Adding checks into your Shopify Balance account

You can add checks into your Shopify Balance account by using the Shopify app on your mobile device. This guide outlines the requirements for adding a check, the types of check that are accepted, and how to add a check.

Requirements when adding a check

To add a check into your Shopify Balance account, your check must meet the following requirements:

• The check must be in USD and must be issued from a United States financial institution.
• The check must have been issued within the last 6 months and must not be post-dated. The date must be in the format of MM/DD/YYYY.
• The check must be an original paper check and not a copy, a scan, or a digital reproduction.
• The check must be made out to the legal business name that matches the Shopify Balance account owner.
• The check must be signed by the issuer.
• The check can't be added more than one time and shouldn't be added elsewhere prior to adding the check to your Shopify Balance account.

In addition to these check requirements, you must also meet the following Shopify Balance account requirements:

• You can't exceed your $50,000 USD limit for adding checks.
• You must use multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Endorsing your check

When you're ready to add your check, you must endorse it by signing the back of the check. Don't endorse a check until you're ready to add it to your Shopify Balance account. If your check has a checkbox that states "Remote/Mobile Deposit Check", then select this option.

Types of check that you can add

You can add the following types of check to your Shopify Balance account:

• Handwritten personal checks
• Cashier's checks
• Printed e-checks that are labeled "electronic check"

Ineligible check types

You can't add the following types of check into your Shopify Balance account:

• Money orders
• Traveler's checks
• Foreign currency checks
• Photocopies or scanned images
• Altered or damaged checks
• Promissory notes

Add your check

You can add your check into your Shopify Balance account from the Shopify mobile app.

Steps:

1. In the Shopify app, tap Balance.
2. Tap Add check.
3. Select the account that you want to add the check to, and then enter the amount the check is for.
4. Optional: In the Memo field, enter information about the check.
5. In the Front section, tap icon to take a photograph of the front of the check with your device's camera.
6. In the Back section, tap icon to take a photograph of the back of the check with your device's camera.
7. Tap Submit.

After you add a check, it displays as Pending in your transaction list. After the check is processed successfully, the status changes to Posted, and the funds become available.

Checks typically process within 2 to 5 business days depending on the check amount, your account history, and the issuing bank.

Keep the physical check secure during processing. After the check has been posted and your funds are available, mark the check VOID, and then shred or destroy it.

Troubleshoot adding checks

Review the following considerations to ensure your device's camera captures the check successfully:

• Use a dark and flat surface.
• Ensure good lighting.
• Display all four corners of the check.
• Ensure the magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line of digits at the bottom of the check are readable.

If there's an issue when adding your check, then you might be asked to retake the photo, or to re-enter the check amount. You might also receive a notification in the Alerts feed in your Shopify admin, or an email within 60 minutes of adding the check, asking you to review the information and fix any issues.

If there's an issue with your check, then the transaction details state that there's Action required, and it remains pending until you act, for up to 15 days. After 15 days, the transaction is canceled. If the check can't be collected due to an error with the check issuer's bank, then the check is rejected. In this case, you must contact the check issuer directly.

Check reversals

Checks that you add can sometimes be rejected. The following are some of the reasons that a check might be reversed:

• There are insufficient funds in the check issuer's account.
• The check issuer has requested to stop the payment.
• The check issuer's account details are invalid or the account is closed.
• The check has an improper endorsement.
• There are formatting errors on the check.

In these cases, the check can't be added again. Contact the check issuer or vendor to request a corrected or replacement check.

If a check is reversed, then the transaction is marked as Check reversal in your transaction list. Any funds that were credited before the check was reversed are debited from your Shopify Balance account.