BMO’s mobile deposit feature allows you to photograph and deposit eligible Canadian cheques through the BMO mobile app. BMO does not publish one flat per-cheque, daily, or monthly limit that applies to every personal account — your specific limit is shown in the app at the time you make a deposit, and RBC and TD similarly do not publish flat mobile deposit limits (Scotiabank, by contrast, publishes standard figures).
US dollar and foreign-currency cheques are not eligible for mobile deposit and require a branch visit. For clients who regularly receive USD cheques, BMO’s US dollar account (included with the Premium Plan) is worth considering.
Checking Your Mobile Deposit Limit
Your limit is not a fixed, publicly listed number — it depends on your account type, account history, and deposit history. To see your current limit:
- Open the BMO mobile app and start a cheque deposit
- The app displays your available per-cheque and remaining limits before you confirm the deposit
Call BMO at 1-877-225-5266 if your limits seem unexpectedly low or to ask what factors affect them.
How BMO Mobile Deposit Works
- Open the BMO mobile app and log in
- Tap Deposit Cheque
- Select the account to deposit into
- Enter the cheque amount
- Photograph the front of the cheque, then the back
- Review and submit — you will receive a confirmation immediately
After depositing: Write “DEPOSITED” and the date on the front of the cheque. Keep the physical cheque for at least 5 business days, then shred it securely.
Cheque Eligibility
| Cheque Type | Eligible for Mobile Deposit? |
|---|---|
| Personal cheque (CAD) | Yes |
| Business cheque (CAD) | Yes |
| Government cheque (CAD) | Yes |
| Certified cheque (CAD) | Yes |
| Bank draft (CAD) | Yes |
| US dollar cheque | No — branch required |
| Foreign-currency cheque | No — branch required |
| Post-dated cheque | No — wait until the cheque date |
| Money order | No — branch required |
| Traveller’s cheque | No — branch required |
| Third-party cheque | No — branch required |
Hold Policy
BMO, like every federally regulated Canadian bank, is subject to the Access to Funds Regulations under the federal Bank Act. The first $100 of an eligible cheque deposit is available immediately at a branch, or by the next business day for a mobile, ATM, or other non-branch deposit. Beyond that $100, BMO’s maximum allowed hold is:
| Cheque Amount | Maximum Hold (Non-Branch Deposit) |
|---|---|
| $1,500 or less | 5 business days |
| Over $1,500 | 8 business days |
Government cheques and certified cheques are frequently released faster than these maximums in practice, but BMO does not publish a guaranteed shorter figure for them — treat the table above as the outside limit, not a typical timeline. The regulation lets a bank hold funds longer than these maximums in a few defined situations: the account has been open less than 90 days (exempt from the standard caps), or the bank suspects fraud (in which case written notice is required). A separate credit-risk exemption applies only to business accounts (“eligible enterprises”), not personal accounts.
If a hold seems unreasonably long for your account standing, call 1-877-225-5266 — in some cases holds can be reduced for established clients.
Mobile Deposit Fees by Account
| Account | Mobile Deposit Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Practical | $1.25 after 12 transactions | Counts as a transaction |
| Plus | $0 | 25 transactions/month included |
| Performance / Premium | $0 | Unlimited transactions |
Alternatives to Mobile Deposit
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| BMO ATM deposit | Many BMO ATMs accept cheque deposits; same hold maximums apply |
| Branch teller deposit | No published per-cheque limit; teller processes immediately |
| BMO night deposit | Drop envelope at branch after hours |
Mobile Deposit vs ATM Deposit at BMO
| Factor | Mobile Deposit | BMO ATM Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Per-cheque limit | Not published — shown in-app | Not published — varies by machine |
| Hold policy | Same regulatory maximums (see table above) | Same as mobile |
| Convenience | Anywhere, anytime | Must be at BMO ATM |
| Ineligible cheques | Foreign, post-dated, 3rd-party | Same restrictions |
| Fee | Included in plan | Included in plan |
How to Minimize Hold Impact
- Deposit early in the day — cutoff times vary by channel; check the app for same-day processing cutoffs
- Maintain account history — long-standing accounts in good standing are more likely to see holds released before the regulatory maximum
- Call BMO — for urgent situations, 1-877-225-5266 can sometimes expedite a hold review for established customers
- Request e-Transfer instead — when possible, ask payers to send an Interac e-Transfer — funds are available within minutes with no hold