Customers Frustrated by Unpredictable Check Holds
Customers experience unpredictable delays, holds, and verification issues when depositing checks, regardless of their banking history or the check's origin. This creates frustration, financial uncertainty, and security concerns, especially when dealing with inheritance or business payments.
SOURCES (60)
“Have you tried calling capital one and asking them to raise your mobile deposit limit allowing you to deposit the check. As long as your account is in good standing a lot of times they’ll raise it for you upon request for 24-48hrs.”
“Take the check to the bank it was drafted on, get it cashed and open a new account with cash”
“So, usually I get my payroll direct deposited 1.5 days before my official payday. At worst, it's 1 day before. Our official payday is tomorrow, 9/4/26, and I haven't received my direct deposit yet as of 1pm PST. When I inquired to my CU, they said it can occasionally become delayed depending on when my employer processed the ACH. They said they do not see anything incoming on the "back end" I'm off today, so I cannot inquire to my payroll department. Is there anything I sho”
“You can't cash or deposit it if it says & on it. Have them rewrite it to say Or. If not they have to cut 3 checks. If they won't do it tell your LL that you will have to take it to small claims court because there is no way for you to cash it with 3 names and And because your bank won't let you even if all 3 people are there they have to be on the same account to cash or deposit it.”
“I am trying to cash a security deposit check from my previous landlord but have hit an issue. I've seen lots of similar posts through searching but I have a few parts that were unique from other posts I've seen. To start, the check has 3 names on it, mine and my prior 2 roommates. It is written with my name on top and then the other two names with an "&". I originally paid the security deposit and they reimbursed me for their portions. One of my roommates was on a work visa”
“Well they do, but we’re trying to avoid the fees associated with depositing a US check abroad.”
“Hello, a family friend (French) recently returned to France after living in the US for a few years, and has a check from the US that she needs to either cash or deposit. Is there a way to do this so that she can avoid any large fees? Could she sign the check to someone in the US and have them send her the amount via Venmo or Zelle? submitted by /u/philomelancholy [link] [comments]”
“Since the check says “and,” both signatures are usually required. I’d call Capital One and ask if they can temporarily raise the mobile deposit limit or accept it through another deposit method before opening another account just for this.”
“If you both sign the back it’s negotiable to any account. If one of your individual accounts has a higher mobile limit, endorse and deposit that way.”
“5k limit on mobile deposits is a thing? Wtf. My credit union didn’t even hesitate on nearly 100k (which is 1000% not normal, some financing was done to pay for roof/solar/other projects and check came to me to then pay to contractors). I wish I was regularly depositing those checks.”
“Over night the check and deposit it. That way you will have tracking. Otherwise get in your car and drive. After this open an account t at a local credit union or bank so this isn’t an issue”
“Are there not any “participating” ATMs near you? Even if it has a fee, could be worth it.”
“I would believe that 100%. We use it ourselves. Great way to protect against fraud.”
“I would guess CarMax is on positive pay, meaning the bank can see the check number, date, and payee to verify it.”
“Do they not have the ability to increase your deposit limit? I had this issue with a bank once and they increased my mobile deposit limit to $25,000”
“the last thing i would do is mail the check, there are people stealing checks out the mail everyday.”
“Call your local bank and ask them. You can always open up a joint account at the local bank and deposit the check. Before doing this I would ask them if they would consider this joint account a new account and be subjected to a new account hold.”
“Make a trip to the big city and make a day of it. Mail in the check and just deal with the wait. Open a new bank account wirh a local bank and deposit the check there. If you need to buy a new car then you can open an accoint wirh a credit union and get approved by them for a loan. Since they check is $6k the funds will still probably not all show up in your account instantly. Checks take several days to process. Banks just give you the money instantly for smaller checks knowing the risk is low”
“If you both have local personal accounts, go in and add one of you to the others local account, then deposit the check. No "new account" hold”
“My bank would just have my spouse be present with ID and sign in front of the teller on my account. Or add spouse to existing account. No delays…”
“Yes I’ve had bank clients do this. Call branch manager ahead. He/she will tell you how to address label.”
Pretty much nowhere except the bank the check is drawn on
The bank may require the endorsement to have been in person...
“Go in and speak to a branch manager and ask them for assistance in resolving it. Its likely an issue with your bank flagging something weird about the check / mobile deposit”
“Ask Wells Fargo if you can deposit this 3rd party check into your Wells Fargo bank account as a Collection Item. They may charge extra for it. They may not agree to process it. Most banks won’t cash, or even deposit 3rd party checks due to fraud risk and the strong possibility of the item being returned unpaid. Your narrative sounds like you were possibly scammed by the person who gave you this check and moved out of state. Since they owe you the money you may be best served by calling them and”
“Do you actually know the person who gave it to you? As in, you've met them in person and they're not just an internet friend. Do you know the person who wrote the check? I've seen this as a scam so many times.”
“The Ford dealer we used took a 20k personal check from me without any issues”
Could have just wired it to begin with. No brick and mortar needed.
“Even if you go to Wells Fargo, they are still going to put a hold on the check, because they have to go thru their standard fraud prevention steps. IMO, you are not going to be able to just go cash the check.”
“The first mistake was getting a cashier’s check from your “online bank.” Is it an actual bank, or a FinTech? If the latter, contact the actual bank they work with ASAP and see if they have any physical locations within a 100 mile radius of where you live and if you’d show up in their system if you went through the FinTech. Otherwise, send the check back to them to re-deposit into your account, tell them to make out a new check to your name for the balance of the account, and (as someone else sai”
“Ditto on other replies. At this point, little to lose, since getting it remade will presumably be a time-consuming process. Possibly a waiting period before you can withdraw again. Hope to heavens it's not some obscure fintech. That could be even more of a hassle. Another option, if you have sufficient funds, is doing a new withdrawal. Cashier's check or wire. Then deal with the check later. That said, easier to bring it along. Probably work out.”
“I sold my truck to CarMax and received a $1,600 check payable through Wells Fargo. I’m moving to Ireland tomorrow and already closed my traditional U.S. bank accounts. I tried mobile depositing it with Chime, but it was rejected. Is there anywhere I can cash this check without having an existing bank account? I’m currently in the Seattle/SeaTac area. And I already tried reaching out to Walmart and Fred Meyer and they said I wouldn’t be able to. submitted by /u/matttydoughh [link] ”
“The banks have to verify that the check is authentic, so they are boot going to give you immediate access to the funds.”
“Because the scammer is sending a check drawn off another persons account, and hoping the payee will send back some money. Because it’s a check from a real account it will take time to be returned”
“You have to ask? Don’t be disingenuous. When it bounces they’ll take it back . They might even close the account if they think you’re an accomplice.”
“So how does the scamming sender profit from doing this if there is no relationship or agreement with the check recipient to give them money back?”
“Many banks often give immediate access to check funds but usually it depends on how long you are a customer, where the check is from, and how much since some banks will have certain limits they make available immediately.”
“The only times I’ve ever been granted full access to 100% of any check I’ve deposited was after I had banked with my bank for a long time and had cashed/deposited probably 100-200 checks and had never had a prior issue of any checks bouncing or anything like that. It was nuts tbh, I remember selling my truck, and the buyer wrote me a check for 32,000 which I verified prior with his bank before he wrote it. I actually Mobil deposited the check and 100% of it was available immediately. Just contin”
“You have to have history and a relationship with banks before they do that. Nobody is going to do it instantly online because there'd be too much fraud. You could go in-person to a check cashing place and cash it instantly.”
“No bank will give you full access to funds, most will give you access to a portion. Usually something like 200$-500$ after becoming an established customers. You, with conditions, can get immediate cash in full by cashing it at the issuing bank.”