Can banks check if you have other bank accounts?
Yes, it is technically possible for a bank to run out of physical cash, a situation often driven by liquidity risk rather than a lack of total assets. Banks operate on a fractional reserve system, meaning they keep only a small portion of deposits as readily available cash, while the remainder is invested in longer-term assets like loans and securities. If a large number of depositors suddenly rush to withdraw their money at the same time—a phenomenon known as a "bank run"—the bank may not be able to liquidate those long-term assets fast enough to meet the immediate, physical demand for currency. While modern central banks and the FDIC provide significant safeguards to manage this risk and prevent panic, a bank can still face a short-term cash shortfall before its total assets become an issue.
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One person can theoretically have an endless number of bank accounts, limited only by personal administrative capacity, banking fees, and compliance vetting.