Target no longer accepting personal checks for payment

CALIFORNIA – Target is no longer accepting personal checks for in-store payments. The no check policy took effect July 15.

The Associated Press confirmed the policy with the retailer. They cited “extremely low volume” of customers who still write checks.

Digital payments on the rise

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, consumers used checks for 7% of transactions overall in 2017 and 2018. They wrote about three checks a month.

In comparison, digital wallets and mobile payment apps like Apple Pay have grown in popularity.

Data shows that the total transaction value in the digital payments market is projected to reach US $11.55 trillion this year.

Blockchain and AI will drive digital payment market

While the use of checks has declined with the rise of digital payments, several stores and businesses still accept them including Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, CVS and Walgreens.

Meanwhile, analysts say there are a rising number of partnerships and collaborations among payment service providers.

That along with the implementation of advanced technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence is expected to drive the digital payment market growth in the coming years.