We No Longer Accept Personal Checks at Major Retail Chains

If you're used to writing a check to pay for your groceries at the supermarket, you might be surprised to find that many major retail chains no longer accept personal checks.

This shift away from personal checks has been happening over the past decade, with big-box stores like Walmart and Target leading the way. By 2019, over 70% of retailers had stopped accepting checks.

As a result, many people have had to adjust their payment habits, turning to credit cards or digital payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Wallet. Some retailers now offer discounts or rewards for customers who pay with digital methods.

Personal checks are no longer a widely accepted form of payment at major retail chains.

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Target stores will no longer accept personal checks starting July 15. This change comes after the retail giant's Red Circle week, which ends on July 13.

The shift away from personal checks is not unique to Target. Aldi and Amazon-owned Whole Foods Markets also no longer accept personal checks.

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According to the Federal Reserve data, personal checks accounted for only 3% of payments in 2023, down from 4% in the two previous years and 7% in 2020.

Target will still accept several other forms of payments, including cash, debit and credit cards, digital wallets, SNAP/EBT, and buy now, pay later options.

The majority of payments (62%) were made using a credit or debit card last year, and 16% were made with cash.

Only about half of Americans write checks at least once a year, with many shifting to digital payments such as Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal.

Target has taken several measures to notify guests in advance to aid an easy and efficient checkout experience.

A few other retailers don't accept personal checks, including Aldi's and Whole Foods, with the latter saying it doesn't allow checks in order to speed up the checkout process.

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Target is joining the ranks of major retailers that no longer accept personal checks.

Target will stop accepting personal checks starting July 15, after its Red Circle week sales event ends on July 13.

The reason behind this change is the decline in use of personal checks as a payment method.

Federal Reserve data shows that checks accounted for only 3% of payments in 2023, down from 4% in the two previous years and 7% in 2020.

Target will still accept several other forms of payments, including cash, debit and credit cards, digital wallets, SNAP/EBT, and buy now, pay later options.

This change is not unique to Target, as other major retailers like Aldi and Amazon-owned Whole Foods Markets have also stopped accepting personal checks.

Many consumers have shifted to digital payments like Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal, with only about half of Americans writing checks at least once a year.

This trend is expected to continue, with fewer Americans using checks as a payment method.

Target has notified its customers in advance to aid an easy and efficient checkout experience.

A Target spokesperson said that the company has taken several measures to notify guests in advance, but the change will still take place on July 15.

Interestingly, personal checks remain popular with older consumers, with about 1 in 5 people over 66 writing several checks each month.

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