Cash

In the tug-of-war over merchants refusing either cash or cards embroiling local governments in New Jersey, New York City and Philadelphia, the Iowa State Fair is taking the middle ground. Beginning next year, all fair vendors will be required to accept cash, cards and contactless payments through First Data’s Clover devices.

With retailers seeking to discourage cash use and billers increasingly going digital, PayNearMe stands in the middle seeking to further enable the very people who depend on being able to use cash: the underbanked and unbanked.

Battle lines are hardening in the fight against stores that eschew cash, as New York City’s Committee on Consumer Affairs plans to hear arguments Thursday on a proposal to ban cashless stores like Amazon Go.

While consumer spending on Valentine’s Day doesn’t approach that of the larger holidays, certain retailers — such as jewelers and florists — benefit more than others, while restaurants, bars and other dining establishments tend to see significantly more traffic for those couples who want an evening out. Increasingly, it’s also a special day for pets.

The pushback on stores that don’t accept cash seems to be gaining momentum, with Philadelphia the latest municipality to consider a law that would ban cash-free shops.

Visa for years has used its sponsorship of the Super Bowl to promote contactless and mobile payments, but it hasn’t squeezed cash out of the event yet.

For the U.S. to move forward, education will be required to teach users how to utilize new technology to manage their finances, says Katy Gibson, vice president of product applications at Envestnet Yodlee.

Banks, retailers and technology companies have spent years relentlessly working to replace cash with plastic, digital or mobile alternatives. And cash has hit back hard.

Leveraging the trust relationship the bank already enjoys with its customers, based on robust security, engagements can go beyond run-of-the-mill transactions, writes Sherif Samy, senior vice president of North America at Entersekt.

Nestled among the waves of tourists and commuters near Grand Central Terminal is a spot were a “no cash” store is working, free from political pressures. But its success still suggests that paperless payments are a niche play.