forget your checkbook
I have only seen about to personal checks since I have been here in Germany. Basically everyone pays with cash or the EC card (much like a debit card). In order to get paid, I had to have a bank account, it was stated in my contract. Everyone has direct deposit, which I actually really like. Never have to go to the bank to cash your check.
You might be asking yourself, without personal checks, how does anyone pay thier bills? Easy, using bank transfers. Unlike the US, bank transfers are free (well, included in your bank fees). When you get your telephone bill, there is a payment slip with the phone company’s banking info. You just fill in your bank account number and drop it in the bank’s mailbox and it is withdrawn automatically. Sure beats having to buy a stamp and mail it. Also it is much safer, because you have 6 weeks to cancel any transfer.
Oh, and you can set up automatic withdrawal, and the utilities just pull out what you owe them each month. This is already in the US, too, but kind of scarry.