British English · B1 · Unit 8
Banks and money
Banks and money
By the end you can
- Ask about a bank account or a card
- Explain a problem with a payment
- Understand a letter from the bank
Words and phrases
| British English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| my card's been declined | the payment with my card did not work | My card's been declined twice today. |
| block my card | stop my card from working | Can you block my card, please? I think it's been stolen. |
| a current account | a bank account for everyday use (British; American: checking account) | I'd like to open a current account. |
| my balance | how much money is in my account | I checked my balance on the app. |
| a cash machine | a machine for taking out money (British also: cashpoint; American: ATM) | Is there a cash machine near here? |
| take out | get (money) from your account | I need to take out some cash. |
| direct debit | a regular payment the bank takes from your account (British) | I pay the council tax by direct debit. |
| overdrawn | having spent more than there is in your account | I'm fifty pounds overdrawn again. |
| a bank statement | a list of the payments in and out of your account | I need a bank statement for the last three months. |
| my PIN | the secret number for your bank card | I've forgotten my PIN. What can I do? |
| save up for | keep money to buy something later | We want to save up for a new car. |
| sort code | the six-digit number for a UK bank branch | What's your sort code and account number? |
Then talk it through
Calling the bank because your card has stopped working. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.