Intermediate 1 Unit 9

Unit 9
Banking

Introduction

a. Complete the dialogue with the correct words and phrases.

cash dispensers • checking account • debit card • deposit • maintenance fee • withdraw

Customer: I’d like to open a basic (1)__________________.

checking account

Bank Clerk: Sure. That would be our Essentials account. And that comes with a free
(2)__________________.
debit card

Customer: Can I use the card to (3)__________________

withdraw money from the ATM?
Bank Clerk: Yes, and there’s no fee when you use our bank’s (4)__________________.
cash dipensers

Customer: Does the account have a monthly (5)__________________?

maintenance fee

Bank Clerk: There is a $12 fee. But you can avoid it if you keep a balance of $1000
in your account.
Customer: How much money do I need to (6)__________________
deposit when I open the
account?
Bank Clerk: A minimum of $100.

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Intermediate 1 Unit 9

b. The sentences in the chart below all include modals. Mark whether the sentences
express possibility, necessity, or advice.

Possibility Necessity Advice

1. I can deposit the money directly into your account.

2. You must make at least two deposits a month.

3. Do I have to pay with cash?

4. I should do more banking online.

5. You can’t use a credit card or debit card.

6. I need to find a bank with fewer fees.

7. You ought to open a savings account.

c. Complete the sentences below by choosing the correct modals.

1. You need / must/ can to keep $200 in your account if you don’t want to pay a fee.

2. You can/ should/ have to withdraw money from any ATM in the country without a fee.
3. Ought to/ Should/ Have to we open a checking account and a savings account?
4. If you’d like, you should/ can/ must do direct deposit into your checking account.
5. If I decide to buy a car, I’ll have to/ must to/ able to take out a loan from the bank.

6. With my banking app, I‘m should/ able to/ ought to deposit a check using my smartphone.

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 Intermediate 1 Unit 9

Seaview National Bank

a. Match the bank clerk’s responses to the customer’s statements or questions.

Customer
1. I would like my paycheck to go straight into my bank account. ________
b

2. I would like an account that earns money. ________

d

3. How much money do I have left in my account? _________

c

4. Banking hours are very inconvenient. _________

a

5. I like the idea of doing banking from home, but I don’t have an Internet connection.
________
de

Banker
a. With our Secure Savings account you can earn compound interest
b. OK, we’ll sign you up for direct deposit.
c. Your balance is $500.
d. Well, you can also do text or phone banking.
e. You should do Internet banking. All you need is a computer and an Internet
connection.

b. You are a bank clerk who has to explain banking terms to a customer. Define the
following terms.

1. Annual fee ____________________________________________________________

you have to pay the fee avery year

2. ATM ________________________________________________________________
cash dispenser service

3. Compound interest _____________________________________________________

extra money you have to pay for the fee

4. Debit card ____________________________________________________________

you can buy without physical money

c. You are a bank clerk and your partner is a customer. Tell him or her the benefits of
banking at your bank. Then, switch roles.

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Intermediate 1 Unit 9

The Machine Ate My Bank Card!

a. Do you remember the video from the computer lesson? Max goes to the ATM machine
to take out money, then returns to the restaurant. Read the new dialogue between Max
and Thea, and answer the questions.

Max: You were right, Thea! This banking app is great.

Thea: So, you were able to do a card-less cash withdrawal?
Max: Yes. And here’s cash to pay for your food.
Thea: Thank you!
Max: Thank you—for telling me about banking apps. Did you know that my
app shows you where the nearest ATM is?
Thea: That’s great. I wonder if my bank’s app does that. Does your app let you
deposit checks?
Max: It sure does!

1. What does Max think of the banking app?

_____________________________________________________________________
it is great

2. What does Max give Thea?

_cash
____________________________________________________________________

3. Max mentions two things his banking app does. What are they?

_deposit
____________________________________________________________________
checks

_where
____________________________________________________________________
is the nearest ATM

4. How would you describe Max’s mood during the conversation?

____________________________________________________________________
kind

b. Practice the conversation from activity a. with a partner.

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 Intermediate 1 Unit 9

Opening a Bank Account

a. Do you remember the dialogue from the computer lesson? Which of these sentences
would a bank clerk say and which would a customer say?

Bank Clerk Customer

1. This account has no ATM fees.

2. Our Premiere savings account will earn you interest.

3. I’d like to open a checking account.
4. Will you be able to keep a minimum balance of $500 in your
account?
5. Can I deposit checks using my smartphone?

6. I want an account with no monthly fee.

7. Our Rewards Plus savings account has a high interest rate.

b. Write a new dialogue between a bank clerk and a customer. Use words and phrases from
activity a.
Bank Clerk: hello how can I help you?
_____________________________________________________________
Customer: I want a bank account
_____________________________________________________________
Bank Clerk: sure. You just need $100
____________________________________________________________
Customer: will I have a debit card
_____________________________________________________________
Bank Clerk: ____________________________________________________________
yes, and you can use it to buy without physical money.

Customer: _____________________________________________________________
that’s great!

c. With a partner, take turns acting out your dialogues.

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Intermediate 1 Unit 9

E-mails of Inquiry and Response

a. Another customer e-mails DBHI Capital. Read the e-mail and answer the question below.

From: Trey Nuno

To: DBHI Capital Bank Customer Service

Subject: Couple of Questions

Hi.
I am a DBHI customer. I have a Primary checking account and a Basic savings
account, and I have a couple of questions:

What happens if I make a purchase and there isn’t enough money in my checking
account to cover the purchase?

In addition, my checking account has a maintenance fee of $12 a month. I’m a

22-year-old college student, and that’s a high fee for me. (And I won’t be able to
keep a $500 minimum balance in the account to avoid it.) Is there any way you can
lower the fee?

Thank you,
Trey Nuno

b. Correct the sentences according to what you read in the e-mail.

1. Trey Nuno is a wealthy businessman.

_______________________________________________________________________
college student

2. Trey wants to open a savings account.

_______________________________________________________________________
he wants a lower fee

3. Trey has to pay a monthly maintenance fee of $500.

_______________________________________________________________________
$12

4. Trey is interested in working for DBH bank.

_______________________________________________________________________
he wants to do some question

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 Intermediate 1 Unit 9

c. The bank e-mails Trey back. Read the email. Then answer the questions that follow.

From: DBHI Customer Service

To: Trey Nuno

Subject: Couple of Questions

Dear Trey,

First of all, you should sign up for overdraft protection. With overdraft
protection, if you don’t have enough money in your account, we’ll cover the
purchase. Then, we’ll take the money you owe out of your savings account. Our
overdraft protection is free. You only have to pay a fee when you use it.

Secondly, since you’re a student under 23 years old, we can drop the monthly
maintenance fee, and you’ll be able to bank for free!

Give us a call for more information. 1-800-555-6555.

Best regards,
The DBHI Capital Bank Customer Service Team

1. What is an overdraft?
_____________________________________________________________________
if you don’t have enough money in your account they’ll cover the purchase.

_____________________________________________________________________
2. How can Trey Nuno avoid an overdraft?
_____________________________________________________________________
sign up for overdraft protection

_____________________________________________________________________
3. Why doesn’t Trey Nuno have to pay a monthly maintenance fee?
_____________________________________________________________________
he’s a student

_____________________________________________________________________

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Intermediate 1 Unit 9

Banking Trends
a. Below is an advertisement for a mobile banking app. Read the advertisement and do the
activities that follow.

Singer International Bank Mobile Banking App

• Singer International Bank’s mobile banking app was rated best in the country
by Finance News magazine.
• Our app is simple to use, yet allows you to do almost everything on your phone
that you can do in a branch.
• You can send money to friends, deposit checks, see account statements, make
payments at stores, and more.
• No need to remember complicated passwords. Our mobile app uses Touch
ID, which identifies you from your fingerprint. Touch ID is not only convenient
-- it prevents other people from accessing your account.
• We're committed to keeping your private information secure. Our security
systems help protect you with the latest encryption technology

1. The advertisement mentions two methods of improved security. What are they?
_Touch
_____________________________________________________________________
id

______________________________________________________________________
keep orivate information secure

2. What are four things that you can do with this app?
_send
_____________________________________________________________________
money

______________________________________________________________________
deposit checks

______________________________________________________________________
see account statements

______________________________________________________________________
make payments at store

b. Underline all the modals used in the advertisement from activity a.

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