King County Council to vote on bill requiring businesses to accept cash

Many businesses have gone cashless, especially during the pandemic. But that may not be an option in unincorporated King County. Members of the King County Council are slated to vote Tuesday afternoon on a bill that requires retailers to accept cash.

Many retailers have stopped accepting cash for various reasons — to avoid handling costs, prevent theft, or to help speed up transactions.

Katie Wilson, with the Transit Riders Union, an organization focused on issues affecting low-income people, supports the legislation.

“Our membership definitely includes a lot of seniors and low-income residents who have less access to our banking system for one reason or another,” Wilson said.

It’s estimated that 67,000 King County residents are unbanked, or don’t have access to traditional banking services.

A King County analysis shows the legislation would have the most impact on residents in unincorporated areas where 45% are at or below the county’s median household income of $110,586.

Wilson said a card-only system leaves a lot of their members locked out of the economy.

“Even if you have the money to buy a meal or to purchase something, your form of payment is not accepted...is just kind of exclusive.”

In recent years, cities like New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. have passed similar legislation requiring retailers to accept cash.

The Federal Reserve Bank found that cash use declined during the pandemic, but not among consumers with incomes less than $25,000.