4 ms·

> this is literally how cash deposits work (in the US) I wasn't talking about cash deposits. I was talking about paying bills. I can't go to my bank and give t

by pdonis 5y ago

> this is literally how cash deposits work (in the US) I wasn't talking about cash deposits. I was talking about paying bills. I can't go to my bank and give them the account numbers of all my bills and have the bank pay them for me. If I wanted to pay each bill in cash, I would have to schlep to each individual company I pay bills to and pay them.

jamesknelson 5y ago
There’s nothing that makes it inherently impossible to put bills this way in cash, though. For example, in Japan, you can pay bills by taking them to the local konbini - which is probably no more than a couple minutes walk away - then handing them the bills. They scan barcodes, take your cash, stamp the bills, give you your change. Done. No need for ID or a bank account. The reason that people can’t easily pay bills in cash in the US is not because it can’t be done.
cgriswald 5y ago
I'm in the US and have had checking accounts in three credit unions and five banks and they all offered this service. They don't send cash if that's what you have in mind, but they do send checks. They'll send a check to anyone given a name and address, and if I provide an account number, for many businesses they'll also receive a billing amount and pay it each month automatically.
ipaddr 5y ago
Every bank has been doing this since for at least 30 years. Companies register. It is simple and easy. Telephone banking used this before internet banking.
brendoelfrendo 5y ago
Ooooh, I understand now, and I do apologize for misreading your comment. Banks do offer bill pay services, you just set it up and they mail a check every month. To your point, I don't think there's a way to get your bank to send the recipient cash every month, but I feel like that's a moot point since your cash is already in the banking system at that point.

4 ms·

> this is literally how cash deposits work (in the US) I wasn't talking about cash deposits. I was talking about paying bills. I can't go to my bank and give t

by pdonis 5y ago

jamesknelson 5y ago
There’s nothing that makes it inherently impossible to put bills this way in cash, though. For example, in Japan, you can pay bills by taking them to the local konbini - which is probably no more than a couple minutes walk away - then handing them the bills. They scan barcodes, take your cash, stamp the bills, give you your change. Done. No need for ID or a bank account. The reason that people can’t easily pay bills in cash in the US is not because it can’t be done.
cgriswald 5y ago
I'm in the US and have had checking accounts in three credit unions and five banks and they all offered this service. They don't send cash if that's what you have in mind, but they do send checks. They'll send a check to anyone given a name and address, and if I provide an account number, for many businesses they'll also receive a billing amount and pay it each month automatically.
ipaddr 5y ago
Every bank has been doing this since for at least 30 years. Companies register. It is simple and easy. Telephone banking used this before internet banking.
brendoelfrendo 5y ago
Ooooh, I understand now, and I do apologize for misreading your comment. Banks do offer bill pay services, you just set it up and they mail a check every month. To your point, I don't think there's a way to get your bank to send the recipient cash every month, but I feel like that's a moot point since your cash is already in the banking system at that point.