Cheques to be paid in with smartphones

Instead of paying in person, customers will now be able to photograph their cheque and send it electronically.

06:51 28 December 2013

Based on recent government plans, mobile phones are set to take banking to the next level yet again. Instead of requiring customers to go to the bank in person, they will be given an option to photograph their cheques and send them electronically. The plan, which will be launched for consultation, aim to speed up the process of cheque clearing from six days to just two. Banks agree that the technology will more convenient and more secure for customers.

Antony Jenkins, the chief executive of Barclays, said: Moving into a virtual world will actually create a more secure customer experience than the paper experience today.”

Barclays plan to launch the pilot programme from April 2014.

Mr Jenkins added: "I think people are going into branches less and less, particularly as a result of mobile banking, and that's going to accelerate the process.”

A bank’s spokesman has confirmed that customers still have the option to pay their cheques the traditional way should they want to.