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[Genem]

Most will know that I'm the Clubs Membership Secretary. Many people seem to be finding that paying by card or Paypal online is working fine, but a number still prefer paying by cheque. Not a major issue except that I live in Scotland, a long way from any Natwest branch. I end up posting the cheques with a pay-in slip, adds another week to the process and people start to ask if their cheque has gone adrift as its not been cashed..

My own bank has an app that allows cheques under £500 to be lodged electronically, taking a photo of the cheque. The Bank never actually physically handles it.

I checked ( ho ho) but I can't see that Natwests offering allows this - and Natwest customers care to comment ? 

Thanks.

[Tom]

Not a NatWest customer myself, but have spent a fair while looking into this and came to the same conclusion.

Although I have a branch fairly local to me, my working hours just don’t afford me the time to visit during their opening hours!

Tom (with treasurers hat on)

[kev]

Swap banks!
I deposit a cheque weekly via a photograph with LLoyds, never had a problem. 

[Wittsend]

Swap banks!
I deposit a cheque weekly via a photograph with LLoyds, never had a problem. 

No thank you ... been there and tried it - not going to happen 

Whilst it might be easy for a private citizen to swap banks, just try it with a company.
It's nightmare of red tape.

For the moment the club is stuck with NatWest.

I'm also with Lloyds and the cheque photo ing on my phone works really well.

Cheques are dying out... That said I'm sure it won't be long before all the main banks offer this method of paying cheques in.
It's all part of the march to mobile banking 

[JonA]

I'm with nat west & no they don't have the facility to zap the cheques in by phone.
Like you cheques are a real pain for me as branches are few and far between....

[Jimbo]

I’m with NatWest.
You can deposit cheques in a paying in envelope in any post office.
They usually appear in my account within 2-3 days.
I’ve had the same cheque book for years now, can’t remember the last time I wrote one out.

[Genem]

^^^^ Yep, that's what I'm doing now. Means having to have a stock of the Natwest envelopes, get it checked in at the counter etc.

Hey ho, if that's what we are stuck with, so be it.

[Craig T]

I'm a NatWest customer and use the app. I too have noticed the lack of the cheque paying in facility on the app.

I asked once on their online chat thing and it seems they are looking into it so it is something that may appear in the future. It would certainly be useful to me as the local branches have all closed so I have to drive 15 miles, pay for parking etc. if I need to visit the branch.

I have just renewed my membership after setting up the direct debit. I was a bit worried to start with when my NatWest app showed "Gogardless" as the transaction but then I remembered what it was. All very quick and easy.

Craig.

[Genem]

^^^^ Thanks Craig, glad that the new system worked well for you!
 

Gene

[w3526602]

Hi,

I don't know about these things ... OK ... I know most things needed for ME to get by.

Does Girobank (?) still exist, and operate from your local Post Office? If so, is it viable for us to pay cheques in at our local PO, and instruct them to empty the account into the Club's main account  every Friday ... perhaps retaining £1 to keep the account in credit.

602

[Genem]

^^^^ Thanks John but the issue I'm trying to AVOID is having to go to anywhere to pay in cheques.

The system I use now is that our cheques and a paying in slip go in a special envelope provided by the Post Office and sent on to NatWest. Currently our local village Post Office is closed because the elderly Postmistress is shielding, the nearest "town" Post Office is operating on very reduced hours after the Postmaster there died ( of non Corona virus related causes), meaning it regularly has a 100m socially distanced queue outside.

My own Bank has an App that allows for cheques to be photographed and paid in electronically. No need to ever visit the branch. I was just hoping the Clubs Bank, NatWest, might have something similar. Sadly they don't. Its not a huge faff, the cheques can be paid in when I do a run of new/renewed memberships and post out the cards.
 

[RH]

I spoke about this with my NatWest “relationship manager” recently.

NatWest are virtually ready to launch this feature allowing one to deposit cheques via a photo / scan on the app, but this has been placed on hold during Covid 19 whilst they deal with other priorities.

Hopefully therefore it will be launched reasonably soon.

[Genem]

^^^^ Thanks, that is positive news !