# Which businesses are the most and least cashless in the USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 26, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224 "2016-01-26T02:59:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/21 "2016-01-26T13:09:20Z")
Outside of illegal transactions, I suspect that the on-the-edge of legal/ethical/palatable shops tend to be very cash centric. Here that would be adult books stores, and drug smoking paraphernalia. Here selling pipes/bongs etc is not strictly legal, but hard to prove the intent is to smoke anything illegal. Given that possession is an on the spot fine none of this exactly brings much interest from the police. However customers probably prefer that a money trail not be left. What is interesting is that bushinesses for which the majority of transactions are in cash are a prime front for money laundering. The books can show any amount of money flowing through the business, but if it is cash, it is very difficult to audit or track. The previous owner of my parent’s house bought it with a suitcase of cash. Which raised a lot of eyebrows. She was a widow who had received a large payout for her husband’s accidental death. There is speculation she kept the entire payout as cash hidden away somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/22 "2016-01-26T13:42:07Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > OTOH, I’ve never seen a food truck/hot dog cart that takes anything but cash. The guy out front who runs a hot dog/brat cart only takes cash. The food trucks that have become very popular in most cities of a certain size and above, they will take cards. Almost a certainty. The combination of tablets, cell service, and square pay like services allows these vendors to capture sales to people who don’t have cash. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/23 "2016-01-26T13:44:39Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > OTOH, I’ve never seen a food truck/hot dog cart that takes anything but cash. The old-fashioned hot dog trucks and the food trucks catering to Latin near the museums American immigrants are cash-only, but almost all the newish food trucks take cards around here. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/24 "2016-01-26T14:38:49Z")
Law firms that don’t deal directly with the public generally don’t take cash. My firm does insurance defense and hasn’t had any cash handling facilities for 25-odd years. Most of our bills are paid by check, which I’m assuming is more analogous to plastic than cash. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/25 "2016-01-26T16:03:51Z")
Least Cashless: Coinstar ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/26 "2016-01-26T16:41:44Z")
> [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](#): > > Locally legal marijuana dealers in Colorado and Washington are almost entirely cash-based because banks will not provide them service for fear of the Feds. In specific, it could be a violation of the money laundering law. The current administration has made it clear they won’t prosecute such, but the banks are still not providing the services. No doubt they’re concerned that a future administration will not be so tolerant. BTW, it applies in Oregon too. Retail sales won’t technically start until the middle of this year, but until then they’ve allowed medical marijuana dispensaries to sell to the general public on a limited basis. Virtually all non-retail legal businesses are purely non-cash. There is one exception and that’s beer and wine distributors in some (most?) states. This is sort of a leftover from prohibition. When they repealed Prohibition (which was done by bypassing the state legislatures, who probably wouldn’t have approved the 21st amendment), opponents of alcohol consumption got a number of rules passed in various states to make life difficult for those in the trade. One of these was to require beer and wine deliverers to collect payment in cash at the time of delivery. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/27 "2016-01-26T18:02:47Z")
I keep getting jarred by the use of “least cashless” here. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/28 "2016-01-26T18:52:07Z")
> [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](#): > > Locally legal marijuana dealers in Colorado and Washington are almost entirely cash-based because banks will not provide them service for fear of the Feds. This is what I came to say. Recreational marijuana was over $300 million in Colorado in 2014. In 2015 it surpassed the previous year by August, but I can’t find a total for 2015. Almost all of that was cash. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/29 "2016-01-26T19:06:13Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I keep getting jarred by the use of “least cashless” here. Would “most cashful” be better? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/30 "2016-01-26T21:42:23Z")
There’s a credit union in Denver that has been opened to accommodate the marijuana industry, although it has not been without obstacles. > **[VIVA99 - Top 10 Game Judi Online & Slot Terbaik di 2023!](https://www.commongate.com/)** > > Inilah daftar top 10 game judi online dan slot online terbaik yang wajib kamu mainkan di tahun 2023. Yuk cari tahu di VIVA99! Amish-owned retail businesses are generally cash only too. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/31 "2016-01-26T22:49:43Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > [It’s Chase bank, right?](https://www.chase.com/personal-banking/cash-deposit-policy) > Yes, they introduced this policy in 2014. They instructed their employees to tell complaining customers that it’s a government mandate and that soon all the banks will be doing it. (And many of the employees sincerely believe this.) I don’t know of any other major bank that has such a policy. > > By the way, it only applies to personal accounts. It WAS Chase. WTF, they thought I was trying to launder $100? I might understand if I was trying to deposit like $10,000 in cash. But not $100. I hate banks so much. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/32 "2016-01-26T22:53:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > you can use a credit card for your burger and fries but people generally don’t. Really? I rarely even have cash on me, and routinely pay for fast food stops via card. I can even use my debit card for a lot of the vending machines on campus. I’ve rung up sales of $.50 that were paid for by card, at the thrift store I currently work in. I’ve also had people pay for $500+ purchases in cash, at the same store. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/33 "2016-01-26T23:17:36Z")
Why am I forgetting my MBA? During the era of smoking, the most cash-rich consumer company was Philip Morris. Second was RJR Nabisco. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/34 "2016-01-27T00:10:51Z")
Of course, you have to use cash when buying lottery tickets. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/35 "2016-01-27T00:17:18Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Well, it seems just when they couldn’t get any more ridiculous, I’ve found banks to be increasingly cashless… Next time just stick the deposit & slip in a sealed envelope and put in in the night deposit slot. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Most cashless: Amazon and other online sales venues > Least cashless: Illegal drugs, prostitution, and other criminal exchanges… When I started working in a call center for a megabank I was very surprised to find out that; 1) some prostitutes take credit cards, 2) people will actually use their cards for the services, & 3) people are stupid enough to use the joint credit card :smack:. There are even designated merchant codes for escort agencies and other adult businesses to use. Those were some fun calls. Like the woman who called in about some mystery charges on the family card, got really offended and started yelling at me about how her husband was a pastor when I determined it was from a “dating” site. Fortunately I was able to review the website and reassure that there were no woman on it. 😉 The call ended immediately afterward. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/36 "2016-01-27T00:29:54Z")
[quote=“alphaboi867, post:35, topic:744224”] Next time just stick the deposit & slip in a sealed envelope and put in in the night deposit slot.[\quote] I would have, but the wifey needed the money available immediately > [@](#): > > When I started working in a call center for a megabank I was very surprised to find out that; 1) some prostitutes take credit cards, 2) people will actually use their cards for the services, & 3) people are stupid enough to use the joint credit card :smack:. There are even designated merchant codes for escort agencies and other adult businesses to use. Those were some fun calls. Like the woman who called in about some mystery charges on the family card, got really offended and started yelling at me about how her husband was a pastor when I determined it was from a “dating” site. Fortunately I was able to review the website and reassure that there were no woman on it. 😉 The call ended immediately afterward. [Haggard’s law](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Haggard's_Law) in action! ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/37 "2016-01-27T23:06:04Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Well, it seems just when they couldn’t get any more ridiculous, I’ve found banks to be increasingly cashless. I went to deposit cash ($100) into my wife’s account (I’m not on it, and she was out of town) and they told me the could not accept cash from any body excet the account holder, even tho I had her on the phone nad had her account #. Fear not, however, said the banker, for I COULD deposit a check or money order. Well, I only had cash, so I asked to buy a money order. No deal. They don’t take cash for their (ridiculously overpriced) money orders. So I had to walk around the block to buy an 89 cent money order from grocery store just to deposit moeny in the god damn bank. I hate them. Which is why I don’t have an account and prefer cash. what country? I just deposited cash into another account (admittedly I am signature user of that business account) today. I have never heard of any bank not accepting cash in the US. Next time I am in my bank I will ask them. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/38 "2016-01-27T23:12:03Z")
I have a business account at Chase. I will ask them about this. It was Chase where I deposited the cash. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/39 "2016-01-27T23:56:52Z")
FWIW, there are a lot of sex workers who will accept prepaid VISA cards as payment. This is exponentially more common than actually taking credit card transactions. Or so I’ve been told. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224/40 "2016-01-28T02:24:07Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Most cashless - rental car companies. Maybe some small outfits will rent for cash, but I’ve not seen it > > Least cashless - flea market vendor? Car rental places require a credit card as essentially a security deposit but you can pay cash for the rental if you want. I did it once a while ago. It could be useful if you are looking to reduce finance charges if you float a balance on your card. Many flea market vendors take credit cards. I’m sure some particular vendors only take cash. How do check cashing places figure? For the basic business, the first half of the transaction isn’t cash but the last half always is. Of course, check cashing places often do a lot more these days than cashing checks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-businesses-are-the-most-and-least-cashless-in-the-usa/744224.md?page=3)