How did multiple bank branches of the same institution maintain an individual’s balance prior to electronic banking?

Question

What would stop people from withdrawing money from multiple banks and over drawing before all bank branches could be updated on the person’s balance?

In: Economics

Answer 1

In the XIX-XX centuries they still had instant communications such as telegraph, telephone and teletype, albeit manually operated. In case of high profile clients they had the option to contact a distant bank. They charged an extra fee for this service. There were ways to get around this and trick the bank, but they were punishable as a form of fraud.