Depository Transfer Check: Definition, How It Works, and Benefits

What is a Depository Transfer Check (DTC)?

A depository transfer check (DTC), also called a depository transfer draft, is an instrument used by a designated collection or concentration bank to consolidate and deposit a company’s daily receipts from multiple locations. It resembles a personal check but is non-negotiable, unsigned, and is typically labeled “Depository Transfer Check” across the face.

How DTCs work

• Cash or receipts collected at multiple business locations are recorded by a third-party information service or a company’s local systems.
• That data is transmitted to the concentration bank (the company’s primary bank).
• The concentration bank generates DTCs for each deposit location and enters them into its check-processing system for deposit into the company’s account.
• Because DTCs are data-driven and non-signed, they serve as accounting instruments to move funds without individual hand-signed checks.

Key characteristics

• Non-negotiable and unsigned — used for bookkeeping and deposit processing, not for endorsement or transfer.
• Look like checks but are generated from transmitted deposit data rather than individual physical checks.
• Designed to consolidate multiple receipts into a single, centralized deposit for improved cash management.

DTCs vs. Overnight deposits

DTCs are distinct from overnight dropbox deposits. For overnight deposits, businesses place cash or checks in a secured dropbox and the bank physically opens and posts those deposits the next morning. DTCs, by contrast, are electronic/data-driven instruments created by the concentration bank from transmitted deposit information.

DTCs vs. ACH (Automatic Clearing House)

• ACH is an electronic funds-transfer network commonly used for payroll, direct deposit, bill payments, and other transfers. It processes billions of transactions annually and is generally faster, cheaper, and more efficient than check-based systems.
• Many organizations have replaced DTC-based processes with ACH where available.
• Firms not part of the ACH network or those with specific operational needs may still rely on DTCs.

Benefits and use cases

• Improved cash management: consolidates receipts from multiple locations, simplifying reconciliation and forecasting.
• Useful for businesses with high transaction volumes or many physical points of sale (retail chains, large service networks, transportation hubs).
• Helps organize accounts receivable and monitor collection rates when combined with robust treasury or finance operations.

Limitations and considerations

• Less efficient than fully electronic payment rails like ACH.
• Requires coordination with a concentration bank and often a third-party data provider.
• Best suited to organizations where ACH access is limited or where physical receipts must be aggregated.

Key takeaways

• A DTC is a non-negotiable, unsigned check-like instrument created by a concentration bank to consolidate deposits from multiple locations.
• DTCs support corporate cash management but are increasingly supplanted by ACH systems for speed and cost-efficiency.
• Organizations with many collection points or limited ACH access may still use DTCs to streamline deposits and reconciliation.

Conclusion

Depository transfer checks are a practical tool for centralizing receipts and improving cash flow visibility for multi-location operations. While electronic networks like ACH are more common today, DTCs remain relevant where electronic transfer is not feasible or when companies need to aggregate physical receipts into a centralized deposit process.