BHN commissioned an online survey of 2,221 U.S. adults in June 2026 covering sixteen payout methods. Its August 25 release defines business payouts broadly, including refunds, rebates, claims, returned deposits and other disbursements. The report landing page is dated August 18; the public announcement supplies the comparisons below. [S01] [S02]

Banking access changes the reported obstacles

Source

Blackhawk Network original research release

Questions measure different attitudes: adding digital gift-card funds to a wallet, and frustration with paper-check payouts. Subgroup sizes, recruitment, weighting, exact questionnaire and uncertainty are not disclosed in the public release. These are reported responses, not a randomized causal comparison or observed redemption results.

Show data tableHide data table

Scroll left or right to see all columns

Payout experience by banking access (%)
Category	Unbanked and underbanked	Fully banked
Digital-wallet access rated very important	46%	29%
Frustrated by receiving a paper check	63%	46%

The research was commissioned by BHN and covered 16 payout methods. Both comparisons above show a 17-percentage-point gap. These are reported preferences and experiences, not evidence that banking status caused a particular outcome. [S01]

The combined unbanked and underbanked group includes people with no or limited access to traditional banking. The public release does not provide the two groups’ separate results, their subgroup sample sizes, the recruitment or weighting procedure, or the complete questionnaire. The comparisons cannot be converted into counts of all U.S. consumers or treated as statistically tested causal effects.

A gift card also changes where value can be spent. A merchant-specific balance can direct expenditure towards a participating retailer, whereas a broader payout method gives the recipient a different spending choice. That commercial attraction for a merchant is not proof that the restricted option is suitable for every person owed money.

BHN traces its business to building a gift card category in grocery stores in 2001. Its company profile now describes digital rewards and corporate payouts alongside retail distribution, and reports more than 400,000 consumer touchpoints worldwide. This is a payment-distribution business researching another use for its network, not an independent polling organisation. [S03]

The company markets prepaid cards and digital delivery for refunds, rebates and other disbursements. It presents those services as an alternative to the work involved in handling cash or mailing checks. Its research landing page connects the findings directly with customer engagement and payout programme

Blackhawk Network ’s August 25, 2026 research puts access to usable funds at the centre of the business-payout discussion. Its survey finds differences between fully banked recipients and those with limited or no banking access, a distinction that matters to a supplier expanding gift card infrastructure into corporate disbursements. [S01] BHN commissioned an online survey of 2,221 U.S. adults in June 2026 covering sixteen payout methods. Its August 25 release defines business payouts broadly, including refunds, rebates, claims, returned deposits and other disbursements. The report landing page is dated August 18; the public announcement supplies the comparisons below. [S01] [S02] Banking access changes the reported obstacles Payout experience by banking access June 2026 online survey commissioned by BHN, 2,221 U.S. adults overall. The grouped percentages describe the two respondent groups shown. Unbanked and underbanked Digital-wallet access rated very important: 46 % Frustrated by receiving a paper check: 63 % Fully banked Digital-wallet access rated very important: 29 % Frustrated by receiving a paper check: 46 % Questions measure different attitudes: adding digital gift-card funds to a wallet, and frustration with paper-check payouts. Subgroup sizes, recruitment, weighting, exact questionnaire and uncertainty are not disclosed in the public release. These are reported responses, not a randomized causal comparison or observed redemption results. Blackhawk Network original research release The research was commissioned by BHN and covered 16 payout methods. Both comparisons above show a 17-percentage-point gap. These are reported preferences and experiences, not evidence that banking status caused a particular outcome. [S01] The combined unbanked and underbanked group includes people with no or limited access to traditional banking. The public release does not provide the two groups’ separate results, their subgroup sample sizes, the recruitment or weighting procedure, or the complete questionnaire. The comparisons cannot be converted into counts of all U.S. consumers or treated as statistically tested causal effects. A gift card also changes where value can be spent. A merchant-specific balance can direct expenditure towards a participating retailer, whereas a broader payout method gives the recipient a different spending choice. That commercial attraction for a merchant is not proof that the restricted option is suitable for every person owed money. BHN traces its business to building a gift card category in grocery stores in 2001. Its company profile now describes digital rewards and corporate payouts alongside retail distribution, and reports more than 400,000 consumer touchpoints worldwide. This is a payment-distribution business researching another use for its network, not an independent polling organisation. [S03] The company markets prepaid cards and digital delivery for refunds, rebates and other disbursements. It presents those services as an alternative to the work involved in handling cash or mailing checks. Its research landing page connects the findings directly with customer engagement and payout programme

Your free reader account