Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
You might be wondering, why does Ingo charge a check cashing fee at all?
Using the Ingo Money App is a great way to cash checks and get your money in minutes, 24/7/365, in the accounts you choose, without the need to go out or stand in a line. There are no deposit holds and if your check is approved and your account is funded, the money is guaranteed and safe to spend.
If we could do this for free or at a permanently reduced rate, we would. But in order to provide this service to you, we incur a number of expenses including bounced and non-payment check costs, transaction processing costs, and technology and servicing costs.
We charge a check cashing fee to help cover these costs while we continue to invest to make our service better and more efficient for our customers.
ABOUT THE INGO MONEY SERVICE
The Ingo Money service is provided to you by Sunrise Banks, N.A. Member FDIC, a nationally chartered bank, so your checks and your money are always cleared and handled by a national bank regulated by the federal government until they reach your account issuer.
The service is enabled and facilitated by Ingo Money, Inc., which provides the mobile app technology, check review, approval and guarantee services and other related services. Wherever we use the terms “we” or “us,” we are referring to Sunrise Banks, N.A. Member FDIC and/or Ingo Money, Inc., depending on the context.
We’re a bunch of people who believe that you should be able to access your money right on your phone and put it any place you need it in an instant. You earned it. IT’S YOUR MONEY.
Paper check processing is slow, which makes it risky, but the money in checks—trillions of dollars every year—is really important to people. You count on it. You need it fast. We all do.
We thought, “Hey, we can do that.” So we put all of our 15 years of experience servicing banks and other financial services firms to work to serve consumers and small business owners directly, and in 2013, we launched the Ingo Money App with First Century Bank. Now hundreds of thousands of customers use our app to cash checks and get their money in minutes, and we serve more people every day.
What we do is a lot harder than it seems, but the reasons we do it are very simple.
- We believe it should not take days for a bank to post a check deposit to your account.
- We believe that when your bank makes money from your check deposits available to spend, that money should never be taken back from you, even if a check ends up bouncing.
You can submit most check types for funding approval in the Ingo Money App, from $5 up to $5,000. This includes payroll and government checks with a pre-printed signature, business checks, two-party personal checks, handwritten payroll checks, insurance checks, attorney checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, rebate checks and refund anticipation checks. All checks must be made out to you, endorsed by you and drawn on a bank account in the United States or a U.S. territory.
Please note that we generally don’t accept checks that aren’t made out to you, conditional endorsement checks, counter checks, credit card checks, customer appreciation certificates, gift certificates, starter checks, traveler’s checks or warrants.
Ingo Money will review most check types for funding approval from $5 up to $5,000. Your use of Ingo Money will be limited to $5,000 per check, $5,000 worth of checks per day and $10,000 worth of checks per month. The issuer of your bank debit card, prepaid card, PayPal account, credit card or other funding account may impose additional daily, monthly, account balance or other limits. See your Cardholder or Account Agreement for more information.
To cash a check and get your money in minutes, the standard fee is 2% for payroll and government checks with a pre-printed signature and 5% for all other accepted checks, with a $5 minimum fee per check. To provide this service to you, expenses are incurred in four primary areas:
- Check clearing and settlement costs: When we approve your check and send your money to your selected accounts in minutes, behind the scenes, the check is sent to the Federal Reserve to clear and settle it with the check writer’s bank. That process typically takes a few days, which means that we incur interest expense.
- Bounced and non-payment check costs: Sometimes, a check does not clear because there is not enough money in the check maker’s bank account. Other times there are problems with a check that prevent it from being paid. When checks do not clear we may never get the money, but we have already given you your money, and it is always guaranteed.
- Transaction processing costs: In order for us to send your money in minutes to thousands of accounts issued by banks all across the country, we have to use network processors like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Star, Pulse, Maestro and many others. The networks and various other third party processors we use to send your money depends on the account you choose, and all of them have associated fees and processing costs.
- Technology systems and servicing costs: Building and maintaining technology infrastructure, improving our app, processing checks, accessing third party information databases and serving our customers is the other primary area of cost.
With Ingo Money, if your check is approved you can get your money in minutes for a fee.
When you submit a check in the Ingo Money App, it usually takes a few seconds to review a check for approval, although it can take 3-5 minutes and in rare circumstances, up to an hour while we work to verify sufficient information to approve your check. If your check is approved, we will send your money immediately to the bank account or prepaid account you choose using your linked debit or prepaid card account number. You can also send money to your linked PayPal account, make a payment to a linked credit card.
If you want to send money to more than one place, you can split your check to send money to multiple accounts.
Most banks, prepaid card issuers and PayPal will make your funds available in your account in minutes so you can immediately make purchases, pay bills or access cash at an ATM. Most credit card issuers apply credit card bill payments and adjust your available balance by the next business day though some do not post payments for two business days.
Ingo Money also offers a no-fee check cashing service. If time is on your side, you can get your money in 10 days if your check is not returned unpaid within the 10-day period and receive those funds in one of your linked bank accounts, prepaid cards, credit cards, PayPal accounts.
Other transaction fees and costs, terms and conditions may be associated with the use of your bank debit card, prepaid card, PayPal account and credit cards. See your Cardholder or Account Agreement for more information on the terms associated with your accounts.
ABOUT APP INSTALLATION AND REGISTRATION
You can download the Ingo Money App either from the App Store℠ for iOS devices or from the Google Play™ Store for Android devices.
Ingo Money uses mobile geo-location services as an added risk management measure to confirm you are in the United States and to assess whether your phone is in an unusual location when submitting a check.
If you do not have geo-location services enabled, you will be prompted in the app to enable location services before you can cash a check.
To enable location services on an Android device:
- Close the Ingo Money App and tap Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Location.
- Turn on the Location Service.
- Tap Agree on the Location Consent screen.
- On the Improve Location Accuracy screen, we recommend you tap Agree to enable Google’s Location Service; it is not required that you enable this service, but it will provide a better user experience.
- Close Settings and re-open the Ingo Money App to continue.
- Close the Ingo Money App and tap Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Privacy.
- Tap Location Services.
- Make sure Locations Services is enabled.
- Scroll down, tap the Ingo Money App and choose ‘While Using the App.’
- Close Settings and re-open the Ingo Money App to continue.
Enabling push notifications on your mobile device when you use the Ingo Money App allows you to receive immediate transaction status updates during the check review process, even if you close the app in the middle of a check cashing transaction. Push notifications will help you stay informed on the next necessary action to complete the review process and get your money as quickly as possible.
Your Android device will enable push notifications on the Ingo Money App by default. If you disable push notifications and want to re-enable the notification service:
- Close the Ingo Money App and tap Settings.
- Scroll down to the Applications tab and tap the Ingo Money App.
- Enable Show Notifications.
- Close Settings and re-open the Ingo Money App to continue.
- Close the Ingo Money App and tap Settings.
- Tap Notifications.
- Make sure Allow Notifications is enabled.
- Set your notification options.
Ingo Money takes the risk on the checks we approve and unfortunately, not everyone is honest. We use your Social Security Number and other personal information to verify your identity, comply with legal and regulatory requirements and help us identify and prevent potential check fraud.
The security of your user profile information and account information is very important to us. We know it is just as critical to you. We store your information in systems designed to prevent unauthorized access by others and we only share your personal information as set forth in our Privacy Policy.
You will not be able to register if Ingo Money cannot verify your identity—for instance, if your name and address don’t match or your name and Social Security Number don’t match. Please be sure to check, and double check, all of your information and confirm that your name matches the one on your Social Security card. If you’re still having trouble registering, please email us at help@ingomoney.com, call (229) 276-3990 or chat with us online right now by clicking the chat link at the bottom of the screen.
ABOUT MY INGO MONEY USER ACCOUNT
If you can’t remember your password, or if you wish to change it, sign-in and tap ‘Forgot Password.’ Then, enter your email address, the last four digits of your Social Security Number and your date of birth. We will email a temporary password to the email address we have on record that you can use to sign-in. You will then be prompted to create a new password.
Your Ingo Money username is the email address you used when you registered. If you don’t remember it or it does not seem to work, please send an email to help@ingomoney.com, give us a call at (229) 276-3990 or chat with us online right now by clicking the chat link at the bottom of the screen.
It’s easy! You can update your address and phone number right in the app. Sign-in to the Ingo Money App and tap “More Information,” then “Edit Profile.”
Ingo Money may place your account on hold for a variety of reasons, like an inability to verify your identity or submission of a check that triggers a security review. If your account is on hold, we recommend you send an email to help@ingomoney.com so we can inform you of the reason your account is on hold.
We are sorry to see you go. Since Ingo Money does not require a membership, there is nothing for you to cancel. Simply uninstall the Ingo Money App on your mobile device and you’re all set.
ABOUT LINKING MY FUNDING ACCOUNTS
To use Ingo Money, you must link at least one bank account, prepaid card or PayPal account to your Ingo Money user profile so that we have an account on record to which we can send your money. To link an account, from the main menu, tap ‘My Accounts,’ then tap ‘Link a New Account’ and follow the screen prompts to add your account information. Tap the ‘Card’ tab to enter your bank debit card, prepaid card or credit card account information. Tap ‘PayPal’ and follow the screen prompts to link your PayPal account.
Ingo Money can be used to fund most active bank, prepaid card and PayPal accounts and to make payments to most credit cards. To link your accounts in the Ingo Money App, open the main menu and tap ‘My Accounts.’ Then tap ‘Link a New Account’ and follow the prompts. To link your accounts, enter your debit card, prepaid card, credit card and PayPal account information. In the event that your account is not eligible for funding in the Ingo Money App, you will be notified right in the app.
Absolutely! Tap ‘My Accounts’ on the main menu and then ‘Link an Account’ to add any of your eligible bank debit cards, prepaid cards, credit cards and PayPal account. You choose the account or accounts you want to fund on every check you cash, or you can split the funds from your approved check across multiple accounts to send money any place you need it.
You can add or edit your bank debit card, prepaid card, credit card and PayPal account information right in the app. Sign-in to the Ingo Money App and tap 'My Accounts’ to add, edit or delete a linked account.
Sign-in to Ingo Money, tap ‘My Accounts’ on the main menu and follow the prompts to link your bank debit card, prepaid card, credit cards or your PayPal account. When you cash a check, you can choose the places you want to send your check funds and how much to send to each one.
ABOUT CASHING A CHECK
Get Money in Minutes for a Fee
To cash a check and get your money in minutes, the standard fee is 2% for payroll and government checks with a pre-printed signature and 5% for all other accepted checks, with a $5 minimum fee per check. To receive lower fees on check cashing transactions, become an Ingo Gold frequent user. If you’ve cashed six or more checks in minutes within the prior 90-day period, you will qualify for Ingo Gold Preferred Pricing, with fees of 1% or 4% depending on the check type, with a minimum $5 fee.
Ingo Money will review your check for approval usually in a few seconds, although it can take 3-5 minutes and in rare circumstances, up to an hour. If your check is approved, we send your money in minutes to the places you selected. Most banks, prepaid card issuers and PayPal will make your funds available in your account in minutes so you can immediately make purchases, pay bills or access cash at an ATM. Most credit card issuers apply credit card bill payments by the next business day though some do not post payments for two business days.
If your check isn’t approved, your account will not be funded and no fees will be assessed.
Get Money in 10 Days for Free
Alternatively, you can choose to get your funds in 10 days for no fee and your money will be credited to one bank debit card, prepaid card, credit card or PayPal account you choose if your check is approved and is not returned unpaid during the 10-day period. The 10-day option can be good when time is on your side and you don’t need us to take the risk on the check. We cover the cost of check clearing and settlement, as well as transaction processing to provide a no-fee option when that is all you need.
Other transaction fees and costs, terms and conditions may be associated with the use of your bank debit card, prepaid card, credit card or PayPal account. See your Cardholder or Account Agreement for more information on the terms associated with your accounts.
Ingo Gold Preferred Pricing rewards frequent users with lower fees on check-cashing transactions. If you’ve cashed six or more checks in minutes within the prior 90-day period, you will qualify for Ingo Gold Preferred Pricing:
- Payroll & government checks with pre-printed signatures: 1% of check value
- Other check types: 4% of check value
- Minimum fee for all checks: $5.00
The Ingo Money App features automatic image capture, so taking pictures of your checks is easy!
First, sign the back of your check and make sure the lighting in the room is good. Then, lay the check on a solid-colored background, front-side up, so that none of the check information is covered up. Sign-in to the Ingo Money App and tap ‘Cash a Check.’ Tap the first check image field and position your mobile device over the check at a slight angle so that you don’t cast a shadow on the check. Fit the corners of the check inside the guidelines and watch the box turn green. (It happens quickly, so don’t blink or you’ll miss it!) Turn the check over and tap the second check image field to repeat the process and take a photo of the back of the check.
If auto image capture moves too quickly for you, or your device doesn’t support it, you can take a picture manually by tapping the camera and flash icons on your screen.
After you take pictures of your check, the app will display the amount of the check. Simply confirm that the amount is accurate or correct it, and tap ‘Next.’ Continue to follow the screen prompts to choose when you want your money and where you want us to send it. Review your transaction details on the Confirm screen and then submit the check for review.
Every time you submit a check, you choose the places you want to send your money right in the app. Don’t worry! It’s easier than you might think. The app will guide you through the process.
In order to fund your bank account, prepaid card or PayPal account, or to pay a credit card bill, you first have to link your accounts in Ingo Money. To do that, tap ‘My Accounts’ on the main menu, then tap ‘Link a New Account’ and follow the screen prompts to enter your bank debit card, prepaid card, credit card and PayPal account information.
When you cash a check, you will be prompted to take a picture of the front and back and confirm the check amount. After that you will be asked to choose whether you want your Money in Minutes for a fee or your Money in 10 Days for no fee. Then, you will be prompted to select where you want us to send your money by tapping one of the accounts on the screen.
If you choose Money in Minutes, you can send your money to more than one place. Simply choose each account and tell us how much to send to each one. You will be prompted to choose another funding account until you have allocated all of your check funds.
It’s possible that the writing on the check is not dark enough or that some of the information, like the check amount, is not close enough to its intended area to be read properly by our software. Please return the check to the check writer for corrections or click the online chat link at the bottom of the screen for further assistance.
In order to prevent a check from being cashed or deposited twice, after Ingo Money has approved your check, you may be prompted to write ‘VOID’ boldly in blue or black ink across the front of your check and submit a photo of the voided check. Once we confirm that your correctly voided check image has been submitted, we will send your money to the places you selected.
Do not write ‘VOID’ on your check until you are prompted to, after you receive confirmation that your check was approved.
If we approve your check, we may ask you to void your check and send a picture of your voided check to us for review before we release your funds to your selected accounts. Hold on to your check until you receive confirmation in the app or via email that your accounts have been funded. You can also check your bank account, prepaid card, credit card or PayPal account balance to confirm that your funds have been posted to your selected account(s) by the account issuer.
Remember that while most banks, prepaid card issuers and PayPal make funds available to spend immediately, some banks may take up to 24 hours to post your funds. Most credit card issuers typically post payments in 24 hours.
All checks submitted to Ingo Money are subject to review for approval, and most of the checks we review are approved. There are times though when we are unable to approve a check due to inconsistencies in check images, limit-related issues, insufficient check verification data, or information about the check writer’s account. Unfortunately, we cannot always tell you exactly why a check is declined because privacy regulations prevent us from sharing a check writer’s account information with you.
Below are some examples of reasons we may decline a check:
- Check was not written to you, as your name appears on your Ingo Money account.
- Check was not endorsed.
- Amount of the check is less than $5 or more than $5,000.
- Amount of the check will cause you to exceed the daily, weekly or monthly funding limits for your selected account.
- Amount of the check will cause you to exceed the daily or monthly check cashing limits or the maximum balance allowed on your selected account. See check limits.
- Check images are illegible or do not pass authenticity screening.
- Check is a single-party check (drawn on another account you own), a temporary check, a credit card check or another unusual check type we do not support.
- A properly voided image of the check was not received. If you need to resubmit your voided check image, call Ingo Money at (229) 276-3990 or chat with us right now, online, by tapping the chat link at the bottom of the screen.
- Sufficient information could not be verified on the check writer’s account.
- Check was written on a closed or compromised account.
ABOUT PROMOTIONS
To redeem a promotion code in the Ingo Money App, cash a check like normal. When you get to the Confirm screen, tap the ‘Reward or Promo Code’ button. Enter the promotion code in the Promo Code field and tap ‘Apply.’ The promotional value will be added to your transaction on the Confirm screen and funded to the account you selected, along with your check funds, if your check is approved.
Get the Ingo Money App:
SUPPORTED ACCOUNTS & NETWORKS
The Ingo Money App may be used by identity-verified customers to cash checks issued on U.S. financial accounts to fund: (1) most debit, prepaid and credit card accounts issued by hundreds of U.S. financial institutions including Chase®, Bank of America®, Citi®, Wells Fargo®, American Express®, U.S. Bank®, PNC Bank®, Capital One®, HSBC Bank USA, TD Bank, Discover®, Synchrony Bank, First Premier® Bank, Pathward and The Bancorp Bank; (2) PayPal™, PayPal™ for Business and PayPal™ Prepaid MasterCard® accounts; (3) most prepaid cards, including Chase Liquid®, Wells Fargo EasyPay®, Regions Now Card®, BB&T MoneyAccount®, NetSpend®, Green Dot® Prepaid Debit, Walmart MoneyCard®, ACE Elite™, RushCard®, AccountNow®, Kroger® 1-2-3 REWARDS®. Funds may also be used to pay retail credit card bills from thousands of retailers including Walmart®, Target®, Costco®, Home Depot®, Lowe’s®, BestBuy®, Gap® and Old Navy®. You can also access the Ingo Money service in dozens of mobile banking apps including American Express Serve® and Bluebird℠ by American Express. Ingo Money participates in the Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Star®, Pulse®, NYCE® and Maestro® payment networks.
LEGAL DISCLOSURE
Ingo Money is a service provided by Sunrise Banks, N.A. Member FDIC and Ingo Money, Inc., subject to the Sunrise Banks and Ingo Money Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Approval usually takes 3 to 5 minutes but can take up to one hour. All checks are subject to approval for funding in Ingo Money’s sole discretion. Fees apply for approved Money in Minutes transactions funded to your card or account. Unapproved checks will not be funded to your card or account. Ingo Money reserves the right to recover losses resulting from illegal or fraudulent use of the Ingo Money Service. Your wireless carrier may charge a fee for data usage. Additional transaction fees, costs, terms and conditions may be associated with the funding and use of your card or account. See your Cardholder or Account Agreement for details. Ingo Money service is not available for use within the state of New York.
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