New cash machines from HSBC will tell people when they've exceeded their overdraft limit, which some leading analysts believe will lead to less people getting into serious debt and needing an IVA or Individual Voluntary Arrangement to dig them out.
UK banks have been criticised in the past for allowing consumers to withdraw money they don't have in their accounts, but HSBC are the first to act on setting this straight.
A spokesperson for the group was confident this would have a positive effect on personal finances in the UK and added: "More than 95 per cent of HSBC cash withdrawals are now made at ATMs and while you can already check your account balance before you make a withdrawal, few people do."