diff --git a/src/accountant.rs b/src/accountant.rs
index 72d5c90db8..efa56ca1be 100644
--- a/src/accountant.rs
+++ b/src/accountant.rs
@@ -24,12 +24,18 @@ pub enum AccountingError {
 pub type Result<T> = result::Result<T, AccountingError>;
 
 /// Commit funds to the 'to' party.
-fn apply_payment(balances: &mut HashMap<PublicKey, i64>, payment: &Payment) {
-    *balances.entry(payment.to).or_insert(0) += payment.tokens;
+fn apply_payment(balances: &RwLock<HashMap<PublicKey, RwLock<i64>>>, payment: &Payment) {
+    if balances.read().unwrap().contains_key(&payment.to) {
+        let bals = balances.read().unwrap();
+        *bals[&payment.to].write().unwrap() += payment.tokens;
+    } else {
+        let mut bals = balances.write().unwrap();
+        bals.insert(payment.to, RwLock::new(payment.tokens));
+    }
 }
 
 pub struct Accountant {
-    balances: RwLock<HashMap<PublicKey, i64>>,
+    balances: RwLock<HashMap<PublicKey, RwLock<i64>>>,
     pending: RwLock<HashMap<Signature, Plan>>,
     signatures: RwLock<HashSet<Signature>>,
     time_sources: RwLock<HashSet<PublicKey>>,
@@ -39,10 +45,10 @@ pub struct Accountant {
 impl Accountant {
     /// Create an Accountant using a deposit.
     pub fn new_from_deposit(deposit: &Payment) -> Self {
-        let mut balances = HashMap::new();
-        apply_payment(&mut balances, deposit);
+        let balances = RwLock::new(HashMap::new());
+        apply_payment(&balances, deposit);
         Accountant {
-            balances: RwLock::new(balances),
+            balances,
             pending: RwLock::new(HashMap::new()),
             signatures: RwLock::new(HashSet::new()),
             time_sources: RwLock::new(HashSet::new()),
@@ -77,15 +83,15 @@ impl Accountant {
             return Err(AccountingError::InvalidTransferSignature);
         }
 
-        if let Some(x) = self.balances.write().unwrap().get_mut(&tr.from) {
-            *x -= tr.tokens;
+        if let Some(x) = self.balances.read().unwrap().get(&tr.from) {
+            *x.write().unwrap() -= tr.tokens;
         }
 
         let mut plan = tr.plan.clone();
         plan.apply_witness(&Witness::Timestamp(*self.last_time.read().unwrap()));
 
         if let Some(ref payment) = plan.final_payment() {
-            apply_payment(&mut self.balances.write().unwrap(), payment);
+            apply_payment(&self.balances, payment);
         } else {
             self.pending.write().unwrap().insert(tr.sig, plan);
         }
@@ -98,7 +104,7 @@ impl Accountant {
         if let Occupied(mut e) = self.pending.write().unwrap().entry(tx_sig) {
             e.get_mut().apply_witness(&Witness::Signature(from));
             if let Some(ref payment) = e.get().final_payment() {
-                apply_payment(&mut self.balances.write().unwrap(), payment);
+                apply_payment(&self.balances, payment);
                 e.remove_entry();
             }
         };
@@ -131,7 +137,7 @@ impl Accountant {
         for (key, plan) in pending.iter_mut() {
             plan.apply_witness(&Witness::Timestamp(*self.last_time.read().unwrap()));
             if let Some(ref payment) = plan.final_payment() {
-                apply_payment(&mut self.balances.write().unwrap(), payment);
+                apply_payment(&self.balances, payment);
                 completed.push(key.clone());
             }
         }
@@ -183,7 +189,8 @@ impl Accountant {
     }
 
     pub fn get_balance(&self, pubkey: &PublicKey) -> Option<i64> {
-        self.balances.read().unwrap().get(pubkey).cloned()
+        let bals = self.balances.read().unwrap();
+        bals.get(pubkey).map(|x| *x.read().unwrap())
     }
 }
 
@@ -329,15 +336,24 @@ mod bench {
         let transactions: Vec<_> = (0..4096)
             .into_par_iter()
             .map(|_| {
+                // Seed the 'from' account.
                 let rando0 = KeyPair::new();
                 let tr = Transaction::new(&mint.keypair(), rando0.pubkey(), 1_000, mint.last_id());
                 acc.process_verified_transaction(&tr).unwrap();
+
+                // Seed the 'to' account.
                 let rando1 = KeyPair::new();
+                let tr = Transaction::new(&rando0, rando1.pubkey(), 1, mint.last_id());
+                acc.process_verified_transaction(&tr).unwrap();
+
+                // Finally, return a transaction that's unique
                 Transaction::new(&rando0, rando1.pubkey(), 1, mint.last_id())
             })
             .collect();
         bencher.iter(|| {
+            // Since benchmarker runs this multiple times, we need to clear the signatures.
             acc.signatures.write().unwrap().clear();
+
             transactions.par_iter().for_each(|tr| {
                 acc.process_verified_transaction(tr).unwrap();
             });