> I would challenge any retail business to beat the 2.5% rate on their cash transactions once the various transit, security and banking fees have been factored

> I would challenge any retail business to beat the 2.5% rate on their cash transactions once the various transit, security and banking fees have been factored in. Those armored trucks don't work for free. Lots of countries are fine with charge card, connecting directly to their bank account instead of going thru intermediaries. It does not offer the flexibility of the US credit card ecosystem, but lower fees for merchants (and so for end user). It might be a matter of culture and habits. But for some the Visa/MC/Amex fees seem too high, even if most is given back to the end user, it artificially increases the prices (that is why the US Gov. charges me more if I insist on paying my US property taxes with as credit card).