PAXboy: Many people write checks knowing that it takes several days for the money to be removed from their accounts. I do it because my checking account earns interest. The merchants want the money to move faster so they have devloped this means to do so. If the merchants and the banks no longer have to send checks to the Federal Reserve bank to clear, they will no longer need the fleet of Lears and other small planes that are now used to move the checks. Flying checks (low pay, lots of night & IMC) has been a traditional way to build time while waiting on that dream job.