If I'm checking my bank balances along the way, I'll find an ATM for my bank, use my card and attempt to transfer $50,000 from one account to another. The machine then tells me I don't have enough money and it tells me how much is in the account. The bank I use doesn't give me the option to simply view account balances when I'm at the ATM so this is the workaround I've found.
Public computer terminals are best for checking and sending e-mail and getting the latest weather forecasts on the road.