This article was co-authored by Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.
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Online checking accounts, such as those offered by USAA, come with a lot of advantages. They have lower fees, your bank is open 24/7, and you can do everything online or with your mobile phone – everything but deposit cash. While you can take a picture of a check to deposit it digitally, you can't do that with cash. If you have a USAA account, you have to use a deposit-taking ATM to deposit cash. If there's not one near you, look for other options.[1]
Steps
Locating an ATM
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1Use the USAA ATM locator website. USAA has a number of locations nationwide where you can manage your USAA accounts, primarily using an ATM. Click on "ATMs and Locations" under the "Help" menu to get started.[2]
- By default the map shows all USAA locations nationwide. You can zoom in and out on the map.
- Clicking on a dot on the map brings up specific information about that location and the services available there.
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2Find the nearest ATM. On the USAA ATM locator page, limit your search results to ATMs where you can deposit cash. You can put in a city or zip code as well, or just click on dots from the map. There aren't very many USAA ATMs where you can deposit cash.[3]
- If you frequently have cash deposits, you may want to check this map before you open a checking account with USAA.
Warning: There are large areas of the country where no cash deposit-taking ATMs are available, including the Pacific Northwest, most of the Midwest, and parts of the South.
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3Deposit your cash. If you live in an area where a cash deposit-taking ATM is nearby, you have a relatively easy way to deposit cash with USAA. These ATMs will take up to 30 bills at a time, and don't require any deposit slips or envelopes.[4]
- Double-check that the machine counted your cash correctly, and keep your receipt.
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4Follow up on your deposit. Depending on the location where you made your deposit, there may be a hold on your funds. There should be information on your receipt telling you when your funds will be available.[5]
- Check your USAA account within 24 hours to make sure your deposit is accurately reflected in your account.
Trading Your Cash for a Money Order
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1Purchase a money order. You can buy money orders at post offices, Western Union, and some grocery stores and discount stores, such as Walmart. Some places may not issue money orders for more than $1,000, so if you have a larger amount of cash, you might need to get more than one.[6]
- You'll have to pay a fee to get your money order issued, but it's usually no more than a couple of dollars. The US Postal Service only charges 45 cents for military money orders.
- A money order is treated just like a check. Since you're depositing the money order into your own account, list yourself as the recipient. You'll also fill out your information and sign as the purchaser of the money order.[7]
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2Download the USAA mobile app. If you don't already have the USAA app on your smartphone, you can download it for free. Then, provide the details to set up access to your USAA account. This should only take a few minutes.[8]
- You can sign in to your account on the app using the same credentials that you use on the USAA website. Depending on the security you have set up, you may need to enter a code (sent through text or email) to verify your identity.
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3Endorse the back of the money order. Since the money order is payable to you, flip it over and sign in the endorsement area on the back of the money order. Add the words "For mobile deposit only at USAA FSB."[9]
- It's also a good idea to add your account number in the endorsement area, but it isn't strictly necessary.
Warning: Don't sign the back of the money order until you're ready to deposit it. After you endorse it, the money order effectively becomes a blank check and anyone can cash it.
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4Select "Transfer/Deposit" on the mobile app. Open the mobile app and tap the "Transfer/Deposit" menu tab, then choose "Deposit@Mobile." Indicate that you want to deposit a check or money order, then follow the instructions.[10]
- If you just downloaded the app or have never made a mobile deposit before, you'll need to grant the app access to your phone's camera so you can complete your transaction.
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5Scan both sides of the money order using your phone's camera. A guide will appear on your phone screen. Lay the money order down on a flat surface so that the 4 corners of the money order are within the guidelines and the writing on the money order is clear and visible. Then take a picture. Repeat with the other side of the money order.[11]
- After you take each photo, you'll have the opportunity to review the quality. If it seems blurry or crooked, you might want to take it again.
- Once you're satisfied with the photos, enter the amount of the money order and select the account where you want the money deposited (if you have more than one account).
Tip: Keep the money order at least until the money appears in your account and is no longer "pending."
Assessing Other Options
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1Locate a USAA Preferred ATM. While you can't deposit cash into a Preferred ATM, you can withdraw funds, check account balances, or move funds between accounts without accruing any ATM fees.[12]
- Look for ATMs that have an "Allpoint," "MoneyPass," or "PNC Bank" logo. These are USAA Preferred ATMs.
- If you find a Preferred ATM attached to a bank branch, you may want to consider opening an account at that bank. You can use that account for cash deposits and also manage your USAA account from the same location.
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2Get a prepaid debit card. With a prepaid debit card, you may be able to reload it with cash around the clock. Link the card to your USAA account and you can easily transfer money from the card to your account online.[13]
- Shop around for prepaid debit cards to find the one with the lowest fees that has convenient locations for you to reload the card.
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3Maintain another account for cash deposits. If you already have a checking account at a brick-and-mortar bank, you can deposit your cash into that account and then transfer the money to your USAA account. This typically isn't the easiest or most efficient way to deposit cash with USAA.[14]
- While USAA doesn't charge any fees for incoming transfers, the other bank may charge a fee to initiate the transfer. Find out how much the transfer is going to cost you before you open an account, especially if you're going to have frequent cash deposits.
- Hold times are another thing to keep in mind. Using this method may mean your funds aren't available in your USAA account for several days.
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4Write a check from another account. If you have a friend or family member who has a checking account with a brick-and-mortar bank, they may be able to work out an arrangement with you. Deposit the cash in their bank account, then have them write you a check for the total.[15]
- Once you get their check, you can deposit it using the USAA mobile banking app on your phone.
Tip: Take note of any hold times on personal checks so you know when your funds will be available in your USAA account.
References
- ↑ https://thefinancebuff.com/deposit-cash-to-online-bank-account.html
- ↑ https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_locationServices/UsaaLocator/?0&taskCode=ATM&akredirect=true
- ↑ https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_locationServices/UsaaLocator/?0&taskCode=ATM&akredirect=true
- ↑ https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/usaa_deposit_taking_atms?
- ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/deposit-cash-online-bank/
- ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/money-orders/
- ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/how-to-fill-out-money-order/
- ↑ https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/usaa_mobile_main
- ↑ https://firstquarterfinance.com/usaa-money-order/
- ↑ https://firstquarterfinance.com/usaa-money-order/
- ↑ https://firstquarterfinance.com/usaa-money-order/
- ↑ https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_locationServices/UsaaLocator/?0&taskCode=ATM&akredirect=true
- ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/deposit-cash-online-bank/
- ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/deposit-cash-online-bank/
- ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/deposit-cash-online-bank/
About This Article
To deposit cash with USAA, look for a nearby USAA ATM using the USAA ATM locator website. You can also purchase a cashier's check or money order with the cash and then deposit it into your account using the USAA mobile banking app. Or, you can buy a prepaid debit card using the cash and link it to your USAA account. If none of these options work, consider asking a friend to deposit the cash for you and then having them write you a check. To learn how to deposit cash in a USAA ATM, read on!
