In a reflection of its commitment to mobile banking, Bank of America Corp. will start letting customers deposit checks using their smartphones and tablet devices.

The new mobile deposit functionality is being announced by Bank of America today. An update to the Bank of America iPad that went live yesterday enables users to make check deposits, choose BankAmeriDeals and earn cash back as well as receive alerts as push notifications.

“Our customers are living in a more connected world that extends to their financial lives—these new capabilities deliver the full bank in our customers’ hands,” said Tara Burke, a spokeswoman for Bank of America, New York.

“Our goals are to provide convenience and flexibility so our customers can bank on their own terms,” she said.

Bank of America serves individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services.

Banks invest in mobile
Bank of America’s remote deposit feature will  reportedly expand to the iPhone, Android devices and other smartphones over the coming months.

The bank joins other financial institutions that have already enabled mobile deposits, such as JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup.

These moves are being made in response to the growing number of consumers who are using mobile banking as their primary and even exclusive means of interacting with their bank. For these consumers, the ability to deposit a check using a smartphone or tablet is crucial.

Via mobile deposit, smartphone and tablet users can take a picture of check and send it to the bank to make a deposit.

Banks increasingly are recognizing the growing use of mobile banking and are investing in bringing new features such as remote deposit to their customers in response.

A recent study from Forrester Research found that investment in the mobile channel represents a significant portion of banks’ overall digital spending, with a focus on alerts, remote deposit capture and person-to-person payments (see story).

Customer uptake is strong
Bank of America has been active on the mobile front for some time and this is just the latest step from the financial institution to leverage mobile to meet customers’ needs.

As a result of its efforts, Bank of America is seeing strong customer uptake for mobile banking. The financial institution recently reported that more than ten million customers are accessing their banking and financial needs via mobile devices, an increase in nearly three million active users over the past 12 months (see story).

Bank of America has mobile applications for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Phone devices, as well as tablet-specific apps for Apple, Kindle and Android platforms.

Via the company’s mobile apps, consumers can review account balances, pay bills and locate ATM and banking center locations as well as make transfers.

“We have over ten million mobile banking customers and that number continues to grow at a steady pace as a result of our customers banking 24/7 and wanting to be in control of their finances,” Ms. Burke said.

Final Take
Chantal Tode is associate editor on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York