Banks must make the first $225 of any mobile deposit available the same business day, with the remainder typically clearing in 1–2 business days for standard checks. Extended holds of up to 9 business days are legal for new accounts, checks over $5,525, or accounts with a recent overdraft history — but the bank must notify you at the time of deposit. If you need funds faster than a hold allows, cashier’s checks, wire transfers, and ACH payments all bypass check holds entirely.
Federal Funds Availability Rules (Regulation CC)
Regulation CC is the federal law that sets the maximum time any US bank can hold a deposited check. All banks must follow these minimums — they can release funds faster but not slower.
| Check Type | First $225 | Next $5,075 (up to $5,300 total) | Remainder |
|---|---|---|---|
| All personal checks | Same or next business day | 2nd business day | 5th business day |
| Cashier’s, certified, government checks | Same or next business day | Next business day | Next business day |
| On-us checks (drawn on the same bank) | Same or next business day | Next business day | — |
| Checks over $5,525 | Same or next business day | 2nd business day | Up to 7th business day |
| New accounts (under 30 days) | Same or next business day | — | Up to 9th business day |
The law draws a hard distinction between the $225 floor (a federal right you have at every bank) and the rest of the deposit, where banks have significant discretion. Most major banks — Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Ally — release the $225 the same business day rather than waiting until the next, but this is a policy choice, not a legal requirement.
One important nuance: the schedule above is the legal maximum. Many checks from well-known institutions (payroll checks, government checks, checks drawn on the same bank) clear in one business day or less in practice. The 5-day and 7-day maximums are typically only invoked for personal checks from unfamiliar institutions. For federal holidays that interrupt the business-day count, see bank holiday schedule.
Hold Times by Bank (2026)
Each bank publishes its own funds availability policy within the Regulation CC framework. Here are the standard hold schedules for major banks in 2026.
| Bank | $225 Available | Standard Check Hold | Extended Hold (new accounts or large checks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | Same day | 1–2 business days | Up to 7 business days |
| Bank of America | Same day | 1–2 business days | Up to 9 business days (new accounts) |
| Wells Fargo | Same day | 2 business days | Up to 7 business days |
| Capital One | Same day | 1–2 business days | Up to 9 business days (new accounts) |
| Citi | Same day | 2 business days | Up to 7 business days |
| Ally Bank | Same day | 1 business day | Up to 5 business days |
Ally Bank’s 1-business-day standard hold is notably shorter than traditional banks — a meaningful advantage for customers who regularly deposit personal checks and need quick access. Among traditional banks, the hold schedules are nearly identical because they are all constrained by the same Regulation CC framework. For bank-specific mobile deposit rules and limits, see Chase mobile deposit limit, Bank of America mobile deposit limit, and Wells Fargo mobile deposit limit.
Extended Hold Scenarios
Banks can legally extend holds beyond the standard schedule in specific circumstances. When they do, they are required to notify you in writing (or electronically) at the time of the deposit.
| Scenario | Maximum Extended Hold |
|---|---|
| Account less than 30 days old | Up to 9 business days |
| Check exceeds $5,525 | Up to 7 business days for the amount over $5,300 |
| 6 or more overdrafts in the past 6 months | Up to 7 business days |
| Check from a foreign bank | Up to 7 business days |
| Check redeposited after a prior return | Up to 7 business days |
| Bank has reason to doubt collectibility | Up to 7 business days |
The overdraft trigger is the one most customers don’t expect. Six overdrafts in six months is not an unusual number for someone who is actively managing a tight budget — but it puts the account in an elevated-risk category that extends all holds by several days. If you’ve had frequent overdrafts and are waiting on a paycheck by check, this can create a compounding problem. Opting into overdraft protection — linking a savings account or credit card — doesn’t prevent holds but does prevent the account from accruing more overdraft incidents that extend future holds. See how to avoid overdraft fees for the full range of options.
Business Day Calendar: How to Count Your Hold
“Business days” under Regulation CC exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. The day of deposit counts as day zero; the hold clock starts on day one (the next business day after deposit).
| Deposit Day | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 5 | Day 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Monday | Wednesday |
| Thursday | Friday | Monday (next week) | Thursday | Monday |
| Friday | Monday | Tuesday | Friday | Tuesday |
| Day before a holiday | Day after holiday | +1 business day | +4 more | +6 more |
The Friday case is the most impactful: a check deposited on Friday afternoon (before cutoff) has day 1 on Monday, day 2 on Tuesday, and the 5-day maximum doesn’t clear until the following Friday. A 5-business-day hold on a Friday deposit means you wait until the next Friday — effectively 8 calendar days. For 2026 federal holidays that extend this further, see bank holiday schedule.
Sample Hold Calculation
Scenario: You deposit a $7,000 personal check via mobile on Tuesday before the cutoff.
| Amount | Available On |
|---|---|
| $225 | Tuesday (same day) |
| $5,075 (up to $5,300 total) | Thursday (2nd business day) |
| $1,700 remaining | Following Tuesday (7th business day) |
The remaining $1,700 is subject to the large-check extended hold because the total exceeds $5,525. If the same check were $5,000 instead of $7,000, the full balance would be available by Thursday — cutting the wait from 7 business days to 2.
How to Avoid Check Holds Entirely
The most reliable way to eliminate holds is to receive funds electronically rather than by paper check.
| Strategy | Hold Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wire transfer | Immediate | Sender pays $20–$45 fee; see wire transfer time |
| ACH direct deposit | Same day or next day | No hold; see ACH transfer time |
| Zelle | Minutes | No hold; see Zelle limits for per-transaction caps |
| Cashier’s or certified check | Next business day (max) | Reg CC prohibits extended holds on these check types |
| Branch deposit by established customer | Often same or next day | Teller can sometimes release faster than mobile |
If you’re regularly receiving large checks — from a contractor, a property sale, or a one-time payment — it’s worth asking the sender to wire the funds or pay via ACH. The $30–$45 wire fee is often cheaper than the cost of not having access to your money for a week. For a broader guide to getting money in and out of bank accounts quickly, see when does direct deposit hit.
For related deposit topics, see mobile check deposit limits by bank, how to increase your mobile deposit limit, why mobile deposit was rejected, ATM withdrawal limits by bank, and bank fees comparison.
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