Mobile check deposit lets you deposit a physical U.S. check into any Relay checking or savings account directly from your phone.
What you need before you start
The Relay mobile app, installed and signed in
A physical U.S. paper check (Relay does not accept digital images, screenshots, or photos of a printed check image)
The check dated within the last 6 months and made payable to your business name as it appears on your Relay Account, a beneficial owner listed on the account, or a DBA registered to the business
A pen to endorse the back of the check
A dark, flat surface and diffused lighting for photographing both sides
How do I deposit a check step by step?
Endorse the back of the check. Sign with your signature or business name, then write "For mobile deposit only at Thread Bank" beneath it.
Open the Relay mobile app and sign in.
Tap Deposit Check in the left menu.
Choose the checking or savings account you want the money to land in.
Enter the check payer name and exact dollar amount written on the check.
Enter a note/memo for your check deposit to make the deposit easier to find in your transaction feed later.
Photograph the front of the check on a dark, flat surface with all four corners visible.
Photograph the back of the endorsed check the same way.
Select Deposit to be taken to the final review page while your check images continue to upload.
Optional: Select + Deposit Another Check if you have additional checks to deposit in this sitting.
Once all check deposits have been submitted, select Done.
Can I upload multiple checks in one sitting?
You can deposit multiple checks in one sitting via Relay's mobile app. The deposit process is designed to save customers as much time as possible, when multiple checks need to be deposited at once.
Sign into the Relay mobile app and follow the above check deposit flow under "How do I deposit a check step by step?".
Once you photograph both the front and back of the check, select Deposit to be taken to the final review page.
While your check images continue to upload, select + Deposit Another Check to re-start the check deposit process.
Continue with the above flow until all checks have been uploaded. Review all check deposits and select Done to submit all.
How should I photograph the check?
Take both photos in natural or diffused light on a plain, dark, flat background with all four corners of the check visible in the frame.
Turn off your camera flash. Reflections and glare cause the deposit to fail.
Avoid shadows falling across the check.
Keep the check flat, not curled or folded.
Frame the whole check with a small margin on each edge, so all four corners show.
Retake the photo if any text is blurry or glared out.
Relay only accepts photos of physical paper checks. Digital images, screenshots, and photos of a printed check image will be rejected.
How should I endorse the check?
Sign the back of the check with your signature or business name, then write "For mobile deposit only at Thread Bank" directly underneath the signature.
The Thread Bank endorsement line is required. Deposits submitted without it may be rejected during review. If the payee is a business, use the exact business name (or DBA) as it appears on the front of the check.
Which checks can I deposit through the Relay mobile app?
Relay accepts U.S. checks dated within the last 6 months and made payable to your business name, a beneficial owner listed on the account, or a DBA registered to the business.
Accepted: U.S.-issued paper checks, cashier's checks, and money orders (unless the money order is marked "cannot be electronically deposited")
Not accepted: checks written to a name that does not match the business, a beneficial owner, or a registered DBA; checks presented under Power of Attorney; checks dated more than 6 months ago; checks drawn on non-U.S. banks; digital images, screenshots, or photos of a printed check image
If the check is made out to a third party, see How to enable third-party check support on your Relay account to turn that on before you submit the deposit.
When will the money show up in my account?
Mobile check deposits can take up to 7 business days to fully settle. Deposits submitted before 3:00 PM EST on a business day begin processing the same day; anything submitted after the cutoff begins processing the next business day.
Cutoff time: 3:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday
Settlement window: up to 7 business days after processing begins
Weekends and federal holidays: the deposit begins processing on the next business day
You will see the deposit appear as pending in your transaction feed as soon as you submit. The money becomes available in your account balance once the deposit settles.
What if I have Power of Attorney on someone else's check?
Relay cannot accept checks made out to a different name, even with Power of Attorney (POA). The check must be payable to your Relay business name, a beneficial owner on file, or a registered DBA on your account.
If the check should have been made out to your business, ask the payer to void it and reissue a corrected check with the right payee name.
Common issues
Most rejected mobile check deposits come down to photography, endorsement, or eligibility.
The photo is rejected as unclear. Retake the photo in diffused light on a dark background with all four corners visible, and confirm your camera flash is off.
The endorsement is incomplete. The back of the check needs your signature (or business name) and the exact phrase "For mobile deposit only at Thread Bank."
The check is more than 6 months old. Relay cannot accept it. Contact the payer for a reissued check.
The check is made out to a name not on the account. Enable third-party check support first, or ask the payer to reissue the check to the business, a beneficial owner, or a registered DBA.
The daily deposit limit has been reached. Submit the remaining checks the next business day.
For the full list of rejection reasons and how to resolve each, see Why was my check deposit rejected?.
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