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

At a basic level, the same thing that stops most kinds of fraud – threat of going to jail.

Further, people didn’t travel much. The people at your local branch knew you. If you went to another branch, they would likely not *let* you simply draw your whole balance. You would have to wait for verification, which could take days.