Electronic payment poised for growth.

• Position: Marketing News - Brief Article

It's been a long time coming, but it appears that electronic payment is finally here. A nationwide survey by the American Bankers Association and Dove Consulting of Boston concludes that about half of all in-store purchases now are made with some form of cash-free payment: debit cards, credit cards, prepaid cards or direct payment. Further, more than half of consumers now pay bills online or by direct payment.

Over the next two years, electronic payment for in-store purchases is expected to grow. About a quarter of the survey respondents say they plan to increase their use of debit cards, and about 21 percent said they'll be reducing their use of...