Are the days of paper checks numbered? According to several news reports it seems that to be the case. For example, a new pilot program in Georgia is mailing debit cards to people instead of tax checks in attempt to phase-out paper checks.

The U.S. Federal Reserve also published statics showing the use of paper checks was down by 12% - the lowest is has ever been.

I tried to convince my husband that the paper check will be obsolete soon and he will argue with you until the sun goes down.  I probably write 2 checks per month.  One to my dry cleaner, (they don't take debit or credit cards and I rarely, if ever, carry cash) the other to the occasional grade school or club fundraiser for assorted cookies, candles, plants, etc.  Other than that I pay either online or with my debit card.

David argues that you have a record of the payment if you pay with check.  I argue that banks don't send your cancelled checks back anymore, they are online if you need them.

He says it's more secure to write a check then it is to pay online. My rebuttal to that is when you pay for something online you have a better incentive to check your bank account more frequently.

If I had to physically sit down and pay bills every month I would never get it done.  I would have past due bills everywhere. The only bill I don't have on automatic payments, only because they don't offer it yet, is my internet service provider.  Yeah, go figure!  Everything else comes out automatically.

Where do you stand in this debate? Paper checks vs online banking? Take our poll!

 

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