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Working Paper
Getting rid of paper: savings from Check 21
The authors estimate the cost savings to the U.S. payment system resulting from implementing Check 21. This legislation initially permitted a paper substitute digital image of a check, and later an electronic digital image of a check, to be processed and presented for payment on a same-day basis. Check 21 has effectively eliminated the processing and presentment of original paper checks over multiple days. By shifting to electronic collection and presentment, the Federal Reserve reduced its per item check processing costs by over 70 percent, reducing estimated overall payment system costs by ...
Journal Article
Delayed availability
Journal Article
The economics of Americans’ love affair with checks
Journal Article
The economics of check float
Checks continue to dominate the market for noncash retail payments in the United States. Each year, U.S. residents write between 65 billion and 70 billion checks, an average of one check per business day per resident. This dependence on checks is unique among developed countries. It is also extremely costly: by switching from checks to other forms of payment, U.S. residents would save between $60 billion and $100 billion dollars per year. ; Why do checks continue to see such wide use within the United States? Economists' explanations have focused on check "float," which is the interest ...
Journal Article
Float
Journal Article
Float in check clearing creates challenges for banks and the Fed
Journal Article
The rise and fall of Federal Reserve float