The world of finance is not ready to support your digital lifestyle

Electronic billing and online account statements are my preferred ways of dealing with personal finance. No paper statements to sort and hold on to and the added benefit of being able to access your transaction history online. It also makes me feel better for helping cut down paper waste.
   For businesses too, spending pennies instead of pounds each billing period should be an attractive prospect.
   But there are a couple of reasons not to go fully digital. One is that the electronic services offered by some companies is insufficient. For me it is useful to have access to one or two years of my account history with a service provider. American Express only offers the latest three months' statements and once you select not to receive paper statements there is no online option to revert back.
   Another reason is that, at least in the UK, paper statements are a required element of confirming one's identity. Opening a bank account, changing mobile phone provider and a number of other situations require proof of address. In a country without a central database of its citizens, paper statements fill a gap. When we moved flats a year ago I opted for all utility bills to be electronic except electricity. And it was a good move: Those quarterly power bills get to travel to processing centres all over the UK every time  we apply for something new.
   At least it reduces Royal Mail's loss in postal volumes from the shift to ebilling.