Google check taking 11 days to clear.

Is this a normal rule?

[fischermx]

I just realized that my lastest google check was not fully credited in my check account.
It appears there, but it is marked as "on hold".
I called to the bank and they told me due the amont (which is not big, near $9,000) they put the check on hold during a period of 11 (eleven) days!
Is this a normal practice in any bank on the USA?
In Mexico no check takes longer than 2 days to be fully credited.
Did I just chose the wrong bank?

[LifeinAsia]

It depends on the bank. With one of our banks, since they got bought out by a much bigger bank, they regularly place holds on any checks over $5,000, especially if it is out of state. If we need the money right away for some reason, we can ask them to remove the hold, and they usually do. But that's because we've been banking there for 10 years and they know us well. As more corporate types transfer in, that level of personal service will probably fall by the way side.

[percentages]

fischermx,

In the USA it usually depends upon your banking history. If you deposit checks of a certain amount each month for several months their computers won't place a hold. When an unusually large check arrives their computers place a hold because it is abnormal, and a risk to them!

The USA "Clearing System" is pre-historic, well at least not up-to-date! Unlike Europe, and many other places, that have a central clearing system, the USA doesn't!

If you deposit a check in a US account it only gets cleared when the paper is shipped, or on the basis that you have a history of doing these transactions and they "trust you" and the creditor!

I always laugh at this myself, as a European, married to a wife that worked for the largest of US banks. The US desperately needs a computerized clearing system, that doesn't take 10 days to function!

[fischermx]

oh, I get it now, the other last check was near 6,000, I guess, their limit is about that amount, now this for 8,600 is on hold. So, I guess when I send some other check like this they may not put a hold on me ...