How To Deposit Money At The Bank

Key takeaways:

To fund your online bank account, you can deposit cash into a separate bank account that has ATMs or branches and then transfer that money to your online bank electronically.
You can also buy a money order and make it payable to yourself before making a mobile check deposit into your online bank account.
If your online bank is part of an ATM network, you can deposit cash into your online account via a linked cash machine.
You can also consider getting a reloadable prepaid debit card that you can deposit cash onto and link it to your online bank account.

Got cash? Great. Or not so great if you want to deposit it in an online bank account.

The best online banks have low fees and strong overall ratings. Depositing cash requires a few extra steps, but it's doable. Here are four ways.

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Discover Bank Online Savings

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Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings

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Quontic High Yield Savings

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1. Deposit locally, transfer electronically

Online banks such as Ally, Capital One 360 and Discover let you link your account electronically to another account at a traditional bank or credit union. If that linked institution has a local branch, make your cash deposit there. Then, create an electronic transfer, also known as an ACH transfer, to move the money to your online bank.

Many institutions allow free ACH transactions, though they can take up to three business days to complete.

2. Buy a money order

Transform your cash into an easy-to-deposit check by buying a money order at a local retailer or a post office, then make it payable to yourself. If your online bank has an electronic scan feature, you can snap a photo and upload the money order to your account for deposit. If your bank doesn't have this feature, you can mail it to the bank's headquarters for deposit.

You might have to pay a small fee for the money order — often less than $2 — for a value of up to $1,000. But you would have a safe alternative to cash, which is one of the main reasons to buy a money order . For amounts larger than $1,000, you may have to spring for a cashier's check at a bank, which usually costs a few dollars more.

Make the most of your cash

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3. Deposit cash in a linked ATM

Some — but not all — online banks are able to collect deposits through cash-accepting ATMs. Ask your institution if an ATM option is available. With a Capital One 360 checking or savings account, for example, you can deposit cash in a machine at one of the Capital One cafes or bank branches in a few states and handful of cities around the country. Another bank, LendingClub, participates in two networks of deposit-accepting ATMs, ones that carry the NYCE or MoneyPass logo.

4. Load cash on a reloadable prepaid debit card

To make frequent cash deposits, consider buying a reloadable prepaid debit card and linking it to your online bank account. You can then load cash to the card at certain stores and make an ACH transfer to your online bank. American Express Bluebird card (read NerdWallet's Bluebird review ), for example, lets you add cash at most Walmart registers for no fee.

But there are drawbacks: Many cards charge for deposits at other retailers, and some have extra fees, such as monthly membership charges, that will eat into your balance. Use NerdWallet's guide to compare prepaid debit card options before deciding to get one.

» Want to compare the best interest rates on savings accounts? Check out NerdWallet's list of best savings rates

Online banks are optimized for online transactions, so electronic transfers and even mobile check deposits are often a snap. That's not the case with cash, but there are ways to eventually stash your money into an online account. It may take some effort, but it will be worth it the next time a wad of bills comes your way.