Target to Stop Taking Personal Checks for Payment Starting Next Week

By Trisha Andrada

Jul 09 2024, 03:17 AM EDT

Target will stop accepting personal checks as payment starting next week due to their declining popularity in recent years.

Target New Policy to Start on July 15

In a statement to The Hill, the retail giant said: "Due to extremely low volumes, we'll no longer accept personal checks starting July 15." Target also said it has taken several steps to inform customers beforehand to help them have a smooth and quick checkout.

Among the first to announce the news was Minneapolis TV station KARE 11, which reported that the company would continue to take personal checks during the Target Circle Week event, which runs from July 7 to 13. Minneapolis is home to Target's headquarters.

According to USA Today, Target acknowledged that many other payment options remain available to customers. These include cash, digital wallets, SNAP/EBT, buy-now-pay-later services, credit cards, debit cards, and the brand-new Target Circle Cards (previously Target RedCard).

Target to Stop Taking Personal Checks for Payment Starting Next Week—Here's Why — Target will stop accepting personal checks as payment starting next week. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Decreased Usage of Personal Checks

In recent years, personal checks have seen a decline in use. Federal Reserve Financial Services reported that personal checks accounted for only 3% of all payments in 2023, down from 4% in 2020, 7% in 2020, and 4% in 2021 and 2022.

Aldi and Whole Foods Market are among the many large stores that do not take personal checks.