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

Depends on how far into the history you want to go.

Before electronic banking: telephones and meticulous records. There are actually some goofy outfits the ledger handlers used to wear to prevent themselves getting inked. A lot of people were employed just to make sure this system worked and was not abused (by unauthorised abusers at least)

Before telephones: you could just deposit and withdraw in your local bank which kept the records.