Cheques are still regularly used, but a lot less than previously. In 2000 American banks were issuing 70 million cheques a day, but the current figure is now only two thirds of that rate.
Direct debit, debit cards and transfers that can be made on mobile phone apps have largely replaced the cheque in modern day finances. The main reason for this is efficiency and ease of use, but there are financial benefits too.
The American Social Security Administration claims that it costs 92 cents more to process a cheque than a debit transaction. In total this amounts to $120 million per year for just this agency alone.
The average value of a cheque has also dramatically increased from $700 to $1,300. This change also reflects the ease of payment for smaller transactions that is offered by companies like PayPal. As it is easier to transfer money quickly, it has become less common for cheques to be used for anything other than large payments.
Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/08/video-didnt-kill-the-radio-star-but-the-debit-card-is-killing-the-check/279109/
