USA Today · 5 Sep, 09:05 · Finance briefing

Still sending checks in the mail? It's time to stop.

A recent report highlights the persistent reliance on physical cheques for financial transactions, despite the widespread availability of digital payment systems.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

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83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

A recent report highlights the persistent reliance on physical cheques for financial transactions, despite the widespread availability of digital payment systems. The article argues that this outdated practice is inefficient and increasingly risky. It urges individuals and businesses to abandon paper-based payments in favour of modern electronic alternatives. The narrative suggests that continuing to mail cheques exposes users to security vulnerabilities and operational delays. As financial infrastructure evolves, the piece posits that transitioning to digital methods is no longer optional but essential for maintaining security and efficiency in personal and professional finance management.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must recognise that manual payment processes are becoming a liability, not a habit. Professionals who cling to paper cheques risk appearing outdated and exposing their organisations to fraud. Digital literacy in finance is now a baseline expectation. You should prioritise skills in electronic payment systems, automated reconciliation, and financial data security. Auditors, accountants, and finance managers must lead this transition, ensuring compliance with modern standards. Smart professionals will immediately audit their current payment workflows, identifying manual bottlenecks. Next, invest in training for digital banking platforms and fraud detection tools. By automating these processes, you free up time for strategic analysis rather than administrative tasks. Embrace this shift to demonstrate operational excellence and risk awareness to your employers.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Cyber Security, Compliance And Governance and AI in Banking — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.