Part of the problem is that checks became "free" some years ago but all other alternatives charge fees. What economic force keeps the checks "free" and charge

Part of the problem is that checks became "free" some years ago but all other alternatives charge fees. What economic force keeps the checks "free" and charge fees on the more efficient solutions? Checks were phased out here exactly because it's expensive and labor-intensive to process checks instead of wire transfers that have been automated for decades. It's the same reason nobody goes to a physical bank anymore (except old people): it costs a lot to do anything over the counter, be it withdrawing cash, paying bills, or... cashing checks :) You can do that free over internet. Usage of cash is going down as well but I think cash is fundamental enough that it will never disappear, though. Wire transfers are free here and can be initiated thru internet banking and be completed the following banking day. Before internet, we had wire transfer machines, similar to ATMs. Debit cards don't cost anything either (some banks charge a yearly fee, similarly to some credit cards). It would probably cost tens of euros to cash a check here, and rightly so given the amount of labour. Wire transfers are good. You can even buy from internet shops without a credit/debit card if they support a scheme where you make a verified wire transfer through your bank's internet service, and many shops do. The shops get online verification from my internet bank that the wire transfer has been made, so the payment is completed immediately and the shops just ship you the good.