Target Announces Change That Will Affect All Maine Stores Next Week

As major retailers nationwide continue to battle to keep customers visiting their physical locations, one has been more proactive in that fight than others.

That would be Target. Earlier this year, the retailer implemented a major change to their self-checkout lanes. A 10 items or less policy was put into place in hopes that it would speed up the lanes and keep customer grumbles down. That policy has been an overwhelming success for Target over the last few months.

Now, Target is ready for their next phase of payment changes in hopes of keeping lines moving and customer dissatisfaction to a minimum. Target has announced that they will no longer accept personal checks as payment in stores nationwide as of July 15.

Target will join a handful of other major retailers and grocery chains that have done away with personal checks as an accepted form of payment. Whole Foods retreated from accepting personal checks awhile back, citing customer use of debit, credit, or digital payments being the preferred method.

While it may not be a big deal in other states, Maine still has a healthy population of people who pay by check for anything and everything. It was the most popular form of payment through the '70s and much of the '80s, and some old-school Mainers are stuck in their ways. However, the days of paying by check are likely numbered at retailers both small and large.

The new ban on payment by personal check will go into effect at all Target stores next week. That includes all six locations in Maine, in Biddeford, Bangor, Augusta, Topsham, Brunswick, and South Portland.