Bounced checks due to insufficient funds reach pandemic levels |
The number of checks rejected due to insufficient funds in the first two months of 2026 reached levels similar to those seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, warns a report by the credit risk analysis center Fidelitas.
The study shows that in December the number of rejected checks reached 97,612, a record high. In January the figure was 89,352 and in February 86,350, numbers well above the historical average.
According to the report, these figures “even exceed the pandemic levels of 2020.”
The study adds that “the ratio of issued to rejected checks is growing astronomically, as paper checks are becoming a less common payment method over time, but remain very prevalent among SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises).”
“Measured in dollars, the economic........