Actually, since I've moved to the Netherlands I've only used GIROs a handful of times, since the NL has an even better option. GIRO Transfers are particularly

Actually, since I've moved to the Netherlands I've only used GIROs a handful of times, since the NL has an even better option. GIRO Transfers are particularly handy when it comes to recurring transfers, but for one time payments they're annoying. The other alternative is one-time online transfers. They're free, and instant. All you need to know is the recipient's account. There are other fields for specifying what the payment is for (PO Number, for example). You can make them recurring. Banks are responsible for the security, and take it seriously. My bank gives me a thing they call an "eDentifier" which is a calculator-thing that I drop my smart ATM card into. I then unlock it with my PIN number, and enter in the code presented to me by my bank. The device displays my card's response, which I then give back to the website to log in or send payments. With this scheme the bank knows I physically have the card, and that I know the PIN number (better than a signature). This is the most common way, but I once saw another system which confirmed by sending a code via SMS to the sender's cell, to be entered on the web site. Unlike checks, I can't make the transfer unless that money in actually my account (and the recipient can't spend part of that money thinking it will clear to find out later it didn't). Thus there can be no NSF/overdraft fees. Also unlike checks, it's instantaneous, so the money is never on hold by banks in a limbo state, unavailable to both parties. Nobody has to buy any checks, nobody can be ripped off by check advance fees, and there can be no check processing fees to the recipient. For all of those reasons it will never happen in America.