My mother once told me that when they bought their first house in 1980, she had to go to the bank to withdraw the mortgage loan in cash, bicycle to another bank

My mother once told me that when they bought their first house in 1980, she had to go to the bank to withdraw the mortgage loan in cash, bicycle to another bank (or possibly the notary?) to pay for the house in cash. She was understandably nervous, carrying that much money around.