As a non-USian who has worked in the banking industry I find it hard to understand how such a technically advanced nation is so backwards with respect to modernising its payment infrastructure. Around 5% of all non-cash retail transactions in the US are cheques/checks. [0]

Here in Australia use of cheques comprises only 0.2% of such transactions, and the government plans to eliminate all use of cheques by 2030. [1]

[0] https://www.atlantafed.org/-/media/documents/banking/consume...

[1] https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-202...