What the shift away from paper checks says about US payments

The US government’s recent move to phase out paper checks in favor of digital payments marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of American commerce.  Driven by growing consumer demand for speed, convenience, and flexibility, this $750 million bet reflects a broader acceleration toward fully digital payment ecosystems. 

For enterprise merchants, this shift represents a timely opportunity. As more US businesses and consumers are nudged toward digital-first behavior, the addressable market for digital payments will expand. At the same time, slower adopters will be forced to catch up – meaning the standard for what "good" looks like in digital payments is rising. The takeaway is clear: to stay ahead, you need more than just digital capabilities, you need a high-performing digital infrastructure that scales with your ambitions.

A strategic moment for US enterprise leaders

For decades, paper checks have symbolized the inefficiencies embedded in American financial workflows: delayed settlements, fragmented reconciliation, and outdated systems. But that era is quickly coming to an end.

Payments today are no longer just about getting paid. They are about delivering better customer experiences, finding efficiencies, driving speed in payments, and creating new competitive advantages.

As digital becomes the default, you have a timely opportunity to reimagine how your business wins with payments. Whether it’s improving acceptance rates, reducing fees, or deterring fraud (or all three), investing in the right digital infrastructure can transform payments from a cost center into an engine for strategic growth.

Building for digital performance

Meeting these new expectations requires moving beyond outdated systems and toward infrastructure built for the digital economy. That includes smarter routing to improve authorization rates, fraud detection powered by machine learning, and data-driven insights that sharpen decision-making.

To help you stay competitive and future-ready, here are a few areas where strategic investment can pay off:

• PINless Debit: Reduce transaction costs and friction by enabling easy debit payments without PIN entry, helping reduce cart abandonment and improve conversion.
• Interchange fee optimization: Tap into our US Cost Optimization Guide to identify cost-saving opportunities by better understanding network and interchange dynamics.
• Tailored payment method strategies: Meet evolving consumer preferences with support for Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, Venmo, and other emerging payment methods.
• Advanced analytics and expert Support: Access granular data and partner with technical account managers to continually optimize payment performance and reduce declines.

For more information on these advancements, see the article I previously wrote on Mastering payments in North America, featuring Gus Jacobs from The New York Times. 

Looking ahead: We’re just getting started

Since our inception in 2012, Checkout.com has been engineered for the digital economy. While many providers split their efforts between card-present and card-not-present technology, we’re singularly focused on card-not-present. This focus allows us to go deeper – with every dollar of our Research & Development budget, every product release, and every team member dedicated to delivering the most high-performing digital payment experience for you and your customers.

This focus creates clarity. By building exclusively for digital commerce, we help you and your teams move faster, smarter, and more efficiently, with the end goal of delivering a more connected customer experience every time. This digital-first approach is trusted by global leaders including adidas, Docusign, Dyson, GE Healthcare, IKEA, Remitly, Sony, and Uber Eats – organizations that understand the power of modern payments in building global success.

This May, we’re excited to release our inaugural Digital Economy Report, offering exclusive insights into the evolving habits and preferences of US and global consumers in 2025. Backed by original research, the report will help enterprise leaders navigate what’s next in payments and digital commerce with confidence. 

At Checkout.com, we were born digital and built for enterprise merchants ready to lead in a digital-first economy. If you’re looking for a partner to help you reach the next level of payment performance, move faster, and stay ahead of the curve, we’re ready to talk. Get in touch today.