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>I don't think any responsible bank would let you withdraw using just an account number

What do you think a check is? It's a piece of paper with your account number, who to pay, and how much. There's a signature field, but it's not checked too closely (I don't think my bank even asked for a signature sample when opening my account) and signatures are trivial to forge.

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> What do you think a check is?

My bank doesn't give me a cheque book any more - haven't see a person use a cheque in about a decade. I can't believe they'd let someone cash a random cheque with no authorisation.

Just guessing by "cheque", are you outside the US? The checking system & ACH might be more of a US-centric phenomenon. It's been busted forever, but it's just how we do things around here.

> It's been busted forever, but it's just how we do things around here.

Which is why the rest of the developed world wonders: So why don't you stop that and catch up to, say, the 1990s?

I do that when people send me money for birthdays once a year. Stick the check in the atm, i get money and the person wasn’t asked.

My bank allows me to deposit a check just by photographing it with their smartphone app. No more visits to ATMs needed.

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