USAA Files Lawsuit Against PNC Bank N.A. For Mobile Remote Deposit Capture Patent Infringement

September 30, 2020

USAA has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against PNC Bank which alleges PNC Bank infringes USAA patents related to mobile remote deposit (RDC) technology. This suit follows two successful jury verdicts against Wells Fargo for infringing USAA patents related to RDC. As part of USAA’s commitment to ensuring that the investments of its members are protected, the current suit includes two new RDC patents that were not asserted against Wells Fargo.

USAA pioneered mobile RDC technology to help military families because their lifestyles make getting to the bank difficult, particularly if they’re out at sea or deployed outside the U.S. This technology has been adopted by numerous banks and allows customers to use their mobile devices to photograph and then deposit checks without visiting a branch or sending checks by mail.

USAA continues to seek opportunities to create reasonable and mutually beneficial licensing agreements with banks and credit unions for the legal use of USAA’s RDC patents.

“We have spent significant time and resources transforming our technology from an idea on a whiteboard to the service our members enjoy today and led to a revolution in consumer banking,” said Nathan McKinley, USAA vice president of corporate development. “Our goal has always been to be reasonably compensated for the benefits that others in the industry have received from using our RDC patents.”

Any funds received as a result of any verdict and future royalty payments coming from licensing of the patents will be put back into the association to better serve members.

Previous Actions:

• In June 2018, USAA filed suit against Wells Fargo in the U.S. District Court in Marshall, Texas, for infringing four USAA patents related to the “auto capture” feature of USAA’s RDC invention. In August 2018, USAA filed suit against Wells Fargo in the same court for infringing five other RDC patents.

• In November 2019, a jury awarded USAA $200 million in damages for Wells Fargo’s past infringement of two USAA auto capture patents and found that Wells Fargo’s infringement was willful, which means that the Court may further enhance the damages.

• In January 2020, a second jury found that Wells Fargo infringed two additional USAA patents. This jury again found that Wells Fargo’s infringement was willful and rejected Wells Fargo’s position that the patents were invalid. The jury awarded USAA more than $102 million in damages for Wells Fargo’s past infringements, again subject to enhancements.