Someone has to open it. Someone has to key it into a billing system. Someone has to scan it. Someone has to archive it. Some process needs to occur to verify that the payment indeed went through.
I doubt their remote deposit app is any less clunky than the consumer one they give me. If it’s better, they’re paying for it.
Someone needs to manage those people. And they need space to do their work.
I could see it taking 15 minutes in total labour costs.
It's entirely possible that all of those someones are outsourced. If they're using a lockbox service[1], the entire cost of processing your mailed check can come out to less than $1 (substantially less with sufficient volume). And at the same time, many lockbox services will expose your data to offshore contractors doing the manual components.
I doubt their remote deposit app is any less clunky than the consumer one they give me. If it’s better, they’re paying for it.
Someone needs to manage those people. And they need space to do their work.
I could see it taking 15 minutes in total labour costs.