Community Chat

[jellyBEAN]

I pay 3/4 of my bills online and the rest by check.  At the grocery store I always use my debit card.  

I grew up with the check writing system.  Meticulously recording each check in the register and balancing it to the penny at the end of the month when I receive the statement.  

I find with online billing and automatic payments, I sometimes forget that it is an auto payment, or I forget to deduct from my register what I paid for online.  Not often, but it does happen and messes me up.

I prefer to see things in black n white.  File away the receipt for the year and at the end of the year, go thru everything and discard what I don't need to keep, and I will do this until the day I die.

[Bri369]

I probably write less than 3 physical checks per year.  That is probably a vey generous figure.  

I am quite comfortable not paying by check anymore.  I know there are others that don't feel that way.

[CalminHeart]

Many stores are now charging a fee if a credit card is used. It's either cash or check in those places. 

[geezerette]

One of my biggest concerns about this would be the opposite of writing checks, but receiving them.

I get payments from companies that I do not want to have direct access to any of my accounts, and that would be a giant hassle to set up direct deposit with them.  Not to mention the companies themselves sell my accounts to other companies often and having to go through that all over again.  (It's complicated.)

As it is, I've set up additional accounts to deal with the limited online banking I'm doing now.  This would mean even more.  All fine for everyone since it's digital and less work (fewer workers, too)---until the online system goes down, which we've all experienced lately.

Not to mention the small companies and independents that aren't set up for digital payments.  I think this could cause a big push back to cash for some.

I do think it's coming at some point, but like a lot of things they want to change now, we're not ready yet.  And it could likely cause huge unforeseen and unintended consequences.

[Caaareful Shopper]

I realize it's no comfort to people who don't want change, but please do the research.  It's actually much less safe to send a check than online bill payments.  

Checks are vulnerable to forgery, alterations, and varying forms of theft.  Theft can be from stealing mail, manually copying bank account routing and account number, check washing (altering the dollar amount and/or the payee), etc.  There are so many modern fraud tactics that make checks unsafe.  

Perhaps set up one bill payment electronically to try to get used to the process.  There may be no paper options soon.  

[Ainhisg]

Like someone else mentioned, more and more around here, businesses are charging 3% if you use a credit card but you can pay with cash or a check with no additional charge.  It is getting to where I have started carrying my checkbook again and plenty of cash.

[FranandZoe]

I write a handful of cheks a year - one for trash collection goes to my local tax collector and only way to pay; three for property taxes as they charge to process online.  If I have to pay for online payment I write a check.

I'm not crazy about writing paper checks when you hear so much about check stealing and check "washing." Checks aren't totally secure either.  When I mail a check I always go inside the post office to mail it.

[TheMemphisVette]

i write few checks

......servce folks that need immediate payment  ie yard guy and tree guy

......places that charge extra for credit cards ie. car dealer for service/repair

[Judaline]

---

@Caaareful Shopper wrote:

I realize it's no comfort to people who don't want change, but please do the research.  It's actually much less safe to send a check than online bill payments.  

Checks are vulnerable to forgery, alterations, and varying forms of theft.  Theft can be from stealing mail, manually copying bank account routing and account number, check washing (altering the dollar amount and/or the payee), etc.  There are so many modern fraud tactics that make checks unsafe.  

Perhaps set up one bill payment electronically to try to get used to the process.  There may be no paper options soon.  

 Yes, I thought of that. But I'm thinking humans don't get to see all of the checks flying by, probably in a machine or something. Anyway, so far so good. 

---

[geezerette]

To send public comments to Federal Reserve:

AGENCY:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

ACTION:

Request for information and comment.

SUMMARY:

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) seeks public input on questions related to the future of the Federal Reserve Banks' (Reserve Banks') check services. The Board will use responses to this request for information (RFI) to assess possible strategies for the future of the Reserve Banks' check services, including potentially substantial changes that may have longer run effects on the payments system. In addition, the Board will use responses to this RFI to analyze other actions that the Federal Reserve System could consider with respect to checks, in partnership with the industry, to support the overall safety and efficiency of the payments system.

DATES:

Comments must be received by March 9, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. OP-[1874], by any of the following methods:

• Agency Website: federalreserve (dot) gov/apps/proposals. Follow the instructions for submitting comments, including attachments. Preferred Method.
•  
• Mail: Benjamin W. McDonough, Deputy Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551.
•  
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mailing address.
•  
• Other Means: publiccomments@frb (dot) gov.  You must include the docket number in the subject line of the message.

Comments received are subject to public disclosure. In general, comments received will be made available on the Board's website at federalreserve (dot) gov/apps/proposals without change and will not be modified to remove personal or business information including confidential, contact, or other identifying information. Comments should not include any information such as confidential information that would be not appropriate for public disclosure. Public comments may also be viewed electronically or in person in Room M-4365A, 2001 C St. NW, Washington, DC 20551, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. during Federal business weekdays.

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