FAQs

  1. Mobile Deposit is a way to electronically deposit checks from your iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® or Android™ phone using the German American Mobile Banking App.

  2. To qualify for Mobile Deposit, you must have an active German American checking account, be in good account standing, and have enrolled in German American Online Banking.

  3. Depending on your qualifications, most customers are eligible to deposit up to $4,000 per check, up to $4,000 per day, and up to $20,000 in a 30 day timeframe.

  4. Mobile Deposit is free to German American customers. Just download the German American Mobile Banking App to begin. Your service provider's data access charges may apply.

  5. Yes. Check deposits made through the German American Mobile Banking App are protected according to the highest financial industry standards. Security features include: password protection, internet firewalls and 128-bit encryption. Check images and other private information are not stored within the Mobile Banking App or on your phone, iPad® or iPod Touch®. A deposit made using Mobile Deposit is as safe as using Online Banking.

    • Make sure you have downloaded the German American Mobile Banking App for your iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® or Android™ phone.
    • Log in to the German American Mobile Banking App using your Online Banking username and password.
    • Choose "Check Deposit" from the menu.
    • Read and accept the Mobile Deposit Services Agreement.
    • Select the account into which you want to deposit the check.
    • Enter the amount of your check.
    • Endorse the back of your check with "For Mobile Deposit Only."
    • Take pictures of the front and back of your check.
    • Submit the check for deposit.
    • You will receive a confirmation that your check has been submitted to us for review.
    • Deposits may take up to one business day to appear in your account.
    • Deposits received by 6:00 p.m. ET on business days will be credited to your account during nightly processing the same business day. Deposits received after 6:00 p.m. ET will be credited the next business day.
    • After your deposit has been posted, we recommend that you securely store your check for 30 days and then destroy it.

  7. Yes. Please sign the back of your check and write “For Mobile Deposit Only.”

  8. After submitting the images of the front and back of your check, you will receive an on-screen confirmation that your deposit has been submitted to German American for review. You will also have the option to email a confirmation number to yourself. Deposits may take up to one business day to appear in your account. Accepted deposits received by 6:00 p.m. ET on business days will be credited to your account during nightly processing the same business day. Deposits received after 6:00 p.m. ET will be credited by the next business day.

  9. There are a few reasons that checks may not be able to be deposited:

    • Folded or torn corners
    • Front image is not legible
    • Amount entered does not match the amount read by the scanning software
    • Routing and account numbers are unclear
    • No camera on the device
    • Image is too dark

    Helpful tips for Mobile Deposit:

    • Use Mobile Deposit in a well lit area to prevent shadows or poor image quality when taking pictures of your check.
    • Smooth out any folds on your check.
    • Place the check on a dark background before taking the picture.
    • Keep hands clear of the check while taking the pictures to avoid pictures of fingers/hands.
    • Once your deposit has been posted, we recommend that you securely store your check for 30 days and then destroy it.

  10. No. Once your check has been submitted through Mobile Deposit and you receive on-screen confirmation, you may not deposit the same check again at one of our offices. If there is a problem with that particular deposit, we will notify you and work with you to correct it. However, the check is generally no longer negotiable once the check image has been submitted for deposit. Think of it like an electronic teller line; once the teller deposits your check, you cannot take the check back and deposit it again.

    If you are concerned about not seeing the deposit in your account, look for your deposit on the next business day. As mentioned above, deposits are not processed immediately.

  11. Double check the following:

    • Your check photos are clear and legible. Be sure that there are no shadows on the check, the check itself is not wrinkled excessively, the image is not blurry from "camera shake," and the writing is contained within the relevant spaces on the check.
    • You have positioned the check against a dark or contrasting background.
    • The MICR line (the bottom portion of the check that includes your account number and routing number) is fully visible (be sure the corners of the check are not covering this line).
    • There is space between the MICR line and the edge of the image.
    • The check number, payee, endorsement, character (numeric) amount, legal (written) amount, and MICR line are all readable.

    If the check continues to be rejected, bring it to one of our banking offices for deposit.

  12. Download the agreement

  13. Log into Online Banking from a computer and update your email address. After you have changed your email address, open the “Check Deposit” option within the Mobile Banking App. You don't need to process a deposit in order for the information to update for Mobile Deposit.

  14. Images of checks deposited in the App may be viewed by going to the History section of Mobile Deposit.

  15. All checking accounts from your main account list in Online Banking will populate the “Deposit into” list within your Mobile Deposit list.

  16. The below items are considered ineligible for Mobile Deposit:

    • Checks payable to any person or entity other than you (i.e., payable to another party and then endorsed to you).
    • Checks payable to you and another party who is not a joint owner on the account.
    • Checks that contain evidence of alteration, or that you know or suspect, or should know or suspect, are fraudulent or otherwise not authorized by the owner of the account on which the check is drawn.
    • Checks that you know or suspect, or should know or suspect, represent orders to pay money that are subject to defenses by the drawer of the check or other third party.
    • Checks previously converted to a substitute check, as defined in Regulation CC.
    • Checks drawn on a financial institution located outside the United States.
    • Checks not payable in United States currency.
    • Checks dated more than 6 months prior to the date of deposit.
    • Checks that have previously been submitted through this service or through a remote deposit capture service offered at any other financial institution.

  17. In our continued efforts to protect you, our customer, German American is pleased to offer a fraud alert management system for credit card holders through SecurLOCK Communicate. With this system, you may begin receiving text messages and/or phone calls and emails asking you to confirm if suspicious transactions are valid. We will only ask you to verify if the transaction(s) are valid. We will not ask for account or personal information. Please be sure that you have the most current telephone number, cell phone number, and email address on file with us to avoid any delays in notification from the fraud management system. You may contact our Customer Care Team at (800)482-1314 or fill out the Contact Us form to ensure your contact information is current.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  18. We have calls only going out during certain hours so cardholders aren’t being called after normal waking hours. Emails will be sent 24 hours. Text will be sent from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the cardholder’s time zone. Calls will be sent from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the cardholder’s time zone. Texts and voice calls pending from the night before will be triggered the following morning at the applicable time noted above. Agents are available 24/7.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  19. All you need to do is respond back to the SMS text alert with the word STOP. U.S. consumers who have service through AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile will not be charged message or data rates for our fraud alerts. We absorb that cost for you!

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  20. We are unable to send text or phone calls internationally, but please make sure your email address is current as we can always email you 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  21. We have already included you in these enhanced services as part of our fraud protection services.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  22. Transactions that we have identified as potential fraud trigger the alerts.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  23. The majority of suspected fraud accounts will be blocked, just as they are today. However, some lower risk items may not be declined.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  24. Yes, though please keep in mind that it could take 5 –10 minutes for a block to be removed in some situations.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  25. Yes, if you contacted us to indicate you will be traveling during a specific timeframe, a travel note will be placed on your account for that timeframe and transactions will be processed as they are today. We highly recommend contacting us if you plan on traveling to ensure you are not inconvenienced. Please remember our goal is to stop fraud, and fraud may still present during your travel dates.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  26. Once the alert is updated in our fraud system, you can attempt the transaction again, usually within 5 –10 minutes of the initial call/text/email to validate activity.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  27. The system will accept many common typo variations of the "yes" or "no" text message response. If the system cannot understand what was typed, it will generate a message to call a representative for help.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  28. No.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  29. Communicate alerts are not configured through a mobile app, but rather through our fraud systems. The standard order of engagement is:

    1. Text
    2. Voice Call
    3. Email

    Alerts generated overnight result in an email only until calling and texting hours are available. Text will be sent from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the cardholder’s time zone. Calls will be sent from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the cardholder’s time zone.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  30. Communicate actions are triggered by today’s existing fraud alerts through the Falcon system. If a mobile phone is on record, a text alert will be triggered first. All numbers on record, that are identified as a mobile phone, will be utilized. Communicate has technology that allows it to determine if a phone number is a mobile or land line, so indicators within the processing platform are not required. If we do not receive a response to the text(s), the system sends an automated voice call asking you to confirm if authorizations are valid or unrecognized. If you select "Not Recognized," the call is transferred to an agent to confirm the fraudulent transaction(s). If there is no response to the text or voice call, an email is sent requesting that you confirm the transactions are valid.

    Standard rates and fees from your wireless carrier may apply.

  31. Pure Personality Check Card lets you customize how your German American Check Card looks by using almost any digital picture to create a one-of-a-kind Check Card. Show off your family, friends, pets, or your favorite vacation. Your Pure Personality Check Card works the same as a regular German American Check Card and reflects your unique personality.

  32. Those who have a German American checking account. The primary account owner and any authorized users on the account can customize their cards.

  33. A form will appear to initiate your Pure Personality Check Card order. Enter your name to match what is currently on your German American checking account. You will also be asked to provide the last 5 digits of your Social Security Number and the last 5 digits of the account number tied to your Pure Personality Check Card. After you upload your artwork, a second form will appear asking you to re-enter your name as it appears in your checking account, your address that is on file at German American for the specified checking account, city, state, zip code, country, phone number, email address, and last 4 digits of card number, if you are an existing check card holder.

  34. No, because you will need to upload the photo of your choice to arrange it to fit your card, you will need to visit www.germanamerican.com/personal/banking/visa-check-card/pure-personality-check-card/ from your computer to create your own Pure Personality Check Card.

  35. If you don't have a German American Check Card, you can request one by visiting any of our offices.

  36. At account opening, you will be asked if you wish to receive a standard German American Check Card or if you want to order a Pure Personality Check Card. If you choose to order a personalized card, you have 48 hours after account opening to upload your image in order to match that image with your check card order. If an image is not uploaded within 48 hours of account opening, a standard German American check card will be ordered for you at no charge.

  37. A fee of $10 will be deducted from your checking account linked to your VISA® Check Card each time you order a card with a new image. If your card is damaged or lost and you choose to continue to use the previously uploaded image, the cost for a replacement card is $7.

    How often can I change the design on my Pure Personality Check Card?

    You can change the existing card as often as you like. A fee of $10 will be deducted from your checking account linked to your VISA® Check Card each time you change the design on your Pure Personality Check Card.

  38. Please see our Image Guidelines for the criteria for acceptable photo submissions. German American reserves the right to reject any image we believe violates our Image Guidelines. If an image is rejected, you will be notified by email or phone within three business days. Please be sure to provide us with accurate contact information when uploading your artwork in case we need to get in touch with you. You may submit a new image anytime following your rejection.

  39. Please see our Image Guidelines for specific information. Use a high quality image - the better your image, the better your card will look. You may have to use the photo editing software to properly size your picture prior to uploading it to the creation site.

  40. For security reasons, it is recommended that you use the most up-to-date version of any web browser. Browsers that work well are Internet Explorer 11, Chrome 58, Firefox 52, and Opera 45. Earlier versions of these browsers may work, yet are not recommended.

  41. At this time, tablets and smart phones cannot load the image upload software. Please use a desktop or laptop computer to upload your picture.

  42. We want you to be happy with your Pure Personality Check Card. Please contact us at (800) 482-1314 to discuss how we can remedy your concerns.

  43. Upon expiration of your card, a new card will be sent with the same image as your most recent card. If you wish to upload a new image, please do so the month before your card expires to ensure the image is received in time for the automatic card reissue. Example: For an expiration date of 12/19, you will need to upload your new artwork during the month of November. A $10 fee will apply when you upload a new image.

  44. Your card will be mailed to you via the US Postal Service.

  45. After your image is uploaded, your Pure Personality Check Card will be mailed to you within 7-10 business days. If your image is rejected, you will be notified by email or phone within three business days. Please be sure to provide us with accurate contact information when uploading your artwork in case we need to get in touch with you. You may submit a new image anytime following your rejection. If you have a standard German American Check Card, it will continue to work until you activate your new Pure Personality Check Card.

  46. For security reasons, your new Pure Personality Check Card has a different expiration date and CVV security code than your existing card. If you have items billed directly to your German American Check Card, you will need to update this information with the biller. Once you activate your Pure Personality Check Card, you should destroy your old card immediately.

  47. Every time you use your card at a chip-enabled terminal, the embedded chip generates a unique transaction code. This prevents stolen data from being fraudulently used.

  48. You can use your card at millions of places that accept Visa® at home and around the world.

  49. Yes. If a merchant is not yet chip-enabled, you can continue to swipe your card and sign for your purchase.

  50. No. There are no additional fees to use your chip-enabled card.

  51. We understand that your time is money, so we strive to make opening a business account with us as easy as possible. Please be prepared to provide the following information at the time of opening a business checking or savings account:

    • Personal I.D. for all account signers
    • Employment Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN)
    • Business Type Supporting Documentation
      • Sole Proprietor: Personal I.D. 
      • Single Member LLC: operating agreement, if available
      • LLC*: Articles of organization and operating agreement
      • Corporation*: Articles of incorporation/organization and board minutes
      • Government Entity or Unincorporated Association: Board minutes
      • Partnership*: Partnership agreement, if available

    *Active business registration with Secretary of State required

  52. Opening a personal checking or savings account with German American Bank is simple. Just bring the following information to one of our convenient banking offices.

    • Government-issued Identification (i.e. driver’s license)
    • U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number
    • U.S. Citizenship or Resident Alien Status
    • Account information for accounts you would like to close at other banks and move to German American Bank.
    • Funding account using automatic transfer or funds transferred from a non-German American Bank checking or savings account: If account is successfully opened prior to 5 p.m. ET, funds will be available the next business day. If account is successfully opened at 5 p.m. ET or after, funds will be available in 2 business days.
    • Funding account using a credit card or non-German American Bank debit card: If account is successfully opened prior to 5 p.m. ET, funds will be available in 2 business days. If account is successfully opened at 5 p.m. ET or after, funds will be available in 3 business days.

  54. Accounts opened online will be visible in German American Online Banking and our Mobile Banking App within one business day from account opening.

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