What is EQ Bank's mobile cheque deposit limit?

EQ Bank's mobile cheque deposit limit is $10,000 per business day and $15,000 per 30-day rolling period. These limits apply to deposits through the EQ Bank mobile app. There is no fee for mobile cheque deposits. New accounts or accounts with short history may have lower initial limits.

How do I deposit a cheque using the EQ Bank app?

Open the EQ Bank app, tap 'Deposit a Cheque', select your account, enter the cheque amount, sign the back of the cheque with your endorsement and 'For EQ Bank mobile deposit only', then photograph the front and back. Submit and keep the physical cheque for at least 90 days before shredding.

How long does EQ Bank hold mobile deposits?

EQ Bank typically makes the first $100 of a mobile deposit available immediately. Certified cheques and government cheques may be available the next business day. Personal cheques can have holds of 1–7 business days depending on cheque size and account history. EQ Bank follows Payments Canada guidelines.

Are mobile deposits free at EQ Bank?

Yes. EQ Bank does not charge any fee for mobile cheque deposits. This is consistent with EQ Bank's overall fee-free model. All banking transactions at EQ Bank are free, including deposits, transfers, and e-Transfers.

What types of cheques can I deposit with the EQ Bank app?

EQ Bank accepts CAD-denominated cheques drawn on Canadian financial institutions. Eligible: personal cheques, payroll cheques, government of Canada cheques, certified cheques. Not eligible: foreign-currency cheques, money orders, bank drafts, traveller's cheques, or post-dated cheques dated more than 6 months old.

EQ Bank Mobile Deposit Limit 2026 — Cheque Deposit Limits and Hold Times

EQ Bank’s mobile cheque deposit limit is $10,000 per business day and $15,000 per 30-day rolling period. The first $100 is available immediately. Mobile deposits are free. Hold times range from next business day (government/certified) to 7 business days (large personal cheques).

Quick answer: EQ Bank mobile deposit daily: $10,000. 30-day: $15,000. Immediate: $100. Remainder: 1–7 business days. Fee: $0.

EQ Bank Mobile Deposit Limits 2026

Limit	Amount
Daily deposit limit	$10,000
30-day rolling limit	$15,000
Immediate availability	$100
Hold — government/certified cheque	Next business day
Hold — personal cheque ≤ $1,500	4 business days
Hold — personal cheque > $1,500	7 business days
Fee	$0

EQ Bank as a Branchless Digital Bank

EQ Bank has no physical branches, so mobile cheque deposit is the primary way to deposit paper cheques. The key difference from a Big 5 bank: you cannot walk into an EQ Bank location and hand a cheque to a teller. Your options are:

Mobile deposit (in the app) — primary method
EFT / Interac e-Transfer — ask the payer to send digitally instead (faster, no holds)
External bank link — transfer funds from another bank account linked in the app

For most EQ Bank customers, mobile deposit handles the occasional cheque (tax refund, rebate, personal payment) while day-to-day inflows come via direct deposit or EFT.

How to Deposit a Cheque via the EQ Bank App

Open the EQ Bank app and log in
Tap Deposit Cheque
Select your EQ Bank Personal Account
Enter the exact dollar amount on the cheque
Sign the back of the cheque — write your signature plus “For EQ Bank mobile deposit only”
Photograph the front of the cheque:
- Place flat on a dark, plain surface
- Ensure all 4 corners are visible, no shadows or glare
Photograph the back (endorsement fully visible)
Review and tap Submit
Note the confirmation number; write “Deposited [date]” on the cheque

Keep the cheque for 90 days, then shred it. Never deposit the same cheque at another institution — this is cheque fraud.

Hold Times Explained

Cheque Type	$100 Immediate	Full Availability
Government of Canada (CRA, EI, OAS, CPP)	Yes	Next business day
Provincial government cheques	Yes	Next business day
Certified cheque	Yes	Next business day
Payroll cheque	Yes	1–3 business days
Personal cheque ≤ $1,500	Yes	4 business days
Personal cheque > $1,500	Yes	7 business days

The $100 immediate release is a FCAC (Financial Consumer Agency of Canada) rule that applies to all Canadian banks. The rest of your deposit holds while the cheque clears.

Eligible Cheques for Mobile Deposit at EQ Bank

Type	Eligible?
Canadian personal cheques (CAD)	Yes
Payroll / employer cheques	Yes
Government of Canada cheques	Yes
CRA refund cheques	Yes
Provincial government cheques	Yes
Certified cheques	Yes
USD or foreign-currency cheques	No
Money orders	No
Bank drafts	No
Post-dated cheques	No
Damaged or altered cheques	No

What to Do If You Need Faster Access

Ask for an e-Transfer instead — Interac e-Transfers arrive in minutes with no hold, up to $3,000
Ask for a certified cheque — certified cheques clear the next business day instead of 4–7 days
Link your Big 5 account and EFT the funds to EQ Bank — 1–3 business days, no hold

EQ Bank vs. Traditional Banks: Mobile Deposit Comparison

Bank	Daily Limit	30-Day Limit	In-Branch Option	Fee
EQ Bank	$10,000	$15,000	No	$0
Tangerine	$10,000	$15,000	Cafés (4 cities)	$0
Simplii	$10,000	$15,000	CIBC (limited)	$0
BMO	$10,000	$15,000	Yes	$0
TD	$10,000	$25,000	Yes	$0

EQ Bank’s limits are the same as Tangerine and Simplii — the difference is that EQ Bank has no branch alternative if you’re over the limit, while Tangerine has Cafés and Simplii customers can sometimes use CIBC branches.

Tips

Endorse before photographing — the deposit may be rejected without a visible signature on the back
Use natural light — avoid flash glare, which can obscure cheque details
Lay flat — curled cheque corners are the most common cause of photo rejection
Plan around the 30-day limit — if you receive multiple large cheques per month (e.g., contract payments), track against the $15,000 cap
Deposit early in the business day — increases the chance of same-day processing

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy