A few situations apply for me. I write checks to churches when I show up in person, even for a $1.00 votive candle. I can toss it into the collection basket or the donations jar for donuts and coffee. However, more churches are improving their online donations, and I write fewer checks as a result.

I also cut checks as part of online bill payments. If the bank can't identify an electronic recipient, then the payment gets mailed out on a paper check. This happens for my landlord, and anything I can't set up for AutoPay from the other side. I can even send money to friends this way: anyone with a postal address, and I don't pay fees or postage for this Bill Pay service.

In fact, I make use of Bill Pay so much that I didn't reorder checks for one account. My father was mystified by that decision.