There is a tendency to view check writing as a thing of the past now that there are payment systems that are digital such as Venmo, Zelle, and Apple Pay, but there are still a few instances where it’s recommended to use them. This is when it might be more secure or beneficial to choose a personal check, how to utilize checks with care, and when it’s okay to not use them.

You may wish to write an advance check in one of the following scenarios:

• Shopping at a small store
• Money to give away
• Tracing important payments
• Your identity is at risk

Shopping at a Small Business

Due to their size and processing costs, some small firms aren’t able to accept credit cards. A recent study found that just 27% of small companies prefer digital payments (think debit or ApplePay) in preference to non-digital payment (cash cheques, checks, and money orders). So if you hire someone to cut your lawn, buy items from a local grocery store (or flea markets vendor), or even hire a dog walker, then you might wish to keep a bank account on hand to pay the bill.

Gifting Money

If you’re in a hurry and are planning a wedding, birthday party, or special family event, that probably means tucking money into a gift card. However, when you’re giving money away as presents, laser checks may be a better option than cash. Although both checks and cash can easily be lost in the excitement of unwrapping presents, one is specifically addressed to the individual and the other is not. This may help the recipient recall who gave them the cash.

If they store the money on the side and then return it later, they may not remember who gifted it to them. The gift of money through checks could help the recipient save the money rather than spending them instantly. You’ll need to go to an institution or use the mobile app to cash or deposit it, which might take some extra effort.

Tracing Important Payments

When you make a big payment, such as the down payment for a new house, a college tuition amount or deposit to secure the wedding venue, or making a payment to a government agency like the IRS It is recommended to make a check in the paper. It will ensure that your payment was made because you’ll be able to see what the recipient of the check does when it deposits or cashes the cheque on your next bank statement, or through your bank’s online portal. Some banks will even give you a photo of the cashed check to verify that it’s right. It could also prevent the payment of charges for late payments since the transactions will be all dated.

If, for example, your check gets stolen or lost If you are unable to locate or retrieve your check, you can cancel your payment through the customer service telephone line or online through your bank’s website. If you want to make a stop payment on your check, you’ll need to choose”stop pay” from the “stop payment” option via the bank’s online portal. However, you must do so before the check is cashed. You’ll also need to enter your account number, the check number along with the amount that the check is. Make sure it is likely that you’ll have to pay a cost to stop a check. The fees will vary from Bank to Bank, but you could end up paying approximately $30,000 to stop the transaction, and some banks might cost more.

If You’ve Been the Victim of Fraud

Have the financial details that are sensitive to you been stolen or compromised? It’s not a problem for everyone. One study found that in 2018, 14.4 million people in the U.S. were victims of identity fraud in the amount of approximately $3.4 billion in losses. Even worse, that same study found that even more victims were required to pay from their own pocket to pay for the costs of this fraud.

In light of these numbers is logical that you’d be keen to keep your data safe, especially if you’ve previously dealt with similar issues. Many consumers go back to cash or paper checks in lieu of swiping cards with credit or debit in local stores. They might also choose not to enter their payment information on retail websites online or utilize online and digital payment methods. While writing checks on paper isn’t a fail-safe strategy protecting your confidential information off the internet and using your credit card with caution could help decrease the instances of identity theft and fraud, and other financial criminals.