Why Financial Services Are Growing in Retail Locations
Independent retailers and check cashing stores are always looking for practical ways to increase revenue without adding major costs or operational complexity and financial services continue to deliver on both.
One of the biggest drivers behind this growth is customer demand. According to the FDIC, an estimated 5.6 million U.S. households are unbanked and rely on alternative financial services for everyday transactions. Millions more are considered underbanked, meaning they still depend on in-person services like bill payment, money orders, and prepaid products.
For retailers, this presents a clear opportunity. By offering financial services through platforms like PayHereNetwork, locations can meet essential customer needs while creating consistent, incremental revenue streams.
How Bill Pay and Money Orders Drive Consistent Revenue
Offering bill pay for stores is one of the most effective ways to generate steady, repeat income. Fidelity Express Bill Pay, available through the PayHereNetwork platform, allows customers to pay thousands of local and national billers quickly and conveniently in one place.
When combined with money orders, bill pay becomes even more powerful. Customers who pay bills often need secure, guaranteed payment methods for expenses like rent and utilities. Providing both services positions your store as a dependable, one-stop financial destination.
Industry research by McKinsey shows that customers who engage in frequent, routine transactions at a location are more likely to build lasting habits and increase overall spending over time.
How these services support revenue:
- Service fees generate direct income from each bill payment and money order transaction
- Repeat visits increase the likelihood of additional in-store purchases
- Convenience encourages customer loyalty and repeat business
- Routine payments create predictable monthly transaction volume
Even small increases in transaction activity can produce meaningful long-term gains.
Expanding Revenue with Additional Financial Services
While bill pay and money orders form the foundation of a strong financial services offering, retailers can further increase revenue by expanding into complementary services available through PayHereNetwork.
These services are easy to integrate and help maximize the value of every customer visit.
Additional high-impact services:
- Mobile Top-Up: Enable customers to instantly reload prepaid mobile plans, driving frequent, repeat traffic
- Netspend Prepaid Cards: Offer accessible financial tools for customers seeking alternatives to traditional banking
- Digital Gift Cards: Provide a fast, flexible option for gifting and everyday purchases
Together with bill pay and money orders, these services create more transaction opportunities and increase revenue per visit.
Simple Ways to Grow Revenue in Your Store
You do not need to overhaul your business to see results. Many retailers increase income by making small, strategic adjustments tied directly to financial services.
Practical strategies to drive growth:
1. Promote your financial services consistently
Customers are often unaware of available services. Use in-store signage, counter displays, and cashier prompts to highlight offerings such as bill pay, money orders, and mobile top-up.
2. Encourage repeat transactions
Core services like bill pay and money orders—supported by mobile top-up and prepaid products—are tied to routine needs, helping bring customers back regularly.
3. Expand your offerings gradually
Start with foundational services like bill pay, then add money orders and other PayHereNetwork services over time to grow without disrupting operations.
Why Customers Still Rely on In-Person Financial Services
Payment behavior in the United States continues to evolve, with strong growth in digital and card-based transactions. However, the need for in-person financial services remains strong.
Increasingly, customers are not choosing between cash and digital payments—they are using a combination of both. This shift has created demand for hybrid financial solutions, such as Netspend prepaid cards, which allow customers to load funds in-store and use them digitally for everyday spending. For many underbanked consumers, prepaid cards provide a practical way to participate in digital commerce while still relying on cash-based transactions.
Many consumers rely on physical locations to:
- Pay bills in cash while accessing digital billing systems
- Purchase money orders for secure, widely accepted payments
- Load funds onto prepaid cards for digital use
- Receive immediate confirmation that transactions have been completed
- Handle multiple financial tasks in a single, convenient visit
For independent retailers and check cashing stores, this creates a meaningful opportunity. While transactions may be digital behind the scenes, customers still value trusted, local locations where they can complete essential financial tasks.
By offering a mix of services, including bill pay, money orders, prepaid card solutions like Netspend, and mobile top-up, your store bridges the gap between cash-based transactions and digital financial tools.
Build a Stronger Business by Serving Your Community
Physical retail continues to play a major role in how customers shop. According to Deloitte, approximately 80 percent of shopping still takes place in physical stores, even as digital channels expand.
At the same time, the role of the store is evolving. Successful locations are no longer focused solely on product sales, they are becoming service-driven destinations that strengthen customer relationships while increasing profitability.
Deloitte’s research shows that retailers are investing in:
- More convenient, one-stop experiences
- Services that go beyond traditional product offerings
- Stronger connections with local communities
- Operational improvements that enhance efficiency and service
For independent retailers and check cashing locations, this shift creates a clear advantage.
By offering financial services through PayHereNetwork, your business can:
- Deliver greater value during every customer visit
- Generate repeat traffic through routine transactions
- Build trust by meeting everyday financial needs
- Support long-term revenue growth with consistent usage
Even small additions can make a big difference. Core services like bill pay and money orders—supported by mobile top-up, prepaid cards, and digital gift cards—transform your store into a reliable part of your customers’ financial routine.
Get Started with Fidelity Express and PayHereNetwork
Start offering bill pay, money orders, and more at your location today. Fidelity Express, through the PayHereNetwork, makes it easy to add trusted financial services that drive traffic and increase revenue.
Learn how to become an agent and start growing your business with financial services your customers already need. Contact us, here.
About Fidelity Express
Fidelity Express is a leading provider of walk-in bill payment and financial services for retail locations across 21 states. As a division of GSC Enterprises, Inc., Fidelity Express helps independent retailers grow their business by delivering convenient, accessible financial solutions through the PayHereNetwork.
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