Bank Deposit

Grab a deposit slip from the bank and fill in all the check details - amounts, check numbers, and account info. Don't rush this part. One wrong digit can cause a huge headache later when you're trying to reconcile the books. Once it's filled out, make a photocopy before handing anything to the teller. This copy is your backup if something goes sideways.

Time to record this in the books. Open your accounting software and enter the deposit with all the details - bank name, account number, check numbers, and the total amount. Double-check the date matches when you actually made the deposit, not today's date if they're different. Getting this wrong creates a mess during reconciliation. If anything looks off from the receipt, flag it now rather than later.

Before you leave the bank, make sure you have the official receipt in hand. Check that the printed amount matches what you deposited - tellers are human and mistakes happen. The receipt should show the transaction date, total amount, and a reference number. If something's missing or looks wrong, sort it out right there at the counter. Walking away without a proper receipt is asking for trouble.

First thing when you're back - photocopy that receipt. Thermal paper fades faster than you'd think, and the last thing you need is a blank slip when the auditor comes around. File the original in the deposit folder and keep the copy with your daily transaction records. This takes two minutes now but saves hours of digging later.

Log into your online banking and confirm the deposit is showing. It might be pending for a day or two depending on your bank, but it should at least appear. Check that the amount matches your receipt exactly. If it's not there within 24 hours, call the bank - something may have gone wrong during processing. Screenshot the confirmation for your records.

When your bank statement arrives, match this deposit against it. The cleared date might differ from when you made the deposit - that's normal. What matters is the amounts line up. Mark it as reconciled in your accounting system once you've verified everything. Any discrepancy, even a penny, needs investigating. Small errors now become big problems later.