Treasury faces pushback on ditching checks

President Trump issued an executive order in March calling for a shift by federal government agencies away from paper checks by September 30. Multiple organizations sent letters to the Treasury Department during the agency’s public comment period that ended June 30 raising an alarm about the potential impact such a swift, drastic change could have on marginalized Americans.  The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection noted that nearly 10% of households in New York City have no bank account, citing its own research. Without a bank account, those New Yorkers won’t be able to access Social Security benefits, federal tax refunds or other payments, the agency warned. New Yorkers without internet access may also struggle to open a bank account and use online banking, the agency said in its letter. New York City neighborhoods with the highest levels of unbanked residents are less likely to have access to the internet, the department said.