| Sample Bank Deposit Limits | |
|---|---|
| Institution | Limit |
| Capital One 360 Checking | One-time cash deposit maximum at an ATM is $5,000 |
| Chime | Three deposits per day, $1,000 per day, and $10,000 per calendar month when depositing cash at Walgreens |
| Alliant Credit Union | $20,000 daily in cash at an ATM |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | $10,000 per card, per day at a CO-OP ATM |
Why Are Banks Required to Report Cash Deposits of More Than $10,000?
Banks must report your deposit to the federal government if it’s more than $10,000 to alert the federal government to monitor for potential financial crime.
Under the federal Bank Secrecy Act and USA PATRIOT Act, banks and other financial institutions must report cash deposits of more than $10,000 with a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) filing.
The $10,000 threshold could come from either a single cash deposit or multiple deposits in one day that add up to more than $10,000. This rule applies no matter what the purpose of the deposit is.
The Bank Secrecy Act and USA PATRIOT Act are aimed at fighting money laundering and terrorist activity.
How Can I Deposit More Than $10,000 in Cash?
To safely deposit a large amount of cash, visit a brick-and-mortar branch operated by your financial institution. Contact your financial institution if you plan to make a sizable deposit, said Christopher Naghibi, executive vice president and chief operating officer at First Foundation Bank. “This allows the bank to prepare and ensures a smoother process,” Naghibi said.
He suggested speaking to your bank about arranging for an armored transport if a significant volume of money is involved. “While it may sound straight out of a movie, it is something that some people do,” he said.
For particularly large deposits, it’s important to supply documentation that explains the source of the cash, such as business records or inheritance paperwork.
“And if you are depositing a large amount of money, you can absolutely anticipate being asked questions about it,” Naghibi said. “It is required under banking regulation[s].”
Note
Banks must keep records of any deposit you make of over $100 for at least five years, but can retain the records for longer if they wish.
What Is IRS Form 8300?
Suppose your business receives more than $10,000 in cash in one transaction or a related transaction. In that case, you normally must file a Form 8300 with the IRS and the federal government’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
These two government agencies want this information to help them combat money laundering or detect criminals who launder money to hide illegal activity, such as drug trafficking or financing of terrorist activities.
You must file a Form 8300 within 15 days of an eligible cash transaction. Among those required to file this form are companies, corporations, partnerships, individuals, associations, trusts, and estates. Typical examples are attorneys; real estate brokers; insurance companies, and dealers in expensive items like jewelry, furniture, or cars.
A person or organization must file a Form 8300 if they receive more than $10,000 in cash from the source:
- In one lump sum
- In two or more related payments within 24 hours
- As part of a single transaction or two or more related transactions within a 12-month period
What Is Structuring?
Authorities advise against employing a method called “structuring” to avoid reporting requirements for deposits. Structuring involves dividing transactions into smaller sums to skirt these requirements and prevent a CTR filing.
Federal banking law prohibits dividing a transaction into smaller sums to avoid CTR reporting. Structuring a transaction to keep a CTR from being submitted can lead to a prison term of up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000. In cases when structuring involves more than $100,000 spread across 12 months or breaks another federal law, the penalties are doubled.
Structuring is a common red flag for financial institutions and anti-crime officials, Naghibi said. “And believe it or not, this happens much more often than you might think. It doesn't always mean the customer is doing something wrong, but it does need to be looked into,” he said.
What Happens When Large Deposits Are Reported?
Financial institutions inform the federal government about deposits over $10,000 through CTR reports that go to FinCEN.
Banks and other financial institutions must electronically file a CTR for each currency transaction that exceeds $10,0000. This includes bank deposits, withdrawals, currency exchanges, payments, or transfers.
By federal law, a financial institution must obtain personal information about the person depositing $10,000—whether they are making the deposit for themselves or someone else. This information might be a Social Security number, driver’s license, or government-issued ID. This requirement kicks in regardless of whether the depositor has an account at the financial institution or not.
Note
Several depositors are exempt from the reporting requirement. They include banks, government agencies, payroll customers, and most companies whose stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or NASDAQ Stock Market.
Business Owners Must Also Report Large Deposits
Business owners generally must report deposits exceeding $10,000. Among the types of businesses that must file an IRS Form 8300 for these deposits are jewelers, pawnbrokers, attorneys, real estate brokers, and car dealers. Even tax-exempt organizations might need to submit a Form 8300.
What might prompt a business to report a deposit over $10,000? The deposit of U.S. or foreign currency or coins of more than $10,000, as well the deposit of a cashier’s check, bank draft, traveler’s check, or money order with a face value of more than $10,000.
You cannot deposit foreign currency into your account at most U.S. bank ATMs. Check with your bank or ATM to find out if you can exchange foreign currency in person.
FDIC Insurance Limits
While a bank may allow you to deposit as much as you’d like in your account, you may want to factor in how your deposits will be protected. Bank account deposits are FDIC-insured for up to $250,000 per account. So deposits over that amount will not be protected if the bank fails.
If you have deposits at a credit union, your funds will be protected for up to the same amount only by the National Credit Union Association (NCUA).
How Much Cash Can You Deposit in Your Bank Account in a Month?
Deposit rules vary among financial institutions. Some financial institutions limit how much cash you can deposit monthly into a bank account. For instance, SoFi caps cash deposits into a SoFi Money account at $5,000 per month.
How Much Cash Can You Deposit in an ATM?
While financial institutions typically don’t restrict how much cash you can deposit at an ATM, you will generally face a limit on how many bills you can insert into the machine at one time. For example, an ATM might accept only 40 bills at a time, regardless of the denominations.
What Is the Bank Secrecy Act?
Congress passed the Bank Secrecy Act in 1970 to crack down on money laundering. This law requires financial institutions to keep diligent records for criminal, tax and regulatory matters. Unusual patterns or other suspicious activity such as bulk cash deposits may lead to a Suspicious Activity Report. Due to BSA, banks are also required to report deposits over $10,000 to the federal government.
The Bottom Line
Most banks have flexible policies on how much you can deposit. If you plan to deposit more than $10,000 at a bank, remember that the transaction will be reported to the federal government. This enables authorities to track potentially suspicious activity that may indicate money laundering or terrorist activity.
You may also want to consider how your funds will be protected when you decide how much to deposit. You can generally deposit as much as you’d like in most bank accounts.
