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2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 1
Current Ownership of Bank Accounts and Account Access Technologies
Percentage of consumers
2008r

2009

Bank accounts
Checking.................................................................................................................
Savings....................................................................................................................
Traditional or passbook........................................................................................
Money market......................................................................................................
Money market with check privileges.................................................................

1.9
2.0
2.4
na
na
na

1.2
1.3
1.7
1.7
1.4
1.0

-0.6
-0.7
–
na
na
na

Nonbank payment accounts
Online payment service provider.............................................................................

na

1.5

na

Bank account features
Interest earned on primary checking account..........................................................
Overdraft protection................................................................................................

2.4
2.9

1.8
1.6

-0.6
–

Information and communication access technologies
Cell phone...............................................................................................................
Internet access at home............................................................................................

na
0.0

1.1
0.7

–
0.7

Account access technologies
Blank paper checks..................................................................................................
ATM or debit card...................................................................................................
ATM card.............................................................................................................
Debit card.............................................................................................................
Telephone banking..................................................................................................
Online banking........................................................................................................
Mobile banking.......................................................................................................

na
2.1
3.2
2.2
2.7
2.5
3.6

1.5
1.4
1.6
1.5
1.7
1.8
1.1

na
-0.7
–
-0.7
-1.0
-0.7
-2.5

Change

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 2
Historical Ownership and Discarding of Bank Accounts and Account Access Technologies
Percentage of consumers
Ever Owned

2008r

2009

Change

Bank accounts
Checking.................................................................................................................
Savings...................................................................................................................
Traditional or passbook.......................................................................................
Money market......................................................................................................
Money market with check privileges................................................................

1.6
1.6
1.6
na
na
na

0.4
0.5
0.7
0.8
1.6
na

-1.2
-1.1
-0.9
na
na
na

Nonbank payment accounts
Online payment service provider............................................................................

na

na

na

Bank account features
Primary checking account bears interest.................................................................
Overdraft protection...............................................................................................

na
na

na
na

na
na

Bank account access technologies
Blank paper checks.................................................................................................
ATM or debit card..................................................................................................
ATM card............................................................................................................
Debit card............................................................................................................
Telephone banking.................................................................................................
Online banking.......................................................................................................
Mobile banking.......................................................................................................

na
1.8
2.8
1.9
2.9
2.4
na

na
0.8
1.6
1.0
1.7
1.6
1.1

na
-1.0
–
-0.9
-1.2
-0.8
na

Discarded*

2008r

2009

Change

Bank accounts
Checking.................................................................................................................
Savings...................................................................................................................
Traditional or passbook.......................................................................................
Money market.........................................................................................................
Money market with check privileges................................................................

1.1
1.2
2.
na
na
na

1.2
1.2
1.6
1.6
1.
na

0.1
0.0
-0.4
na
na
na

Nonbank payment accounts
Online payment service provider............................................................................

na

na

na

Bank account features
Primary checking account bears interest.................................................................
Overdraft protection...............................................................................................

na
na

na
na

na
na

Bank account access technologies
Paper checks (blank)...............................................................................................
ATM or debit card..................................................................................................
ATM card............................................................................................................
Debit card............................................................................................................
Telephone banking.................................................................................................
Online banking.......................................................................................................
Mobile banking.......................................................................................................

na
1.3
2.3
1.2
1.2
.8
na

na
1.2
1.6
1.2
.9
1.2
0.2

na
-0.1
–
0.0
-0.3
0.5
na

* "Discarded" refers to the difference between historical and current ownership rates.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 3
Primary Bank Account Holdings, by Type of Account and Financial Institution
Percentage of bank account adopters
2008r

2009

Primary checking account
Commercial bank...........................................................................................................................
Savings and loan............................................................................................................................
Credit union...................................................................................................................................
Brokerage......................................................................................................................................
Internet bank..................................................................................................................................
Other..............................................................................................................................................

2.1
.5
2.
na
0.5
.7

1.6
.8
1.3
0.1
.6
.8

Primary savings account
Commercial bank...........................................................................................................................
Savings and loan............................................................................................................................
Credit union...................................................................................................................................
Brokerage......................................................................................................................................
Internet bank..................................................................................................................................
Other..............................................................................................................................................

3.
.5
2.8
na
.8
.6

1.9
.9
1.9
.5
.8
0.3

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 4
Current Adoption of Payment Instruments
Percentage of consumers
2008r

2009

Change

Paper instruments
Cash†.......................................................................................................................
Check†....................................................................................................................
Money order*..........................................................................................................
Travelers check*.....................................................................................................

1.4
1.4
na
2.1
.9

1.5
.2
1.5
1.5
.5

–
–
na
- .5
- .4

Payment cards
Debit........................................................................................................................
Credit.......................................................................................................................
Prepaid....................................................................................................................

1.8
2.2
2.5
1.7

1.2
1.5
1.8
1.6

–
- .7
- .7
–

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment...................................................................................
Bank account number payment*..............................................................................

2.2
2.9
2.5

1.7
1.7
1.8

-0.5
-1.2
-0.8

* Adoption means the consumer used the instrument in a given year.
† Adoption means the consumer had the instrument or used the instrument in a given year.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 5
Historical Adoption and Discarding of Payment Instruments
Percentage of consumers
Ever Adopted

2008r

2009

Change

Paper instruments
Cash.......................................................................................................................
Check....................................................................................................................
Money order *.......................................................................................................
Travelers check *..................................................................................................

na
na
na
na

na
na
1.6
1.8

na
na
na
na

Payment cards
Debit......................................................................................................................
Credit.....................................................................................................................
Prepaid..................................................................................................................

1.9
1.9
2.8

1.0
1.4
1.8

-0.9
-0.5
–

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment...................................................................................
Bank account number payment *.............................................................................

2.8
na

1.7
na

-1.0
na

Discarded†

2008r

2009

Change

Paper instruments
Cash.......................................................................................................................
Check....................................................................................................................
Money order *.......................................................................................................
Travelers check *..................................................................................................

na
na
na
na

na
na
1.7
1.7

na
na
na
na

Payment cards
Debit......................................................................................................................
Credit.....................................................................................................................
Prepaid..................................................................................................................

1.2
1.9
2.2

1.2
1.6
1.6

0.0
-0.3
–

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment...................................................................................
Bank account number payment *.............................................................................

1.1
na

1.2
na

0.1
na

* Adoption means the consumer used the instrument in a given year.
† "Discarded" refers to the difference between historical and current adoption rates.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 6
Current Adoption of Payment Instruments, by Instrument Features
Percentage of consumers
2008r

2009

Change

Debit cards
Rewards...................................................................................................................

2.2
2.2

1.5
1.4

- .7
- .8

Credit cards*
Rewards...................................................................................................................
Nonrewards.............................................................................................................

2.5
3.2
2.9

1.8
1.8
1.6

- .7
-1.5
- 1.2

General purpose......................................................................................................
Rewards................................................................................................................
Nonrewards..........................................................................................................

na
na
na

1.8
1.7
1.5

na
na
na

Charge.....................................................................................................................
Rewards................................................................................................................
Nonrewards..........................................................................................................

na
na
na

1.1
.8
.6

na
na
na

Branded...................................................................................................................
Rewards................................................................................................................
Nonrewards..........................................................................................................

na
na
na

1.6
1.3
1.1

na
na
na

Prepaid cards†
General purpose......................................................................................................
Specific purpose......................................................................................................
Payroll‡...................................................................................................................
Electronic benefits transfer (EBT)‡........................................................................

1.7
na
na
na
na

1.6
1.3
1.2
.6
1.1

–
na
na
na
na

Reloadable...............................................................................................................

na

1.3

na

Bought for own use.................................................................................................
Received from others...............................................................................................
Both bought and received........................................................................................

1.1
1.5
.8

na
na
na

na
na
na

Contactless
Debit card................................................................................................................
Credit card...............................................................................................................
Prepaid card............................................................................................................
Electronic toll payment...........................................................................................
Key fob....................................................................................................................

3.
3.4
3.3
1.6
1.3
.5

1.5
1.4
.9
.9
.8
.5

–
–
–
–
–
–

* General purpose credit cards have a network logo such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express; charge cards require full
payment of the balance at the end of each billing period. Branded cards have a merchant's logo on the card.
† General purpose prepaid cards have a credit card network or PIN network logo and can be used at any merchant or retailer that accepts
cards from that network. Specific purpose prepaid cards, such as gift cards or public transportation cards, are limited in use to one or
several merchants, retailers, or service providers.
‡ Payroll cards may also be general purpose cards.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 7
Number of Adopted Bank Accounts and Payment Cards
Number per adopter*
2008r

2009

Change

Bank
Checking.................................................................................................................
Savings....................................................................................................................
Traditional or passbook........................................................................................
Money market......................................................................................................
Money market with check privileges.................................................................

0.1
0.0
na
0.0
na
na

0.1
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
na

–
0.0
na
0.0
na
na

Nonbank payment accounts
Online payment service provider.............................................................................

na

0.1

na

ATM or debit cards
ATM........................................................................................................................
Debit........................................................................................................................

0.1
0.0
0.0

0.1
0.0
0.0

0.0
0.0
-0.0

Credit Cards**
Rewards...................................................................................................................
Nonrewards.............................................................................................................

0.2
0.1
0.2

0.1
0.1
0.1

–
–
–

General purpose .....................................................................................................
Rewards................................................................................................................
Nonrewards..........................................................................................................

na
na
na

0.1
0.0
0.1

na
na
na

Charge ....................................................................................................................
Rewards................................................................................................................
Nonrewards..........................................................................................................

na
na
na

0.0
0.0
0.0

na
na
na

Branded ..................................................................................................................
Rewards................................................................................................................
Nonrewards..........................................................................................................

na
na
na

0.1
0.0
0.0

na
na
na

Prepaid cards†
General purpose......................................................................................................
Specific purpose .....................................................................................................
Payroll‡...................................................................................................................
Electronic benefits transfer (EBT) .........................................................................

0.2
na
na
na
na

0.1
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.1

–
na
na
na
na

Bought for own use.................................................................................................
Received from others...............................................................................................

0.2
0.2

na
na

na
na

* Bold-face numbers are per adopter of the instrument. Numbers for sub-categories of each bold-face category are per adopter of the
sub-category of the instrument.
** General purpose credit cards have a network logo such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express; charge cards require full
payment of the balance at the end of each billing period. Branded cards have a merchant's logo on the card.
† General purpose prepaid cards have a credit card network or PIN network logo and can be used at any merchant or retailer that accepts
cards from that network. Specific purpose prepaid cards, such as gift cards or public transportation cards, are limited in use to one or
several merchants, retailers, or service providers.
‡ Payroll cards may also be general purpose cards.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 8
Number of Adopted Payment Instruments, by Type of Adopter
Number of instruments per consumer
2008r

2009

Change

9

9

–

Actual number of payment instruments adopted
Bank account nonadopters.......................................................................................
Bank account adopters............................................................................................
Checking and savings...........................................................................................
Checking, no savings............................................................................................
Savings, no checking............................................................................................

0.1
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.5

0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.5

0.0
- 0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

Paper adopters.........................................................................................................
Cash......................................................................................................................
Check...................................................................................................................
Money order.........................................................................................................
Travelers check....................................................................................................

0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2

0.1
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.2

0.0
0.0
0.0
-0.1
0.0

Payment card adopters............................................................................................
Debit.....................................................................................................................
Credit....................................................................................................................
Prepaid.................................................................................................................

0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1

0.0
0.0
0.0
-0.1

Electronic payment instrument adopters..................................................................
Online banking bill payment................................................................................
Bank account number payment............................................................................

0.1
0.1
0.1

0.0
0.0
0.0

0.0
0.0
0.0

Available number of payment instruments*

* The nine instruments are cash, check, money order, traveler's check, debit card, credit card, prepaid card, online banking bill payment
and bank account number payment (electronic bank account deduction in 2008). For this table only, check adoption is defined as having
a checking account, to ensure comparability between 2008 and 2009.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 9
Cash Holdings, Withdrawals, and Prepaid Card Reloadings
Dollars, except as noted
Mean
2008

r

Median
2009

2008

r

2009

Cash holdings
On person............................................................................................
On property.........................................................................................

30
13
26

31
4
31

10
5
3

7
3
3

Cash withdrawals
All locations *
Total per month †‡..............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal....................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month).....................................................

23
8
0.3

20
6
0.3

6
3
0.2

11
5
0.3

Primary location
Total per month †................................................................................
Amount per withdrawal....................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month).....................................................

na
na
na

15
6
0.1

na
na
na

7
1
0.2

Secondary location
Total per month †................................................................................
Amount per withdrawal....................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month).....................................................

na
na
na

11
6
0.3

na
na
na

2
4
0.0

Prepaid card reloadings per month
Reloaders, percentage of prepaid card adopters .................................
Reloaders, percentage of reloadable prepaid card adopters.................
Typical dollar amount per reloading, reloaders only........................
Number of reloads, reloaders only....................................................

1.
4.7
na
.6

.9
2.5
35
.6

na
na
na
0.2

na
na
7
7.5

* Estimates for 2009 cash withdrawals at all locations are derived from the survey variables for cash withdrawals for primary and
secondary locations.
† The SCPC questionnaire asks respondents "what amount [of cash] do you get most often"? If the amount of cash consumers get most
often is different from the average amount, then the computed total amount of cash that the consumer gets per month will differ from
the actual amount. Also, the total amount per month does not necessarily equal the amount per withdrawal times the number of
withdrawals, because the amounts and withdrawals are negatively correlated across consumers.
‡ In 2008, this number is the typical amount per withdrawal. In 2009, this number is the withdrawal-weighted average of typical
amounts per withdrawal from the primary and secondary locations.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 10
Cash Holdings, by Adoption of Bank Accounts and Payment Instruments
Dollars per consumer
Adopters
Bank account
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................
ATM or debit card
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................
Credit card
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................
Prepaid card
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................
Money order
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................
Nonadopters
Bank account
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................
ATM or debit card
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................
Credit card
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................
Prepaid card
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................
Money order
Total..................................................................................................
On person.......................................................................................
On property....................................................................................

Mean
r

Median
r

2009

2008

30
13
28

33
3
33

10
4
5

6
3
3

32
12
30

36
3
36

9
2
2

5
1
3

36
16
33

26
4
26

10
5
5

5
3
3

33
8
31

79
6
79

11
4
7

12
4
8

61
45
31

31
10
28

14
7
9

12
4
6

2008

Mean
2008

r

2009

Median
r

2009

2008

138
77
83

67
28
47

45
22
255

124
22
25

76
54
42

43
13
39

32
17
23

28
9
23

40
23
24

90
9
89

17
5
4

9
3
2

35
16
31

26
5
26

12
3
2

8
3
3

34
13
32

40
3
40

12
3
2

8
4
3

2009

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 11
Cash Withdrawals, by Most Frequent Location*
Dollars, except as noted
Mean
2008

r

Median
2009

2008

r

2009

ATM
Total per month†...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal..................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Cited as most frequent location (percent )........................................

na
na
na
2.4

15
4
0.2
1.7

na
na
na
na

6
4
0.3
na

Bank teller
Total per month†...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal..................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Cited as most frequent location (percent )........................................

na
na
na
1.9

26
12
0.1
1.3

na
na
na
na

16
10
0.1
na

Check cashing store
Total per month†...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal..................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Cited as most frequent location (percent )........................................

na
na
na
1.1

186
91
0.3
0.7

na
na
na
na

246
110
0.0
na

Retail or grocery store
Total per month†...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal..................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Cited as most frequent location (percent )........................................

na
na
na
1.3

12
2
0.7
0.9

na
na
na
na

6
5
0.5
na

Employer
Total per month†...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal..................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Cited as most frequent location (percent )........................................

na
na
na
1.3

131
56
0.8
1.0

na
na
na
na

135
57
0.7
na

Family or friend
Total per month†...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal..................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Cited as most frequent location (percent )........................................

na
na
na
1.1

36
10
0.3
1.0

na
na
na
na

16
3
0.3
na

Other
Total per month†...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal..................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Cited as most frequent location (percent )........................................

na
na
na
0.1

143
98
0.6
0.5

na
na
na
na

168
41
0.2
na

* Total per month for each location is consumers who named that location as their most frequent location.
† The SCPC questionnaire asks respondents "what amount [of cash] do you get most often"? If the amount of cash consumers get most
often is different from the average amount, then the computed total amount of cash that the customer gets per month will differ from the
actual amount. Also, the total amount per month does not necessarily equal the amount per withdrawal times the number of
calculated for withdrawals, because the amounts and withdrawals are negatively correlated across consumers.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 12
Cash Withdrawals, by Adoption of Bank Accounts and Payment Instruments
Dollars per month, except as noted
Mean
Adopters
r
2008
2009
Bank account
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
ATM or debit card
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Credit card
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Prepaid card
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Money order
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Nonadopters
Bank account
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
ATM or debit card
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Credit card
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Prepaid card
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................
Money order
Total per month*...............................................................................
Amount per withdrawal*................................................................
Withdrawals (number per month)..................................................

Median
2008

r

2009

21
7
0.3

19
5
0.3

7
3
0.2

11
5
0.3

21
8
0.3

21
6
0.3

20
3
0.5

11
3
0.3

23
6
0.4

17
6
0.3

11
5
0.3

10
4
0.2

28
10
0.4

34
8
0.5

11
7
0.4

23
8
0.3

53
23
0.4

49
16
0.8

70
7
0.6

46
8
0.2

Mean
2008

r

Median
r

2009

2008

209
65
1.3

133
55
1.4

170
47
1.5

200
16
0.9

99
29
1.2

65
23
0.7

56
18
0.4

51
21
0.2

67
29
0.5

58
15
0.7

35
7
0.7

54
10
0.2

28
9
0.3

26
8
0.4

22
3
0.5

15
4
0.3

26
8
0.4

21
6
0.3

24
5
0.5

7
5
0.2

2009

* The SCPC questionnaire asks respondents "what amount [of cash] do you get most often"? If the amount of cash consumers get most
often is different from the average amount, then the computed total amount of cash that the consumer gets per month will differ from
the actual amount. Also, the total amount per month does not necessarily equal the amount per withdrawal times the number of
withdrawals, because the amounts and withdrawals are negatively correlated across consumers.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 13
Incidence of Bank Account Access and Other Practices
Percentage of consumers and adopters*
Percentage of consumers

Monthly
2008

r

Annual
2009

2008

r

2009

Bank account access
Bank branch visit..............................................................................
ATM use...........................................................................................
Telephone banking............................................................................
Online banking..................................................................................
Mobile banking.................................................................................

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

1.3
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.8
1.

Other
Cash withdrawals..............................................................................
Online payment service provider......................................................
Prepaid card reloading......................................................................
Mobile payments...............................................................................
Text/SMS.......................................................................................
Contactless.....................................................................................

92.4
na
na
na
na
na

0.9
na
0.0
na
na
na

96.7
na
na
na
na
na

.5
1.2
.
.6
.5
.4

Monthly

Annual

Percentage of adopters

2008r

Bank account access, bank account adopters only
Bank branch visit..............................................................................
ATM use...........................................................................................
Telephone banking............................................................................
Online banking..................................................................................
Mobile banking.................................................................................

na
na
na
na
na
na

2009
na
na
na
na
na
na

2008r
na
na
na
na
na
na

2009
.
.
.0
.
.
.0

Other
Cash withdrawals, cash adopters only...............................................
Online payment service provider, adopters only...............................
Prepaid card reloading, reloaders only..............................................
Mobile payments, cell phone adopters only......................................
Text/SMS.......................................................................................
Contactless.....................................................................................

na
na
na
na
na
na

0.0
na
6.0
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

.0
2.7
3.5
.0
.0
.

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 14
Incidence of Use of Payment Instruments
Percentage of consumers or adopters
Percentage of consumers

Monthly
2008

r

Annual
2009

2008

r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash..................................................................................................
Check................................................................................................
Money order......................................................................................
Travelers check.................................................................................

1.7
2.0
2.4
1.6
0.2

0.9
1.1
1.8
1.1
0.0

1.6
1.9
2.3
2.1
0.9

0.7
0.9
1.8
1.5
0.5

Payment cards
Debit.................................................................................................
Credit................................................................................................
Prepaid..............................................................................................

2.1
2.6
2.7
0.9

1.3
1.6
1.8
1.0

2.1
2.5
2.6
1.1

1.3
1.6
1.8
1.2

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.............................................................
Bank account number payment.........................................................

2.5
3.3
2.6

1.8
1.6
1.7

2.5
3.3
2.5

1.8
1.6
1.8

Direct deduction from income

2.0

1.1

2.0

1.1

Percentage of adopters*

Monthly
2008r

Annual

Paper instruments
Cash..................................................................................................
Check................................................................................................
Money order†....................................................................................
Travelers check†...............................................................................

1.1
1.6
2.0
6.3
4.9

2009
0.9
1.1
1.6
3.6
1.3

2008r
1.0
1.5
1.9
na
na

2009
0.8
0.9
1.5
3.7
6.6

Payment cards
Debit.................................................................................................
Credit................................................................................................
Prepaid..............................................................................................

1.3
2.0
1.6
4.4

0.8
1.1
1.5
2.8

1.3
1.8
1.3
4.8

0.7
1.1
1.3
3.0

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.............................................................
Bank account number payment.........................................................

1.8
4.1
0.9

1.4
2.2
1.3

1.6
3.8
0.0

1.1
2.1
0.0

Direct deduction from income

1.7

1.9

0.0

0.0

* Per adopter estimate is included due to changes in the survey design that affected the rates of adoption of payment instruments
(see Table 4), making the per consumer estimates not comparable across years. Estimates are calculated using only adopters of
that payment instrument, not all consumers.
† Comparison between 2008 and 2009 is not valid for annual incidence of use because adoption is defined by annual incidence of use in
these payment instruments, and thus is equal to 100%.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 15
Incidence of Transactions
Percentage of consumers
Monthly
2008

r

Annual
2009

2008

r

2009

Bill payments
Automatic .........................................................................................
Online ..............................................................................................
By mail or in person .........................................................................

1.6
3.1
2.6
2.1

.8
1.7
1.7
1.5

1.6
3.1
2.5
1.9

.7
1.7
1.7
1.4

Online payments, excluding bills

2.8

1.7

2.4

1.7

In-person payments, excluding bills
Retail goods......................................................................................
All other............................................................................................
Services .........................................................................................
Person to person payments.............................................................

1.6
1.7
2.2
na
na

.8
.8
1.3
1.4
1.7

1.6
1.7
2.1
na
na

.7
.8
1.1
1.2
1.7

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 16
Incidence of Use of Payment Instruments, by Type of Transaction
Percentage of consumers
Bill payments

Monthly incidence

Online payments

Retail, services, and
person to person*

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check....................................

2.3
2.5
2.6
na
1.6
na

1.6
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.
na

3.3
na
3.3
na
na
na

1.4
na
1.4
1.4
.8
na

1.9
2.
2.8
na
1.
na

1.1
1.1
1.7
1.7
.6
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit...................................................
Prepaid.................................................

2.4
2.8
2.9
.8

1.7
1.8
1.5
.5

3.
3.4
2.3
.8

1.7
1.6
1.3
.7

2.1
2.7
2.7
.9

1.5
1.7
1.7
.9

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment................
Bank account number payment............

2.6
3.3
3.3

1.8
1.6
1.7

3.3
na
3.3

1.5
na
1.5

na
na
na

na
na
na

Direct deduction from income

2.

1.1

na

na

na

na

Bill payments

Annual incidence

Online payments

Retail, services and
person to person*

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check....................................

2.1
2.6
2.4
na
1.9
na

1.5
1.8
1.8
1.9
1.1
na

3.2
na
3.2
na
na
na

1.6
na
1.6
1.5
1.
na

1.7
1.9
2.7
na
2.1
na

.9
.9
1.8
1.8
.9
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit...................................................
Prepaid.................................................

2.4
2.7
2.7
.8

1.7
1.8
1.6
.7

2.7
3.2
2.9
.9

1.8
1.7
1.6
.9

2.1
2.6
2.7
1.1

1.5
1.6
1.8
1.1

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment................
Bank account number payment............

2.5
3.3
3.4

1.8
1.6
1.7

3.2
na
3.2

1.6
na
1.6

na
na
na

na
na
na

Direct deduction from income

2.

1.1

na

na

na

na

* Adjusted for changes from 2008 to 2009 in the survey definition of transaction categories.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 17
Incidence of Use of Payment Instruments, by Type of Bill Payment
Percentage of consumers
Automatic

Monthly incidence

Online

By mail or in person

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Any instrument
Excluding online banking bill payment*

3.1
3.1

1.7
1.7

2.6
na

1.7
na

2.1
na

1.5
na

Paper instruments
Cash........................................................
Check or money order............................
Check...................................................
Money order........................................
Travelers check......................................

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

2.3
2.5
2.6
na
na
na

1.6
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.
na

Payment cards
Debit.......................................................
Credit......................................................
Prepaid...................................................

2.6
2.1
2.3
na

1.5
1.4
1.2
na

3.2
3.5
2.1
na

1.7
1.7
1.2
na

3.2
3.6
2.1
.8

1.7
1.7
1.2
.5

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment..................
Bank account number payment...............

3.0
na
3.0

1.6
1.2
1.5

2.8
3.3
2.8

1.7
1.6
1.6

na
na
na

na
na
na

Direct deduction from income

2.0

1.1

na

na

na

na

Automatic

Annual incidence

Online

By mail or in person

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Any instrument
Excluding online banking bill payment..

3.1
3.1

1.7
1.7

2.5
na

1.7
na

1.9
na

1.4
na

Paper instruments
Cash........................................................
Check or money order............................
Check...................................................
Money order........................................
Travelers check......................................

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

2.1
2.6
2.4
na
na
na

1.5
1.8
1.8
1.9
1.1
na

Payment cards
Debit.......................................................
Credit......................................................
Prepaid...................................................

2.7
2.2
2.4
na

1.6
1.4
1.2
na

3.1
3.4
2.3
na

1.8
1.8
1.3
na

3.1
3.5
2.3
.8

1.7
1.8
1.3
.7

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment..................
Bank account number payment...............

3.0
na
3.0

1.6
1.2
1.5

2.8
3.3
2.9

1.7
1.6
1.7

na
na
na

na
na
na

Direct deduction from income

2.0

1.1

na

na

na

na

* Online banking bill pay is excluded to show direct comparison between 2008 and 2009 estimates for automatic bill payments.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 18
Incidence of Use of Payment Instruments, by Type of Retail Goods
Percentage of consumers
Total
Monthly incidence
r
2008
2009

Essential goods*
2008

r

Nonessential goods*

2009

2008r

2009

Overall

1.7

0.8

2.0

na

2.2

na

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

2.0
2.1
3.1
3.1
na
na

1.4
1.3
1.5
1.5
0.5
na

3.6
3.6
2.3
2.3
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

2.9
3.0
3.5
3.5
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

2.2
2.7
2.8
.9

1.6
1.7
1.7
.8

2.2
2.7
2.9
1.0

na
na
na
na

2.6
3.1
3.1
.6

na
na
na
na

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

na
na
na

na
na
na

Annual incidence

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Overall

1.7

0.8

1.8

na

1.9

na

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

1.9
2.0
3.0
3.0
na
na

1.6
1.2
1.6
1.6
.7
na

2.1
2.2
2.8
2.8
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

2.5
2.6
3.2
3.2
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

2.2
2.6
2.7
1.1

1.5
1.7
1.8
1.

2.2
2.7
2.8
1.2

na
na
na
na

2.3
2.8
2.8
.8

na
na
na
na

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

Total

na
na
na
na
na
na
Essential goods*

na
na
na
na
na
na
Nonessential goods*

* For definitions of essential and nonessential goods, see Appendix A.5 in Foster, Meijer, Schuh, and Zabek 2009.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 19
Incidence of Use of Payment Instruments, by Type of Nonretail, In-Person Transactions*
Percentage of consumers
Total
Services and other
Monthly incidence
r
2008
2008r
2009
2009

Person to person
2008r

2009

Overall

2.2

1.3

na

1.4

na

1.7

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

2.4
2.8
2.9
na
na
na

1.5
1.6
1.7
1.7
.5
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

1.7
1.7
1.6
1.6
.4
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

1.7
1.8
1.3
1.3
.4
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

3.3
2.7
2.6
.5

1.7
1.7
1.5
.7

na
na
na
na

1.7
1.7
1.5
.7

na
na
na
na

1.0
0.9
0.6
na

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

na
na
na

0.8
0.6
0.7

Annual incidence

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Overall

2.1

1.1

na

1.2

na

1.7

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

2.3
2.7
3.3
na
na
na

1.3
1.4
1.8
1.8
.8
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

1.5
1.7
1.7
1.8
.7
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

1.7
1.8
1.5
1.5
.6
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

2.6
3.0
2.9
.8

1.7
1.7
1.7
.9

na
na
na
na

1.7
1.7
1.7
.9

na
na
na
na

1.1
1.
.7
na

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

na
na
na

1.
.7
.9

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

1.
.7
.9

Total

na
na
na
na
na
na
Services and other

na
0.8
na
0.6
na
0.7
Person to person

* Adjusted for changes from 2008 to 2009 in the survey definition of transaction categories. These adjustments make the two years
directly comparable.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 20
Use of Payment Instruments in a Typical Month, by Type of Instrument
Number per consumer and percent share per consumer
Number per consumer
Mean
Percentage
r
2008
2009
change

2008r

2009

Total payments

3.4

1.8

-48.7

100.0

100.0

Paper instruments
Cash............................................................................
Check or money order................................................
Check......................................................................
Money order............................................................
Travelers check..........................................................

1.4
1.1
0.6
.5
0.1
0.0

1.3
1.3
.3
.3
0.1
0.0

- 5.5
16.5
-39.4
-30.2
30.5
-70.0

35.4
20.8
14.6
13.9
0.6
0.0

41.8
28.2
13.5
12.7
0.8
0.0

Payment cards
Debit...........................................................................
Credit..........................................................................
Prepaid.......................................................................
Prepaid, per adopter†.................................................

2.1
1.7
1.1
0.1
0.6

1.
0.9
0.6
0.2
0.5

-51.1
-49.2
-46.8
–
-13.2

52.5
30.8
21.1
0.6
–

47.8
29.3
17.3
1.2
–

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment*....................................
Bank account number payment*................................
Bank account number payment, per adopter†............

.6
.4
.2
0.6

.3
.2
0.2
0.3

-45.7
-46.6
-22.3
-49.7

10.9
3.1
7.9
–

9.7
5.1
4.6
–

Direct deduction from income

0.1

0.1

-55.8

1.1

0.8

Percent Share

* Adjusted for changes from 2008 to 2009 in the survey definition of transaction categories.
† Per adopter estimate is included due to changes in the survey design that affected the rates of adoption of payment instruments
(see Table 4), making the per consumer estimates not comparable across years. Estimates are calculated using only adopters of
a payment instrument, not all consumers.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey.
Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 21
Transactions in a Typical Month
Number per consumer and percent share per consumer
Number per consumer
Mean
Percentage
2008r

2009

Total

3.4

1.8

change
-48.7

Bill payments
Automatic...................................................................
Direct deduction from income.................................
Other automatic.......................................................
Online.........................................................................
By mail or in person...................................................

1.4
.6
0.1
.5
.5
.7

0.6
.2
0.1
.2
.3
.4

.5
2.4
1.9
0.7
na
na

Online payments, excluding bills
In-person payments, excluding bills
Retail goods................................................................
All other.....................................................................
Services...................................................................
Person to person payments......................................

Percent Share
2008r

2009

100.0

100.0

-52.3
–
–
–
-43.4
-38.4

29.1
8.7
1.1
7.6
9.4
11.0

28.1
7.2
na
na
8.5
12.4

.3

-44.7

9.7

7.8

1.4
.8
1.1
1.
.3

-40.6
–
–
na
na

61.1
42.5
18.6
na
na

64.1
39.4
24.7
19.7
5.0

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 22
Use of Payment Instruments in a Typical Month, by Type of Transaction
Number per consumer and percent share per consumer
Bill payments

Number

Online payments

Retail, service and
person to person

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

0.4
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.0
na

0.3
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1
na

0.1
na
0.1
na
na
na

0.1
na
0.1
0.1
0.0
na

1.1
1.0
0.4
0.3
0.0
na

1.2
1.2
.2
.2
0.
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

0.8
0.7
0.5
0.0

0.4
0.4
0.2
0.0

0.3
0.3
0.2
0.0

0.2
0.2
0.1
0.0

1.5
1.3
.7
0.1

0.8
0.7
.4
0.1

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

0.5
0.2
0.4

0.2
0.2
0.1

0.1
na
0.1

0.1
na
0.1

na
na
na

0.1
0.1
0.1

Direct deduction from income

0.1

0.1

na

na

na

na

Bill payments

Percent

Online payments

Retail, service and
person to person

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

7.4
1.5
5.9
5.6
0.3
na

8.3
3.0
5.3
4.9
0.4
na

2.3
na
2.3
na
na
na

2.2
na
2.2
2.0
0.2
na

25.7
19.3
6.4
na
0.3
na

31.3
25.2
6.1
5.8
0.3
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

11.6
6.4
5.1
0.0

11.0
6.8
3.9
0.2

5.5
3.0
2.3
0.1

4.6
2.7
1.8
0.2

35.4
21.3
13.6
0.5

32.2
19.8
11.6
0.8

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

9.0
3.1
5.9

8.0
4.8
3.3

1.9
na
1.9

1.0
na
1.0

na
na
na

0.6
0.3
0.3

Direct deduction from income

1.1

0.8

na

na

na

na

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 23
Use of Payment Instruments in a Typical Month, by Type of Bill Payment
Number per consumer and percent share per consumer
Automatic

Number

Online

By mail or in person

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

0.4
0.3
0.3
na
0.0
na

0.3
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

0.3
0.3
0.2
na

0.2
0.1
0.1
na

0.4
0.3
0.2
na

0.2
0.2
0.1
na

0.4
0.3
0.3
0.0

0.2
0.2
0.1
0.0

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment*...............
Bank account number payment.............

0.2
0.2
0.1

0.1
0.1
0.1

0.4
0.2
0.2

0.2
0.2
0.1

na
na
na

na
na
na

Direct deduction from income

0.1

0.1

na

na

na

na

Automatic

Percent

Online

By mail or in person

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

7.4
1.5
5.9
na
0.3
na

8.3
3.0
5.3
4.9
0.4
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

4.2
2.3
1.9
na

3.1
1.7
1.4
na

3.8
2.3
1.5
na

3.8
2.7
1.1
na

3.6
1.9
1.7
0.0

4.1
2.4
1.5
0.2

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

3.4
1.8
1.6

3.2
1.7
1.5

5.6
3.1
6.4

4.8
3.0
1.7

na
na
na

na
na
na

Direct deduction from income

1.1

0.8

na

na

na

na

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.
*The 2008 automatic bill payment number for online banking bill payment is derived from the ratio of total electronic
automatic bill payments to total number of online banking bill payments in the 2009 SCPC.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 24
Use of Payment Instruments in a Typical Month, by Type of Retail Goods*
Number per consumer and percent share per consumer
Total
Essential goods†
Number
r
2008r
2008
2009
2009

Nonessential goods†
2008r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

0.9
.9
.1
na
na
na

0.6
0.6
.1
.1
0.
na

0.7
0.7
0.1
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

0.5
0.5
0.1
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

1.2
1.1
.5
0.1

0.5
.5
.3
0.1

1.0
1.
.3
0.

na
na
na
na

0.5
0.4
0.2
0.0

na
na
na
na

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na
Essential goods†

Total

Percent

2008

r

na
na
na
na
na
na
Nonessential goods†

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

16.1
13.7
2.4
na
na
na

17.6
14.8
2.7
2.7
0.1
na

10.5
9.2
1.4
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

5.6
4.6
1.0
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

26.5
16.5
9.6
0.4

21.8
13.4
7.9
0.5

17.7
11.2
6.3
0.3

na
na
na
na

8.8
5.4
3.3
0.1

na
na
na
na

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

* Adjusted for changes from 2008 to 2009 in the survey definition of transaction categories.
† For definitions of essential and nonessential goods, see Appendix A.5 in Foster, Meijer, Schuh, and Zabek 2009.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 25
Use of Payment Instruments in a Typical Month, by Type of Non-Retail, In-Person Transactions*
Number per consumer and percent share
Total
Services and other
Person to person
Number
r
r
2008
2008
2008r
2009
2009
2009
Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

0.4
0.3
0.2
na
na
na

0.9
1.0
0.1
0.1
0.0
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

0.9
1.0
0.1
0.1
0.0
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

0.2
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.0

0.4
0.4
0.2
0.0

na
na
na
na

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.0

na
na
na
na

0.1
0.1
0.0
na

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

na
na
na

0.1
0.1
0.1
Total

Percent

2008

r

na
na
na
na
na
na
Services and other

na
0.1
na
0.1
na
0.1
Person to person

2009

2008r

2009

2008r

2009

Paper instruments
Cash......................................................
Check or money order..........................
Check.................................................
Money order......................................
Travelers check.....................................

9.6
5.6
4.0
na
na
na

0.7
.7
.2
.2
0.1
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

10.1
7.6
2.5
2.4
0.1
na

na
na
na
na
na
na

3.6
2.8
0.8
0.7
0.1
na

Payment cards
Debit.....................................................
Credit....................................................
Prepaid..................................................

9.0
4.8
4.1
0.1

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1

na
na
na
na

9.5
5.8
3.5
0.3

na
na
na
na

0.8
0.6
0.2
na

Electronic payments
Online banking bill payment.................
Bank account number payment.............

na
na
na

0.1
0.0
0.1

na
na
na

na
na
na

na
na
na

0.1
0.0
0.1

* Adjusted for changes from 2008 to 2009 in the survey definition of transaction categories.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 26
Payment Instruments Used in a Typical Period, by Type of Instrument and Transaction
Number per consumer
Typical Month

2008r

2009

All payments (9 instruments)
Paper instruments...........................................................................................................................
Payment cards................................................................................................................................
Electronic payments.......................................................................................................................

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0

Bill payments (8 instruments)
Paper instruments...........................................................................................................................
Payment cards................................................................................................................................
Electronic payments.......................................................................................................................

0.1
0.0
0.1
0.0

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

Online payments (6 instruments)
Paper instruments...........................................................................................................................
Payment cards................................................................................................................................
Electronic payments.......................................................................................................................

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

In-person payments (8 instruments)
Paper instruments...........................................................................................................................
Payment cards................................................................................................................................
Electronic payments.......................................................................................................................

0.1
0.0
0.0
na

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

Typical Year

2008r

2009

All payments (9 instruments)
Paper instruments...........................................................................................................................
Payment cards................................................................................................................................
Electronic payments.......................................................................................................................

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0

Bill payments (8 instruments)
Paper instruments...........................................................................................................................
Payment cards................................................................................................................................
Electronic payments.......................................................................................................................

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0

Online payments (6 instruments)
Paper instruments...........................................................................................................................
Payment cards................................................................................................................................
Electronic payments.......................................................................................................................

0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

In-person payments (8 instruments)
Paper instruments...........................................................................................................................
Payment cards................................................................................................................................
Electronic payments.......................................................................................................................

0.1
0.0
0.0
na

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values. Numbers
are derived from incidence of use statistics.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 27
Assessments of Characteristics of Payment Instruments
Percentage of consumers
Most
important

2nd most
important

3rd most
important

Least
important

2009
Instrument characteristic rating
Acceptance for payment....................................................................
Cost...................................................................................................
Convenience......................................................................................
Security.............................................................................................

1.5
1.6
1.6
1.7

1.5
1.5
1.4
1.5

1.5
1.3
1.5
1.1

1.4
1.4
1.4
.6

2008r
Instrument characteristic rating
Acceptance for payment....................................................................
Acquisition and setup........................................................................
Control over payment timing............................................................
Cost...................................................................................................
Ease of use........................................................................................
Payment records................................................................................
Payment speed..................................................................................
Security.............................................................................................

1.4
0.2
1.4
1.8
3.2
1.
.9
2.4

na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na

na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na

3.4
2.7
1.7
1.4
1.
1.4
1.8
0.4

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 28A
Assessments of Payment Instruments, by Characteristic
Percentage of consumers
Occasionally
Rarely
Acceptance for payment
accepted
accepted
Cash
2008r……………………………………
.7
.6
2009.............................................
.5
.4
Check
2008r……………………………………
.6
1.4
2009.............................................
.7
1.5
Debit card
2008r……………………………………
.6
.6
2009.............................................
.6
0.2
Credit card
2008r……………………………………
.9
0.1
2009.............................................
.6
0.3
Prepaid card
2008r……………………………………
1.
1.6
2009.............................................
.7
.8
Bank account number payment*
2008r……………………………………
1.8
19.3
2009.............................................
1.6
1.4
Online banking bill payment*
2008r……………………………………
1.8
1.8
2009.............................................
1.
.9
Cost
Cash
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Check
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Debit card
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Credit card
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Prepaid card
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Bank account number payment*
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Online banking bill payment*
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................

Very high cost

High cost

Often accepted

Usually
accepted

Almost always
accepted

1.8
1.

1.5
1.1

2.3
1.4

2.5
1.6

2.5
1.5

3.4
1.3

1.9
1.4

2.6
1.5

3.0
1.7

1.7
1.

2.5
1.5

2.8
1.7

2.2
1.6

2.4
1.6

3.1
1.6

26.3
1.3

19.4
1.

21.5
1.4

2.3
1.6
Neither high
nor low cost

1.9
1.6

3.3
1.5

Low cost

Very low cost

.9
.4

1.5
.7

3.5
1.2

1.3
1.1

3.4
1.6

1.
.5

1.9
.9

3.4
1.7

2.7
1.6

2.
1.5

1.
.5

1.7
.8

3.4
1.6

2.3
1.5

2.4
1.6

2.1
1.6

2.5
1.6

3.4
1.3

1.9
1.

1.5
1.1

1.3
.7

2.
1.2

3.1
1.7

1.7
1.4

1.9
1.4

1.
.8

1.9
.7

3.2
1.6

2.
1.5

2.4
1.6

1.
.6

1.9
1.1

3.2
1.6

2.
1.4

2.4
1.7

* In 2008 respondents were asked to assess "electronic deduction." We substituted the rating of electronic deduction for "bank account
number payment" and "online banking bill payment" in this table.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 28B
Assessments of Payment Instruments, by Characteristic
Percentage of consumers
Very hard to
Convenience
Hard to use
use
Cash
2008r……………………………………
na
na
2009.............................................
0.6
0.6
Check
2008r……………………………………
na
na
2009.............................................
0.7
1.4
Debit card
2008r……………………………………
na
na
2009.............................................
0.4
0.4
Credit card
2008r……………………………………
na
na
2009.............................................
0.5
0.5
Prepaid card
2008r……………………………………
na
na
2009.............................................
1.0
0.9
Bank account number payment*
2008r……………………………………
na
na
2009.............................................
1.2
1.4
Online banking bill payment*
2008r……………………………………
na
na
2009.............................................
0.8
0.8
Security
Cash
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Check
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Debit card
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Credit card
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Prepaid card
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Bank account number payment*
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................
Online banking bill payment*
2008r……………………………………
2009.............................................

Neither hard
nor easy to use

Easy to use

Very easy to
use

na
1.2

na
1.4

na
1.7

na
1.6

na
1.5

na
1.3

na
1.1

na
1.5

na
1.7

na
1.1

na
1.4

na
1.7

na
1.6

na
1.4

na
1.6

na
1.6

na
1.2

na
1.3

na
1.6
Neither risky
nor secure

na
1.5

na
1.6

Secure

Very secure

Very risky

Risky

2.7
1.6

1.9
1.1

1.8
1.2

1.2
1.0

3.3
1.6

1.7
1.3

2.5
1.6

1.9
1.2

2.1
1.5

3.4
0.9

1.6
1.2

2.5
1.5

1.9
1.5

2.2
1.4

3.5
1.4

1.8
1.4

2.4
1.4

1.8
1.4

2.2
1.4

3.4
1.4

2.1
1.4

2.2
1.3

2.2
1.6

1.9
1.2

3.4
1.2

1.5
1.6

2.2
1.5

2.1
1.4

2.1
1.1

3.3
1.0

1.5
1.4

2.2
1.4

2.1
1.3

2.1
1.4

3.3
1.3

* In 2008 respondents were asked to assess "electronic deduction." We substituted the rating of electronic deduction for "bank account
number payment" and "online banking bill payment" in this table.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 29
Demographics: Gender, Age, Race, and Education *
Percentage of consumers
2008r

2009

Gender
Male...............................................................................................................................................
Female...........................................................................................................................................

2.9
97.1

1.7
98.3

Age
18–24.............................................................................................................................................
25–34.............................................................................................................................................
35–44.............................................................................................................................................
45–54.............................................................................................................................................
55–64.............................................................................................................................................
65 and older...................................................................................................................................

3.7
2.1
1.8
1.7
1.5
1.6

1.5
1.5
1.4
1.1
0.9
1.1

Race
White.............................................................................................................................................
Black..............................................................................................................................................
Asian..............................................................................................................................................
Other..............................................................................................................................................

2.6
2.0
1.0
1.8

1.8
1.3
0.7
1.6

Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino.........................................................................................................................

3.6

1.8

Education
No high school diploma.................................................................................................................
High school....................................................................................................................................
Some college..................................................................................................................................
College...........................................................................................................................................
Post-graduate study........................................................................................................................

1.9
3.2
2.0
1.6
0.9

1.2
1.8
1.3
0.9
0.6

* Tables of unweighted sample demographics available upon request.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 30
Income and Labor Force Status*
Percentage of consumers
2008r

2009

Household income
Less than $25,000..........................................................................................................................
$25,000–$49,999...........................................................................................................................
$50,000–$74,999...........................................................................................................................
$75,000–$99,999...........................................................................................................................
$100,000–$124,999.......................................................................................................................
$125,000 or more..........................................................................................................................
$125,000–$199,999....................................................................................................................
$200,000 or more.......................................................................................................................

2.2
3.3
1.9
1.4
0.8
0.8
na
na

1.4
1.7
1.4
1.1
0.5
0.8
0.5
0.3

$75,000 or more, breakdown not specified....................................................................................

0.1

na

Respondent income
Highest in household.....................................................................................................................
About equal with highest...............................................................................................................
2nd highest.....................................................................................................................................
3rd highest or lower.......................................................................................................................

3.0
3.5
2.3
1.4

1.7
1.1
1.5
1.5

Labor force status
Working now.................................................................................................................................
Unemployed and looking for work................................................................................................
Temporarily laid off, on sick or other leave...................................................................................
Disabled.........................................................................................................................................
Retired...........................................................................................................................................
Homemaker...................................................................................................................................
Other..............................................................................................................................................

2.3
1.0
0.1
0.9
1.7
0.8
0.5

1.3
0.4
0.2
0.5
1.0
0.4
0.4

* Tables of unweighted sample demographics available upon request.
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 31
Consumers' Financial Responsibility in the Household
Percentage of consumers
Task
Budgeting
All..................................................................................................................................................
Most...............................................................................................................................................
Shared equally...............................................................................................................................
Some..............................................................................................................................................
None..............................................................................................................................................
Bill payment
All..................................................................................................................................................
Most...............................................................................................................................................
Shared equally...............................................................................................................................
Some..............................................................................................................................................
None..............................................................................................................................................
Shopping
All..................................................................................................................................................
Most...............................................................................................................................................
Shared equally...............................................................................................................................
Some..............................................................................................................................................
None..............................................................................................................................................
Asset management
All..................................................................................................................................................
Most...............................................................................................................................................
Shared equally...............................................................................................................................
Some..............................................................................................................................................
None..............................................................................................................................................
NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

2008r

2009

2.8
1.5
3.3
2.1
1.2

1.7
1.1
1.4
1.1
1.3

2.9
1.4
3.4
2.0
1.4

1.7
1.0
1.2
1.3
1.3

2.6
1.5
3.3
2.1
1.1

1.6
0.9
1.5
1.5
0.9

2.6
1.4
3.3
1.8
1.9

1.5
0.9
1.3
1.2
1.7

2009 Survey of Consumer Payment Choice - Standard Errors
Table 32
Selected Assets and Liabilities
Percentage of consumers, except as noted
2008r

2009

Change

Credit card debt
Carried unpaid balance at any time during the past 12 months ..............................
Credit card balance unpaid, previous month (dollars).............................................
Per credit card adopter........................................................................................
Per revolver.........................................................................................................

3.5

1.6

-1.9

356
534

308
515

-48
-19

Change in unpaid balance since a year ago
Much lower..........................................................................................................
Lower...................................................................................................................
About the same.....................................................................................................
Higher...................................................................................................................
Much higher.........................................................................................................

2.4
2.9
2.9
2.0
2.2

1.6
1.8
2.1
1.6
1.3

-0.8
- 1.0
- 0.9
- 0.3
- 0.9

Home ownership
Home ownership rate ..............................................................................................

3.5

1.7

-1.8

NOTES: Superscript "r" denotes revised. Numbers in italics are not comparable across years due to changes in the survey. Numbers may
not sum exactly due to rounding or missing values.

©2009-2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.