At the Bank

 Listen When you go to the bank, you will need to know how to say many things. I will
cover opening a bank account, closing a bank account, applying for a credit card, and
everything I can think of that is used at the bank.

 Listen When you go into a bank to open an account, the first thing you need to say is, 'I
would like to open a bank account.' There are many different types of accounts so they will
probably explain all the different accounts. A free checking account is the most useful so I
will use the checking account as the example.

 Listen A checking account will have several types. A free account, a paid account, and a
premium paid account. The difference between these accounts are that they provide more
services such as free traveler's check or free bank checks with the premium accounts. When
they ask you what type of account you want, you can say, 'I would like a free checking
account.'

 Listen Opening an account is very easy. I will not go into more details because the rest of
the conversation will be controlled by the bank specialist. Just answer the questions and
you shouldn't have a problem.

 Listen When you close an account, it is much more difficult. Banks do not like people
closing accounts so you have to be persistent. When I tried to close a checking account I
wasn't using, it really took me three times before I succeeded. Each time they showed me
the benefit of keeping it and I was convinced. After three trips to the bank, I finally closed
the account. Here are some sentences you can use. 'I would like to close my bank account.'
They will ask you, 'Why do you want to close your bank account?', 'Is there a reason you
want to close your account?', or 'Were you unsatisfied with something?' The simple answer
is, 'I just don't use this account so I want to close it.'

 Listen When you want to take money out of your account, you really don't need to say
anything. You will either use the ATM machine or you will fill out the withdrawal form.
Both cases don't need for you to say a single word. But if you need to say something, you
can say, 'I would like to make a withdrawal.' They will tell you to fill out a form or they
will simply ask, 'How much would you like.' More likely, they will ask you for your
account number and for ID.

 Listen Making a deposit is the same way. You can fill out a form and give them the form
along with the money. If you want to speak, you can say the following while handing them
the form and money. 'I would like to make a deposit.'
  Listen Finally, here is a short list of a variety of sentences that you might need at the
bank.
'What do I need to open an account?'
'Can I have multiple accounts?'
'Do you have online service with each account?'
'How do I access my account online?'
'Does this account come with online bill payer?'
'Can I pay all my bills online with this account?'
'How much do you charge if I use a different banks ATM?'
'What are all the charges with this particular account?'
'Do you have a safe deposit box here?'
'I would like to rent a safe deposit box.'
'How much is it to rent a safe deposit box?'
'How do I access my safe deposit box?'
'What are the hours at this branch?'
'How many branches do you have?'
'I would like to take out a loan.'
'May I speak to someone about a business loan?'
'I am interested in taking out a home equity line of credit. Who can I speak to about this?'

 Listen I hope everyone finds this lesson helpful. This lesson was suggested by our user
colombit, and I want to remind everyone that you may request a lesson at anytime

Banking and money vocabulary

ATM

abbreviation of Automated Teller Machine: a machine, usually in a wall outside a bank,

from which you can take money out of your bank account using a special card.

bank balance

the amount of money in a bank account.

I'd like to check my bank balance, please.

bank charges

sums of money paid by a customer for a bank's services.

bank statement

a printed record of the money put into and removed from a bank account

bounce

when a check cannot be paid or accepted by a bank because of a lack of money in the
account:

I had to pay a penalty fee when my check bounced.

cash

(noun) money in the form of notes and coins, rather than checks or credit cards:
Do you have any cash on you?

cash a check/cheque

(verb) to exchange a check for cash:

Would you cash a check for me?

checkbook (US) / chequebook (UK)

a book of checks / cheques with your name printed on them which is given to you by your
bank to make payments with.

check (US) / cheque (UK)

a printed form, used instead of money, to make payments from your bank account:

I wrote him a check for $100.

credit

1. money in your bank account.

I was relieved to see from my statement that my account was in credit

2. a method of paying for goods or services at a later time, usually paying interest as well as
the original money.

They decided to buy the car on credit.

credit card
a small plastic card which can be used as a method of payment, the money being taken
from you at a later time.

checking account (US) / current account (UK)

a bank account that you can take money from at any time and which usually earns little or
no interest.

debit

(a record of) money taken out of a bank account.

The account was in debit at the end of the month (= more money had been spent than was
in the account at that time).

debt

money, which is owed to someone else, or the state of owing something:

He managed to pay off his debts in two years.

The firm ran up huge debts.

deposit (US) / pay in (UK)

to put money into a bank account.

If you go to the bank, will you deposit these checks for me?

direct debit

an arrangement for making payments, usually to an organization, in which your bank

moves money from your account into the organization's account at regular times:

I pay my electricity bill by direct debit.

expense

when you spend or use money.

Buying a bigger car has proved to be well worth the expense.

We've just had a new garage built at great expense.

insurance

an agreement in which you pay a company money and they pay your costs if you have an
accident, injury, etc:
life/health/car/travel insurance

interest

1. money which is charged by a bank or other financial organization for borrowing money.

I got a loan with an interest rate of 10%.

2. money that you earn from keeping your money in an account in a bank or other financial
organization.

You should put the money in a savings account where it will earn interest.

loan

a sum of money which is borrowed, often from a bank, and has to be paid back, usually
together with an additional amount of money that you have to pay as a charge for
borrowing.

She's trying to get a $100 000 loan to start her own business.

NSF

Non Sufficient Fund

overdraft

The act of overdrawing a bank account.

payee

a person who money is paid to or should be paid to.

savings account (US) / deposit account (UK)

a bank account in which you usually leave money for a long time and which pays you
interest.

standing account (UK)

an instruction to a bank to pay a particular amount of money at regular times from a

person's bank account to another bank account (compare direct debit)

tax
(an amount of) money paid to the government, which is based on your income or of the cost
of goods or services you have bought:

They're putting up the tax on cigarettes.

traveler's check

a piece of paper that you buy from a bank or a travel company and that you can use as
money or exchange for the local money of the country you visit

withdraw

to take money out of a bank account.

Banking idiomatic expressions

Can I bank on your support?

A fool and his money are soon parted.

A company or an activity which is a licence to print money.

The company has been coining it/money since the new manager took over.

Since he's in the money, he's extremely generous to his friends.

Ice cream sellers are minting money thanks to the heat.

Most people think being a professional footballer is money for jam.

That costs an arm and a leg.

I got it for a song.

Time is money.

More money idioms with explanations and examples

Rich and poor

Describing a rich or a poor person:

Rich:
stinking rich, flush, well-heeled, loaded, moneyed, well-to-do, filthy rich, rolling in it,
wealthy, prosperous, affluent, well off, ...

Poor:

dirt poor, hard up, needy, skint, broke, penniless, moneyless, poverty-stricken, empty-
handed, deprived, unfortunate, underprivileged, meager, reduced, pitiable, humble, lowly,
modest, destitute...

Banking and Money (Banca y dinero)

Vocabulary (Vocabulario)
English Español

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cuenta
account

Play
balance/saldo
balance

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banco
bank

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gastos bancarios/comisión
bank charges

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cajero automático
bank machine (ATM)

Play
cajero
bank teller

Play billetes
bills

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sucursal
branch

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dinero
cash

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cheque
check

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monedas
coins

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tarjeta de crédito
credit card

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moneda
currency

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ingreso
deposit

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el cambio
exchange rate

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en efectivo
in cash

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interés
interest

Play tasa de interés

interest rate

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préstamo
loan

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la cuenta al descubierto
overdraft

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suelto
small change

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firma
signature

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estado de cuenta
statement

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cheques de viajero
traveler's check

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transferencia bancaria
wire transfer

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retirada
withdrawal

Verbs Verbos

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cobrar
to charge

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ingresar
to deposit
 Play
firmar
to sign

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retirar, sacar
to withdraw

Useful Phrases (Frases útiles)

 Play

Is there a bank machine near here? (¿Hay un cajero automático cerca de aquí?)

 Play

Where is there a bank? (¿Dónde hay un banco?)

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Where can I change money? (¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero?)

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Can you change money for me? (¿Me puede cambiar dinero?)

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What is the exchange rate? (¿Qué es el cambio?)

 Play

Do you accept traveler's checks [credit cards]? (¿Acepta cheques de viajero [tarjetas de
crédito]?)

 Play

Can I cash a check? (¿Puedo cambiar un cheque?)

 Play

Is there a commission/fee? (¿Cobra comisión?)

  Play

Where do I sign? (¿Dónde firmo?)

Dialogue (Diálogo)
Bank teller:

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Good morning, how can I help you today?

Cajero: Buenos días. ¿Cómo le puedo ayudar?

Anne:

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Hello. I would like to make a wire transfer from my bank account to this number, please.
Anne: Hola. Quiero hacer una transferencia de mi cuenta bancaria a esta cuenta, por favor.

Bank teller:

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Okay. Can you give me your I.D. card for identification?

Cajero: Vale. ¿Me puede dejar un carnet de identidad?

Anne:

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Yes, here it is.

Anne: Sí, aquí lo tiene.

Bank teller:

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There is a $3 charge for wire transfers.

Cajero: Hay una comisión bancaria de $3 para transferencias.

Anne:

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Okay, that's fine.
Anne: Vale, está bien.

Bank teller:

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Here is your copy of the wire transfer.

Cajero: Aquí tiene la copia de la transferencia.

Anne:

Play

Thank you, good-bye.