Do Americans still pay with cash and checks?
Yes. Cash covered about 1 in 7 consumer payments in 2025, and 90% of consumers plan to keep using it, according to the Federal Reserve. Checks are declining but still counted 9.2 billion payments in 2024.
In detail
Yes. In the 2026 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice, cash covered about 1 in 7 consumer payments in 2025, the sixth year in a row in third place behind credit and debit cards. Four in five consumers used cash in the previous 30 days, 76% carried it, with an average of $69, and 90% plan to keep using it.
Who still uses cash
Rural residents made nine cash payments a month, against six for urban and suburban consumers. Lower-income households and people aged 55 and over rely on cash the most. Online, there is no strong cash on delivery habit in the US.
Checks are declining but not gone
The Federal Reserve Payments Study counts 9.2 billion check payments worth $24.5 trillion in 2024, down from 11.0 billion in 2021. Checks remain common for rent, contractors and business payments, where they are slowly replaced by ACH and instant payments.
What it means for payment operators
For operators serving US merchants, cash matters mostly in stores and for specific audiences, while checks matter mainly in business payments. Offering ACH debits and instant payments next to cards gives merchants that still receive checks a faster electronic alternative, with payments that are easier to reconcile.