[type111]

You've got it. They certainly don't create these IOUs for -any- reason (I'd wager there's legislation that strictly governs this.) In practice deposits (customer assets/bank liabilities) are created simultaneous to the customer handing over an asset of equal value: their promise to pay down the debt, such that the books balance.

A side note to think about: Although the memes might have you believe that 'money' is being 'printed' by the bank, in actuality the true creation is happening on the side of the customer whom, from nothing, manifests an asset into the world: their promise to pay. Intentional or otherwise the system obfuscates this fact.

[civilized]

Thank you, this is great. I am still a bit mystified for murky reasons I may be able to articulate better later... but feel much closer to understanding this than before :)