Remote deposit capture is a time-saving technology that allows you to scan checks and transmit them electronically to your bank. You can send the bank electronic images or transmit the ACH information from the check along with an image of the check as documentation. Your bank will process the deposit electronically, much like a direct deposit or ACH transfer. You don’t even have to go to the branch to deliver the checks in person. The transmitted copy is all your bank needs. You will also recognize significant savings on your overall expense budget by reducing your photocopy costs. You no longer have to copy checks before you send them to your bank. You can file the original check with your records for audit and reference purposes.
To use a remote deposit capture system, you will need to have a computer with internet access as well as a check scanner and a bank that participates in the service. You can typically obtain the check scanner from your financial institution. The checks will be transmitted over a secure connection to your bank. Talk to your bank about the deposit availability schedule so that you know when your funds will be accessible. If you establish a remote deposit capture system for your business, you can save the company a significant amount of payroll costs spent for travel to and from the bank and time spent waiting for customer service. With a remote data capture system, you can process everything from the comfort of your office, eliminating security concerns and the risk of theft.
Keep copies of all of the checks that you transmit so that you can compare the deposits for accuracy. Most financial institutions that use remote deposit capture services offer later deadlines for these electronic deposits than the deposits made in the lobby. When you pair these later processing deadlines with the faster response of processing the deposits electronically, your company may find that deposits are processed quicker and funds available sooner than they were previously with traditional deposit processing. The risk of losing paper checks or having them otherwise misplaced is reduced if not eliminated by processing them in your own office. When your deposits are processed electronically, they are made available to you sooner. This faster processing time provides your business the benefits of increased cash flow. With the faster processing times, you also have a reduced risk of items being returned for insufficient funds.
When items are processed with an ACH system, the funds are deducted from the originating account right away, so you are notified quickly if there is a problem. One concern that you face with remote deposit capture is the risk of having a deposit refused due to poor image quality on the check. If the bank cannot read the scanned image, or they print a verification copy that is illegible, you may find that the item is returned. Watch your deposits carefully to be sure that everything credits. This can protect you from the dangers of overdrawing your account due to a returned item. Aim to use the remote service for checks that are clearly legible.
Any deposit items that you are unsure about should be handled with your local branch for the peace of mind of readability. The remote deposit capture technology opens up a variety of banking options for almost every business. You can explore your options to find the banking center that works best for your business. Investigate the account deals offered for new banking customers so you can secure the best bank account for your company. Build a long-term relationship with a single bank that can meet all of your needs.