Ally Bank Starts Roll Out of eCheck Deposit for Scanning Checks at Home

Ally Bank announced from its Straight Talk blog that it has started the roll out of eCheck Deposit. According to the post, they will be rolling this out to "customers in phases throughout 2011." Here's how Ally describes the service:

All you need is a computer with an Internet connection and a scanner. Then, simply scan and submit your check images electronically. We’ll send you an e-mail when we receive and process your check image. If there’s ever a problem with your deposit, we’ll let you know so you can fix it and resend.

You'll have to wait for Ally to get the chance of trying this out. According to the post:

We’ll send an e-mail notification to customers letting them know when they will have access.

I had posted on the remote deposit capture plans of Ally and ING Direct last month. In that post, a few readers expressed concern on how banks will ensure this service isn't abused by criminals. I think this is one reason why banks like Ally and ING Direct have been taking so long to release this. According to my contact at Ally, they "spent time testing eCheck Deposit Service with employees to ensure it is safe and secure."

In the comments from my last remote deposit post, a reader described steps that Alliant Credit Union takes to ensure their eDeposit Plus service remains free of fraud. At Alliant, you have to have been a member for six months before you can qualify. At USAA Bank, it's limited to members who are eligible for USAA property and casualty insurance. This requires some military connection. I reviewed several banks and credit unions that offer remote deposit last year.