Through a John Doe summons issued to the U.S. bank holding the correspondent account, the IRS can view records of deposits and payments by check and wire.

FORBES: Wells Fargo Hit With IRS Summons For Tax Haven Account Data

Most large credit card payments have to be authorised by an online check of the customer's account.

ECONOMIST: Your flexible foe

Aside from being a dominant tech power that is positioned for sustained growth, Oracle also proved that it is a savvy dividend payer by accelerating its next three dividend payments into one check at the height of the fiscal cliff situation.

FORBES: 3 Tech Dividends To Buy Now

Customers will decide when to release payments to suppliers, the way they would when paying by check.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Last year, both Ford and General Motors took bold new steps by offering lump-sum payments to white-collar retirees in lieu of a monthly pension check.

FORBES: Ford's Leaky Pension Boat Is A Multi-Billion Dollar Problem

Richer beneficiaries should pay more of their share of Medicare, while the generosity of the system should be kept in check by the independent panel set up under Mr Obama's health reform to monitor services and payments.

ECONOMIST: America's budget deficit