Wife and I rented a little 1200 sq ft bungalow when we were first married in ‘73. Cheap rent allowed us to save up for a new bed. We paid by check on our savings account.
Our son came into the world in 1976 and the dairy route driver (I know this dates me) set up an account to leave milk in the little cold box on the front porch step.
When we paid off this service and closed the account, we began to get bank and S&L mail, offering “preferred” rates on loans. That was the beginning.
my wife and i were married in ‘73 as well.