A study by the Federal Reserve 2009-2010:
Electronic payments (those made with cards and by ACH) now collectively exceed three-quarters of all noncash payments while payments by check are now less than one-quarter. The increase in electronic payments and the decline of checks can be attributed to technological and financial innovations that influenced the payment instrument choices of consumers and businesses.
Over half (60.0%) of all noncash payments in 2009 were made with debit, credit, or prepaid cards.
Debit card usage continues to grow at double-digit annual rates.
In 2009 ACH accounted for 51.4 percent of the value of all noncash payments, compared to 40.9 in 2005.
Conclusion: With electronic payments now representing over three-quarters of all noncash payments, the 2009 study demonstrates that the migration from paper to electronic payment methods shown in previous studies is continuing and in some cases at increasing rates.
Federal Reserve Payments Study, March 2013: Previous studies have revealed significant changes in the U.S. payments system over time, including a continuing decline in the use of checks and the growing use of electronic payments, such as Automated Clearing House (ACH), electronic banking transactions, credit cards, debit cards and stored value cards.
Nearly 80 Percent of U.S. Noncash Payments Are Now Electronic
Church and not-for-profit contributions
The importance of this for churches is that the use of checks is declining and the use of credit/debit cards and ACH are the principal payment methods people use.
It is important to give people the convenience of electronic payments (credit, debit and ACH).