He remembers when 4G was just a screen on PowerPoint presentations and is fascinated with the amount of innovation out there. Marin has spent a lot of time with BlackBerry and Android but he finally broke down a bought an iPhone to see what all the hype's about. He also has too many tablets.

js

big deal. usaa has had that capability for nearly a year and the regular app even longer. chase has just caught up
JD Deez

thats not true. USAA only allows military or related members to use it. As the writer stated, its at mainstrream banks now that are compared to chase, wellsfargo, etc. The writer didnt say it was a new technology. Your dumb!
js

most certainly is true. I wasn’t claiming usaa is available to anyone with a pulse, just stating big deal, I’ve been doing it for a year. guess you could call it a perk of serving, don’t hate. there’s over 7 million members that’d argue we are in fact mainstream. chase could only dream of the numbers usaa sees. thank goodness for those bailouts right?
Shirley

When can this type of App be used with other phones other than IPhone such as TMobile G phone. I would like to use the feature but not by buying a new phone. Android should have this same type of app.
John

Get your facts straight. Chase which is a part of JP Morgan never accepted any bailouts. They didn’t need to. In fact they were the ones who bailed out Washington Mutual.
js

correct. bailouts, no. unscrupulous lending practices that led to the industry fallout as a whole, guilty as charged. no need to check the facts on that, I experienced it personally. heh, coincidentally said experiences are why I switched to usaa in the first place and will go out of my way to NOT use a chase ATM as usaa refunds ATM fees. they don’t need my measly fees but hey makes me feel good:)
Mike C

Regarding security:

Yes, ATM'S may already essentially do this, but you can assume with a pretty high degree of confidence that they shred the original checks. How many iPhone users will just toss scanned checks in the trash once they clear??
Sosee

JD Deez,
When you call someone dumb, please try to use correct english.

"Your dumb." does not = "You're dumb."

You're dumb, sir.
Mark

Actually JP Morgan Chase received a huge windfall thanks to the Fed. Washington Mutual was seized by the Federal Reserve. The government kept the bad assets for taxpayer and/or inflationary burden. Then Washington Mutuals huge network of west coasts banks were sold via private negotiation with JPM Chase executives for a small fraction of fair value. JPM Chase won big by gaining a nationwide presence thanks to their personal connections with Paulson. Got to credit to CEO Jamie Diamond (sp) for taking advantage of economic weakness.
Heidi

If iPhone users are that dumb to just throw a check in the trash, I have zero sympathy for them.
KTheo

Will they ever come out with this app for Blackberry??
Jessica

It’s not that amazing. It can never read the amount(regardless of how clear the photo is) or the routing/account number. Sure, you can bypass it and enter them yourself but the it says it couldn’t retrieve your account information referring you to deposit at your local branch. Good going Chase.
Rebino

Yah this has been available for a long time. At work, we just take a quick picture and submit, save the check for 90 days and then we shred them. Big deal. Plus honestly, not many checks circulate anymore. Direct Deposit, Account Transfers etc. When a friend owes me money, Chase offers a free service that I request the money via email and when they accept it, bam i have the money. Free. Yah. Not all that exciting of an app. Yawn. Next.
Ronald McDonald

Damn I thought apple fanboys were tough. Looks like we have lots of usaa thugs in herr.
Anonamous1598

Do you have to send the check in to the bank after depositing it or something. Because what is to stop someone from depositing the check into multiple accounts? For example, deposit the check at Chase and then deposit the check at Bank of America. Or deposit the check at one bank and then go cash the check elsewhere.