📱 Alternatives Mobile App feature
Deposit checks from anywhere — no branch visit needed
Use your phone to deposit a check in about two minutes, any time of day. Available to all members through the free Alternatives app.
Already have the Alternatives app?
You’re all set — the instructions are below. Scroll down to get started.
↓ See deposit instructions
Don’t have the app yet?
Download it free from the App Store or Google Play, then come back here for instructions.
→ Get the app
How to make a deposit
1
Open the Alternatives Mobile app
Tap the three lines (☰) in the upper left to open the menu, then select Deposit Checks.
2
Endorse the back of your check before anything else
⚠ Required — deposits without this endorsement will be rejected
Write on the back of the check:
① Your account number
② The words “For Alternatives Mobile Deposit Only”
① Your account number
② The words “For Alternatives Mobile Deposit Only”
3
Place the check on a flat, solid-colored surface
A dark background — like a table or counter — makes it easier for the camera to read the check clearly.
4
Choose your account and enter the dollar amount
Select which account receives the deposit, then type the amount shown on the check.
5
Take a photo of the front, then the back
The app walks you through both. Make sure the full check is in the frame each time.
6
Tap “Submit” — you’ll see “Deposit Successful”
That message means your deposit was received. It is not yet cleared into your account — see what happens next below.
⏱ What happens after you submit
You’ll get a confirmation email right away. Don’t spend the money yet — the deposit still needs to clear.
Within one business day, a second email will tell you whether the deposit was approved, adjusted, or couldn’t be accepted.
Mark the check as deposited. Keep it somewhere safe for two weeks, then shred it.
Daily limit
$5,000
Per-check limit
None
Who can use mobile deposit?
You must be a member in good standing with a valid email address on file. Not available for trust, estate, IRA, Rep Payee, POA, or IOLA accounts.
Checks that cannot be deposited this way
- Checks not payable in US dollars
- Checks written on your own Alternatives account
- Altered, damaged, or incomplete checks
- Post-dated or stale-dated checks
- Deposits to an IRA or share certificate
- Joint checks, unless all payees are on the receiving account
- Third-party checks (signed over to someone else)
- Checks previously deposited anywhere
- Returned checks (NSF, refer to maker, or any other reason)
Ready to try it?
Download the free Alternatives app and deposit your first check today.
