ESL Banking Vocabulary

Account - A record of the money that a customer has at the bank. (noun)
Account number - An unique number that is used to identify a bank account. (noun)
Advisor - A staff member who helps customers. (noun)
ATM - Automated teller machine/Cash machine – A device that gives money and can be used
to do other account transactions. (noun)
ATM card - A small plastic card that an ATM uses to identify a costumer and their account.
Same as a bank card. (noun)
Balance - The amount of money in an account: could be positive or negative. (noun)
Bank card - A small plastic card that an ATM uses to identify a costumer and their account.
Same as an ATM card. (noun)
Bank charges - Money to be paid to the bank to use certain services or as a fine if a mistake is
made. (noun)
Bank manager - The person who is in charge of a branch of the bank. (noun)
Bank services - The products that a bank offers. (noun)
Bank statement - Either a paper or electronic summary of the money paid into or out of an
account that month. (noun)
Borrow - To get money from a bank now that a person does not own and so has to pay back
to the bank at a later time. (verb)
Branch - The bank or the building where customers use the bank services. (noun)
Cash - Money in the form of notes or coins. (noun)
Cheque (UK)/Check (US) - A written order telling the bank to pay or transfer money to
someone. (noun)
Close an account - To empty an account of money and tell the bank it is no longer going to be
used. (verb phrase)
Counter - The area in a bank where the tellers work. (noun)
Credit card - A small plastic card that can be used to buy items. The balance has to be paid
once at the end of the month. (noun)
Credited - To add money to a bank account. (adjective)
Current account - A bank account that is designed for everyday use. (noun)
Debit card - A small plastic card that can be used to pay for items without giving the seller cash
directly. The money is taken from the account immediately. (noun)
Deposit - To give the bank money to be added to the customer’s account. (verb)
Guard - Someone who works at a bank to prevent thieves from steeling the money. (noun)
Head office - The place where the bank is run from and where information is stored centrally.
(noun)
Identification - An item that proves your identity, such as a passport or driver’s license. (noun)
Interest - 1) The money that needs to be paid each month for borrowing money from the
bank, usually a percentage of the total. (noun) 2) The money the bank pays its customers for
depositing money with them, usually a percentage of the total. (noun)
Loan - Borrowed money that is received now but needs to be paid back, often monthly, with
interest added. (noun)
Main branch - The biggest branch of a bank in a city that offers the most services. (noun)
Open an account - To start an account at a bank for the first time. (verb phrase)
Overdraft - An amount of money that can be used each month that the customer does not
own. (noun)
Overdrawn - To have used more money than there is in the account so that money is owed to
the bank. (adjective)
Passbook - A book containing a record of all the account transactions. (noun)
Payee - Someone who is paid money. (noun)
Paying-in slip - A piece of paper to fill-in when depositing money into an account. (noun)
PIN number - A four digit number used to access ATM machines. (noun)
Savings account - An account used to save money. It often has a higher rate of interest and
penalties for withdrawing money. (noun)
Standing order - An instruction to the bank to pay the same person or company the same
amount of money on a regular schedule, often monthly. (noun)
Teller - A person who works at the bank counter and accepts and gives out money to the
bank’s customers. (noun)
Transaction - Any situation where money is deposited or withdrawn from an account. (noun)
Withdrawal - To take money out of an account. (noun)

ESL Banking Conversations

Conversation 1
Situation: Lucy and Bob are shopping when Lucy wants to go to the bank.

Lucy: I need to quickly go to the bank.

Bob: Ok. Which one?
Lucy: The Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank or ADCB. Its branch is just over there on the corner.
Bob: We should go now as it will close in 10 minutes.
Lucy: Yes, let’s hurry.

Teller: Next please?

Lucy: Good afternoon, I’d like to pay this cheque into my account.
Teller: Good afternoon. Can I please have your account details?
Lucy: Yes, here is my ATM card. It has the account number.
Teller: Thank you. This will just take a moment.
Lucy: Ok.
Teller: Here is your card. The money should be in your account in three working days. Is there
anything else I can help you with?
Lucy: No thanks. That’s all. Goodbye.
Conversation 2

Situation: A new student opens a bank account.

Tui: Hi Andrew. I need to open a bank account. Can you give me some advice please?
Andrew: Sure, I would be happy to help. You’ll need to go to the local branch of the bank and
speak to the bank manager.
Tui: Which is a good bank to choose? I want a bank that will be convenient for me to use when
I go traveling.
Andrew: I think the best bank for you would be the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. It is very big
and has branches nearly everywhere. The closest branch is couple of blocks away from WTC.

Bank employee: Good morning, can I help you?

Tui: Good morning. I’d like to open a bank account with you.
Bank employee: Certainly. Please follow me and I’ll take you to the bank manager.

Bank manager: Good morning.

Tui: Good morning. Can I please open a bank account with the ADCB?
Bank manager: Of course. Please fill in these forms and show me some identification, your
passport or emirates id.
Tui: Here’s my passport. Can I pay some money into my new account today?
Bank manager: Yes, when the account is opened you can deposit money straight away. It will
just take five minutes for me to process the information.
Tui: Great, thanks.
Bank manager: There you are, everything is set-up. Please go to one of the tellers at the front
of the bank to deposit your money.
Tui: Thanks I will.
 Exercise 1 - Fill in the blanks
Fill-in the blanks in the following ESL banking conversation using the options provided in the 5
question below.

Situation: Andrew wants to withdraw some money from his account.

Andrew: I need to get some money before going to eat lunch.

Bob: Ok. __________ (1) __________
Andrew: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. They have a branch just round the corner. __________
(2) __________
Bob: Is the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank good? My bank keeps charging me bank fees so I want
a new account.
Andrew: Yes. I have had my account with them for five years and there have been no
problems.
Bob: Good, I might try opening an account with them. What’s wrong? __________ (3)
__________
Andrew: I’ve put my ATM card in but the machine keeps on displaying that my PIN is wrong
when I enter it.
Bob: Oh dear. You should go into the bank and ask for help.

Teller: Good morning. How can I help?

Andrew: I have been trying to withdraw money from the ATM outside but it won’t accept my
PIN.
Teller: I’m terribly sorry, but the machine is broken. The sign must have fallen off. __________
(4) __________
Andrew: I’d like fifty pounds please.
Teller: Ok. __________ (5) __________
Andrew: Here’s my ATM card and driver’s license.
Teller: Thank you, here is your money. Sorry for the inconvenience.

ESL Banking Conversation

Choose the best option (A-D) in the following five questions to fill in the blanks in the banking
conversation given above.

1) Which option is the best to fill in the first blank?

A) That bank do you need to go to?
B) How often do you do go?
C) Which bank do you need to go to?
D) Would you like to take the bus?
2) Which option is the best to fill in the second blank?
A) I cannot use the ATM.
B) I can use the ATM so it will not take long.
C) You can deposit money at the ATM.
D) The bank will be closed during the day.
3) Which option is the best to fill in the third blank?
A) Is the cash machine not working?
B) Do you not want to get money?
C) Nothing, I have the money.
D) Do you know how to use the ATM?
4) Which option is the best to fill in the fourth blank?
A) You will have to come back tomorrow.
B) You can deposit the money with me.
C) Would you like to see the bank manager?
D) How much money would you like to withdraw?
5) Which option is the best to fill in the fifth blank?
A) Can I have your credit card?
B) Can I have your bank account details and some identification?
C) Here is your money.
D) I’m sorry the bank does not keep that much money.

Exercise 2 – ESL Banking Writing Topics

Write a short paragraph or essay on one of the following topics about banking and visiting a
bank.
Try to use any new banking vocabulary you have learnt and write as much as you can.

Discuss why it is important to open a bank account.

Do you think it is safe to keep all your money in a bank?
Describe what you think it is like to work in a bank.

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