BMO check clearing at a glance
| Standard availability | Next business day (branch/ATM) |
|---|---|
| Mobile deposit cutoff | 8 p.m. CT |
| New accounts | Most checks: by 9th business day |
How long does BMO hold a check?
Check deposits made at a BMO financial center, with a BMO Banker or at an ATM are available on the first business day after BMO receives them. Cash deposited with a banker or at an ATM is available the day of deposit; wires and electronic direct deposits are available the business day they're received.
BMO mobile check deposit: cutoff and availability
Cutoff: 8:00 p.m. Central Time on a business day.
Current Digital Banking Agreement (May 11, 2026): for checking accounts, the first $500 of each mobile deposit is available for overnight processing on the day of deposit, or for cash withdrawal one business day after; anything over $500 is available two business days after. Savings and money market savings: two business days. Mobile deposits are not covered by Reg CC. Starting 11/7/2026, mobile deposits to checking will generally be available the next business day (savings by the second business day) under the Deposit Account Agreement.
Branch and ATM deposits
Branch (financial center) and BMO ATM check deposits are both available the next business day. ATM deposits can only be made at BMO ATMs, not non-BMO or partner ATMs (up to 40 items, $999,999.99 max per ATM deposit). Night drops are for business accounts only and count from the next business day when they're retrieved.
Cutoff: Branch: the financial center's closing time (varies by location). BMO ATM: 6:00 p.m. Central Time. Mail deposits: 2:00 p.m. Central Time.
New accounts vs. older accounts at BMO
Checking accounts in the first 30 days: direct deposits are available the same day and cash immediately. Wires and the first $6,725 of a day's cashier's, certified, teller's, traveler's and government checks are available the next business day if conditions are met (second business day if not deposited in person with an employee, except U.S. Treasury checks); the excess is available by the 9th business day. Other checks: by the 9th business day. For mobile deposits, the current Digital Banking Agreement says availability may be delayed for accounts open less than 90 days; from 11/7/2026 an account counts as new for mobile purposes for 30 days or less.
Once an account is more than 30 days old, the standard schedule above applies unless an exception hold is placed.
Longer holds and exceptions
When BMO delays a check deposit, funds are available on the second business day, with the first $275 still available the next business day. Longer delays may apply if BMO thinks a check won't be paid, checks deposited in one day total more than $6,725, a returned check is redeposited, you've overdrawn repeatedly in the last six months, or there's an emergency (equipment failure or severe weather). Funds are generally available no later than the 7th business day.
How to get your BMO deposit faster
FundsNow: for a fee, eligible mobile deposits get immediate access to the full amount, including cash withdrawal. BMO shows the fee at the time of deposit; it is not published as a fixed amount. BMO also suggests wires, ACH, Zelle, cash or online transfers to avoid check holds; Fed wires and pre-authorized electronic credits are available the same business day.
Worth knowing: BMO's mobile deposit rules are changing on 11/7/2026: mobile deposits will move under the Deposit Account Agreement, with next-business-day availability for checking. The ATM cutoff (6 p.m. CT) is earlier than the mobile cutoff (8 p.m. CT).
The federal rules behind BMO's policy
Federal Regulation CC sets the outer limits for most check deposits at US banks, including BMO: the first $275 by the next business day, most of the rest by the second business day, and longer “exception holds” only in specific cases. Banks can be faster, and some deposit types (such as mobile deposits at some banks) follow the bank's own schedule. Read our full guide: how long does a check take to clear? Depositing by phone? See how to deposit a check with your phone.
Policies change. This summary is based on BMO's own published documents as read on October 27, 2026 (listed below). Your account agreement, the deposit screen in your app and any hold notice you receive are what count. “Not published” means we didn't find it in BMO's public documents.
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Write your first check free →Frequently asked questions
How long does it take a check to clear at BMO?
Check deposits made at a BMO financial center, with a BMO Banker or at an ATM are available on the first business day after BMO receives them. Cash deposited with a banker or at an ATM is available the day of deposit; wires and electronic direct deposits are available the business day they're received.
What is the BMO mobile deposit cutoff time?
8:00 p.m. Central Time on a business day.
How long does a BMO mobile check deposit take?
Current Digital Banking Agreement (May 11, 2026): for checking accounts, the first $500 of each mobile deposit is available for overnight processing on the day of deposit, or for cash withdrawal one business day after; anything over $500 is available two business days after. Savings and money market savings: two business days. Mobile deposits are not covered by Reg CC. Starting 11/7/2026, mobile deposits to checking will generally be available the next business day (savings by the second business day) under the Deposit Account Agreement.
Are check holds longer for a new BMO account?
Checking accounts in the first 30 days: direct deposits are available the same day and cash immediately. Wires and the first $6,725 of a day's cashier's, certified, teller's, traveler's and government checks are available the next business day if conditions are met (second business day if not deposited in person with an employee, except U.S. Treasury checks); the excess is available by the 9th business day. Other checks: by the 9th business day. For mobile deposits, the current Digital Banking Agreement says availability may be delayed for accounts open less than 90 days; from 11/7/2026 an account counts as new for mobile purposes for 30 days or less.
Why is BMO holding my check?
When BMO delays a check deposit, funds are available on the second business day, with the first $275 still available the next business day. Longer delays may apply if BMO thinks a check won't be paid, checks deposited in one day total more than $6,725, a returned check is redeposited, you've overdrawn repeatedly in the last six months, or there's an emergency (equipment failure or severe weather). Funds are generally available no later than the 7th business day.
How can I get my BMO check deposit faster?
FundsNow: for a fee, eligible mobile deposits get immediate access to the full amount, including cash withdrawal. BMO shows the fee at the time of deposit; it is not published as a fixed amount. BMO also suggests wires, ACH, Zelle, cash or online transfers to avoid check holds; Fed wires and pre-authorized electronic credits are available the same business day.
Related guides
- How long does a check take to clear? (federal rules)
- Compare all banks
- How to deposit a check with your phone
Sources
- BMO Handbook: Deposit Account Agreement for Personal and Business Accounts (dated Aug 10, 2026, with notice effective 11/7/2026), Section 8: Funds Availability Policy for Deposit Accounts · deposit agreement, read Oct 27, 2026
- BMO Digital Banking Agreement (May 11, 2026), Mobile Deposit: Standard Processing Time and Availability of Funds · mobile deposit page, read Oct 27, 2026
- Payments and Deposits: Deposit holds · official FAQ, read Oct 27, 2026
Last updated October 27, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.
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