Not using ATMs would be difficult over here because you'd be dependent on opening hours and would have to pay a fee for being served at the counter which I don't wanna pay.
My Pension Checks have been direct-deposited since 1998, and so have my Socialized Security Checks. Very convenient, modern way to do deposits. The B of A deposits my Pension benefit on the 1st of the Month, and deposits my SS Benefit on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. As Oliver Cromwell stated: "There you have it!" Hal
Unfortunately, depending on where is a person is at, carrying cash can be dangerous. Basically, the only time we really carry any amount of cash on us is when we are at a casino.
Direct Deposit for SS and my wife's very small monthly pension. Bills are paid by check in the mail, but lately our rent has been paid thru our banking acct..
I always missed seeing the tellers when payroll went to direct deposit. To me, the insidious thing about not getting your physical paycheck with a stub is that the "pre-tax/after-tax" income is no longer on your radar screen. Now that I'm retired, of course I like direct deposit of my SS check. My bank is 16 miles away. I also like electronic bill pay. I can stretch out the payment until the Due Date by entering the payment info as soon as I receive the bill, and the bank does the rest without me monitoring it.
My SS goes directly into my bank account and my job pays me through PayPal. Once in a while, I will get $5 or $10 cash-back at the grocery store, but I rarely carry cash anymore. I do want to have that option, however.
Love direct deposit. I used it since it was available. I love ATM's We traveled 17,000 miles in 90 days, we used credit cards for fuel,supplies and eating. Withdrew cash at credit union ATM's $200.00 at a time. We have a loyalty card at our local gas station,saves 7 cents per gallon. Only automatic payments we have are the Straight Talk bill and Dish network.
My checking account is set up to make automatic recurring payments for my car. When I had a mortgage, I had automatic recurring payments for that as well...set up by me, not accessible by the businesses. My supplemental health insurance provider requires bank draft capabilities (unless I pay a hefty up-charge for a paper invoice and paying them by other means), so I set up a separate checking account just for such businesses, with a minimal amount of money in it and no overdraft capabilities. Last year the guy at my bank showed me a cash-back rewards credit card (their branded VISA) that gives me a 3% rebate for gas (any brand, and on top of any other Rewards/Discount program), 2% for groceries and utilities, and 1% for everything else. I can use the dollars to buy discounted stuff through their program, or if I chose to take the cash and deposit it into my bank account, they add another 10% to that amount. My $500 total rebates turn into $550 cash when I move them into my checking account. So a major change for me has been to set up credit card payments on everything I possibly can and pay it off every month. I've always avoided plastic in the past, but I can be bought! VISA considers cell phone providers to be "Utilities," so I get a Verizon discount for going auto-pay AND I get a 2% rebate. I also get 2% rebate on my electric bill by paying with this card. It's interesting, I get 2% Grocery rebate on everything I buy at Walmart's stores, because their VISA Merchant Code is "Bakery." The same actually applies to any grocery store...everything I buy there gets 2%. But Walmart's website Merchant Code is "Department Store" and Amazon's is "Book Stores," so those are always 1% rebate, even for food items. I'm just extra careful to review my credit card bill every month, but I set my VISA account to send me an email every time my card is used for a purchase where the card was not physically stuck into a machine (internet purchases, Verizon & Allstate auto-payments, etc.) Every time I make an online purchase, I get the Order Confirmation Walmart or Amazon email with my VISA Charge Notification email right behind it. I still carry cash. I won't buy a bottle of water or a candy bar and pay with plastic...the merchant fees are a killer to the business, and it just seems weird for me. And everyone takes cash...for now, anyway. I'd feel naked without it.
It's interesting that lots of crimes have been on the decline. I attribute a part of that decline to technology. 99% of us carry cell phones, so if someone commits a crime, they know that there could be a bunch of instantaneous 911 calls being made. And all those cell phones have cameras. Going "cashless" for individuals and businesses provides the same benefit. Nearly everyone takes credit cards. Businesses can work their credit card Merchant Fees into their prices, and not only does taking plastic reduce their risk in the event of a robbery (by having less cash on hand), I think having less cash on hand reduces their chances of being robbed in the first place. (I used to manage a 24 hour gas station back in the day when we did not take credit cards.) The upside for the thief is greatly diminished. And I agree about avoiding ATMs. I'll got to my bank every once in a while and cash a check so I can have some on hand, because even in broad daylight, ATMs make me feel like a target.
Simple, We have two state prison facilities. One a medium security, and the other a shock boot camp like thing. The credit union branch is in the lobby of the administration building. My wife is a retired state employee so that provides nexus for our membership. Nothing at all exciting. We were married by a prison Chaplain. My wife,then fiance started her state service as a clerk at Attica State Prison. Chaplain was a nice old guy and gave us a great ceremony,after the Catholics turned us down.
I have three friends here who have retired from different prison systems in Virginia. One was administrative and two were working with inmates. One of them was my minister until he died last year...he was a real nice guy. The other two are husband & wife. Definitely a different way to earn a living. Not a work environment the rest of us can readily relate to.