Paper bills and statements are rapidly shifting to electronic delivery. Companies save money by going digital. Consumers value convenience and speed. And in 2025, 77% of consumers say they prefer to manage their finances online or on their phones (ABA/Bankrate).
This isn’t a trend. It’s a behavior shift.
Why the Industry Supports the PAPER Act (and why it’s not enough)
Proposed legislation in the United States, like the PAPER Act (H.R. 4538), aims to keep printed bills and statements available without forcing consumers to “opt in.” It protects people who rely on paper: older adults, rural communities, people without reliable internet, and those who manage finances on paper for security or cognitive reasons, for example.
But even if it passes, it won’t solve the real issue. Legislation can protect access, but it can’t make print relevant. The issue isn’t availability. It’s that printed bills and statements don’t offer enough value to compete with digital convenience.
If We Want People to Choose Printed Bills and Statements, They Have to Be Choose-Worthy
Choose-worthy means worth opening, worth keeping, worth receiving in the mail instead of as a text, email, or notification.
Printed bills and statements can do more than list balances and due dates. They can help people see progress, understand their money, make better choices, get personalized offers, feel more in control, and be more connected to their finances and their service providers. To justify the cost of printing and mailing, they also have to help businesses make or save money in other ways. Here are some ideas to ponder.
4 Examples of Choose-Worthy Printed Bills and Statements
Credit Card Statement: Personal Financial Progress Page
What the customer receives exclusively in printed statements:
• You’re paying your balance faster than 62% of cardholders with similar income.
• At your current payment rate, you’ll pay off this balance in 9 months instead of 21.
• You paid more than the minimum. That saved you $48 in interest this month.
What’s in it for the credit card company:
• More customers pay on time and above the minimum.
• Reduced delinquencies, charge-offs, and service calls.
• Increases loyalty and card retention in a competitive market.
• Makes printed statements a financial tool, not just a bill.
Bank Statement: Monthly Money Map
What the customer receives exclusively in printed statements:
• Your account balance grew by 6% this month.
• You saved $240 more than last month.
• You deposited more than you withdrew for 3 months in a row.
• You’re saving a higher percentage of your income than 54% of people your age.
What’s in it for the bank:
• Customers who see their progress are less likely to overdraft or miss payments.
• Encourages the use of savings products like CDs, money markets, and auto-savings.
• Fewer “Where did my money go?” calls result in lower service call costs.
• Increases account retention and wallet share.
Retail/Store Credit Card Statement: Rewards + Redemption
What the customer receives exclusively in printed statements:
• You earned $86 in rewards this month.
• You still have $62 in rewards available to redeem.
Printed QR code links to a personalized shopping page where they can:
• See items that align with their recent purchases or typical spending categories
• Redeem rewards directly toward eligible products
What’s in it for the retailer/card issuer:
• Drives traffic back to the retailer’s site.
• Increases reward redemption, which leads to additional purchases.
• Strengthens loyalty and card usage.
Investment Account Statement: Investment Progress + Next Move
What the customer receives exclusively in printed statements:
• Your portfolio grew 7.4% over the past 12 months.
• You contributed more than 68% of investors in your age group this year.
• You’ve made deposits in 9 of the last 12 months; consistency has the biggest long-term impact.
Next Move Guidance:
This could include information about planning for retirement, how to automate contributions if deposits have stopped, a cadence for reviewing allocations and addressing investment goals or timelines if things have changed, and how to compare this year’s statement to last year’s to track progress or get it back on track.
What’s in it for the investment firm:
• Increases contributions and assets for wealth management.
• Improves retention as confident investors are less likely to transfer accounts.
• Encourages advisory service engagement, which can lead to additional revenue.
Print Must Play the Long Game
Consumers aren’t abandoning printed bills and statements because they hate paper. They’re choosing digital because it’s more convenient, and print isn’t giving them a reason to reconsider. Legislation can protect access to printed bills. But only creativity will make them wanted.
MAKE A STATEMENT LONG AND PROSPER!
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Deborah Corn is the Intergalactic Ambassador to the Printerverse at Print Media Centr and Executive Director of Girls Who Print, a global nonprofit supporting women in the industry. She’s a ‘Print Buyerologist’, international speaker, blogger, and host of Podcasts From The Printerverse. Deborah also leads the Print Production Professionals Group on LinkedIn, the largest print group on the platform.
She is the founder of Project Peacock, an educational initiative that has connected with more than 8,000 print customers, students, and printers through live events, online programs, and streaming video content on ProjectPeacock.TV. She is also the founder of International Print Day, an annual global celebration of print, and the recently launched PrintFM Radio, the first 24/7 global internet radio station dedicated to print and graphic communications.
Through all her work, Deborah delivers printspiration, education, and valuable resources to print and marketing professionals around the world. She’s the recipient of multiple industry honors, including the 2016 Girls Who Print Girlie Award, and serves on advisory boards and technical committees supporting print education and career development, including the Advertising Production Club of NYC, Graphic Communications Education Association (GCEA, Lewis-Clark State College, and Five Keys Schools and Programs.
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