Do You Still Need Paper Checks?

Most people can get by without a checkbook. Checks made up just 2.5% of consumer payments in 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and about a third of consumers didn’t have paper checks at all. But a few payments still go more smoothly with a check, like rent to a landlord who doesn’t take apps, and you don’t need a full box of checks to handle them.

When do you need a paper check?

A few payments still go to people or offices that can’t easily take cards or apps.

Read more >> How to Fill Out a Check Step by Step

How to pay without a checkbook

If they need a paper check

• Your bank’s bill pay. Many banks can mail a paper check to a landlord or business for you. Enter the payee’s name and mailing address in your banking app or website, and the bank prints and sends the check. Ask your bank whether its bill pay does this and how many days to allow for delivery.
• Counter check. Many banks will print one or a few checks at the branch, sometimes for a small fee. Some payees may not accept one, because it doesn’t have your name and address printed on it, so ask first.
• Cashier’s check. The bank guarantees a cashier’s check with its own funds, which is why landlords often ask for one for a security deposit. Expect a fee, and bring ID.
• Money order. You can buy one at the post office and many retailers. Each one costs a fee, and U.S. Postal Service money orders max out at $1,000. A $1,500 rent payment means buying two money orders and paying two fees.
• A small batch from your bank. If you’ll need a few checks a year, order them through your own bank. That’s safer than third-party printing sites, which ask for your account number.

If they’ll take something else

• Zelle or a bank-to-bank transfer. If your bank offers Zelle, you can find it in your banking app. You send money using the recipient’s email address or phone number, and it moves directly between bank accounts. Treat a Zelle payment like cash: once it’s sent, it’s hard to get back, so use it only with people you know.
• Peer-to-peer apps. Cash App and Venmo work well for paying friends and family, but most businesses don’t accept them. Paying from a linked bank account or debit card is free on Venmo. Paying with a credit card costs 3%, and your card issuer may also treat the payment as a cash advance. Moving money from the app to your bank is free with a standard transfer, but an instant transfer costs 1.75%.
• The payee’s own online portal. Utilities, property managers, and courts often take card or bank payments online, even if their bill says to mail a check. It’s worth checking their website before you buy a money order.

Read more >> Are Digital Wallets Safe to Use?

‍What happens if a check bounces? If the money isn’t there when the check is deposited, it can come back unpaid. You can end up paying twice: Your bank charges a returned-item or NSF fee, and the person or business you paid can charge a returned-check fee on top. Your bank’s fee schedule lists what it charges.

A bounced check doesn’t reach your credit report on its own. But if the payee sends the unpaid amount to collections, that collection does.

If a check might land before your paycheck, start with what’s free. Ask the payee to hold it a few days. Move money from savings if you have it. And call your bank: Some will waive a single NSF fee if you ask, especially if it’s your first.

If none of that works, a small advance can bridge the gap. Grant Cash Advance offers advances of $25 to $500 with no interest or credit check. It repays automatically on your next payday, so plan for less to spend that pay period. Faster delivery costs a fee.

How to write a check

Six fields. Get the amount and the signature right, and draw a line after the written amount so no one can add to it.

Read more >> How to Protect Your Online Banking Information

Bottom line

You likely don’t need a full checkbook, but a few checks, or your bank’s bill pay, will cover the payments that still call for one.

How you pay doesn’t show up on your credit reports. Writing checks doesn’t build credit, and going checkless doesn’t hurt it. What lenders see is your payment history on accounts that report. Kikoff’s Credit Account reports your on-time payments to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, with no credit check to sign up. Plans start at $5 a month.