US Banking

I don't get it! I go online to my bank, Citibank, and pay my Landscaper. The bank turns around a few days later and prints a check that they send via the US Postal system. Is this 2008 in a modern world where internet is abundant and I can watch TV on my cell phone? I happen to also have an account in Europe and there internet banking works a little differently:

I go online, enter the recipients account number (nobody writes checks there anymore, every bill is electronic and always has the recipients account number on it), the amount and confirm. Within seconds the funds have arrived in the recipients account. Furthermore, most bills now show up in my bank account (that's right, not in the mailbox) and there I can approve or not - it's one click. These transactions are bank-independent! There's no such thing as waiting for a week or two for a check to clear.

When will the US Banks get coordinated and make this simple for their clients? Of course the banks like to ride the money and make interest but I'm afraid that this hurts them in the long run: Let the clients have immediate access to THEIR money and as such become more effecient and more profitable - this will lead to larger deposits and need for other banking services.

Efficiency on all levels is what will grow the economy.