This experience sounds specific to the "PC Deposit" implementation by Chase and if it's how they have educated their customer like the author, I am worried: 1.

This experience sounds specific to the "PC Deposit" implementation by Chase and if it's how they have educated their customer like the author, I am worried: 1. A check never "clears" the same day. The check may post the same day but they take at-least 3 business days to clear. This is because all checks I am aware of use the ACH in the U.S. 2. You are never supposed to "destroy the paper check". Most institutions recommend you hold onto it for at-least 90 days. 3. It's really a challenge to OCR a check photographed by a iPhone unless the lighting conditions are absolutely perfect. Hence, it's better to ask the customer to use a scanner if that's available, but if not, only then suggest using a phone camera. I almost exclusively use Alliant and DCU for my check depositing needs and am yet to have any issues. They do require me to use a scanner for best results, but scanning a check takes me less than a minute and I am able to import it into GNUCash as well. Neither do I have to obsessively check if my deposits cleared, I get emails automatically about the status. I will never go back to an ATM, unless "I need money now" and there are no places around that will take plastic. Photo deposits is part of the future I want to be part of: I want to be part of a future where regular banking is done online allowing me to focus my time on things I like better.