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Cheque volumes continue to grow in many major economies, including India, China and some countries in SE Asia. The relative growth may be less than e-payments, but in aboslute numbers they are quite significant. Most often cheques pay for themselves.. think of float the bank's enjoy - fees levied for issuance, clearing. Settlement cycles for e-payments are under pressure, so are those for cheques but less so. No argument can be made for cheques being the most efficient instrument available, but certainly very convenient for a very large segment of people. Unless e-payments can take away some of the barriers to use, cheques will continue to be cut. Some habits die hard, at least for some.