Ban On Cashless Businesses Heads To Governor's Desk

A ban on cashless businesses in Rhode Island is headed to Governor Gina Raimondo's desk. The pair of bills, introduced by Representative Mia Ackerman and Senator William Conley, Jr., were approved by both chambers on Thursday.

"More and more retailers are shifting to cashless transactions in other parts of the country for various reasons," Rep. Ackerman, a Democrat from Cumberland, said. "From a consumer perspective, this could have a negative impact on working class customers, senior citizens and college students who don’t have credit cards."

The legislation would require all businesses in Rhode Island to accept cash as a form of payment. Senator Conley said cashless businesses discriminate against anyone who is unable or unwilling to get a credit card.

"This is a consumer protection bill," said Senator Conley,the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. "Credit-card only policies are discriminatory to the old, the young and the poor. They can also be used to track spending history to build a profile and make identity theft easier. Those who wish to avoid all that by paying in cash should not be penalized."

A survey conducted by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation found that around eight percent of American households have no bank account at all, while one quarter of adults don't have a credit card.

"Given the age requirements for credit cards, a cashless policy creates a type of age discrimination that we should not be tolerating," Rep. Ackerman continued. "Businesses still have an obligation to be accessible to everybody — not just those who have a credit card."

The legislation now heads to Governor Raimondo's desk to be signed into law.

READ MORE:

• RI House Approves Ban On Cashless Businesses
• Opinion: Cashless Businesses Hurt Consumers