English For: Banking & Money
In my online English lessons, I help you speak clearly and confidently about everyday money — opening an account, asking about fees, fixing card problems, and sending or receiving payments — all in simple, natural British English.
Useful Phrases and Idioms (Banking Desk & App)
- Opening an account: “I’d like to open a current account.” / “What ID do I need to bring?”
- Fees & limits: “Are there any monthly fees?” / “What’s the daily cash‑withdrawal limit?”
- Card problems: “My card was declined — could you check the reason?” / “Please block the card — it’s been lost.”
- Payments & transfers: “Could you help me set up a bank transfer?” / “How long do international payments take?”
- Customer service: “Could you explain that in simple terms?” / “Could you confirm that in an email, please?”
- Idioms: “Cost an arm and a leg” (very expensive) / “Tighten your belt” (spend less).
Phrasal Verbs You’ll Use
- Set up: create (an account, a transfer). “Let’s set up a standing order.”
- Top up: add money to a card/account. “I need to top up my travel card.”
- Pay off: finish paying a debt. “I’m paying off my loan early.”
- Take out: withdraw money or start a product. “I took out £50.” / “I took out insurance.”
- Freeze / unfreeze: lock/unlock a card in the app. “I’ll freeze my card now.”
- Bounce back: payment returns to sender. “The transfer bounced back.”
Example Conversation (At the Bank)
Advisor: Good afternoon — how can I help today?
Customer: I’d like to open a current account and set up online banking.
Advisor: Of course. Do you have photo ID and proof of address?
Customer: Yes — my passport and a council tax bill.
Advisor: Perfect. I’ll get this set up and show you how to make transfers in the app.
Discussion Practice
- Ask about fees and limits for a new account.
- Explain a card problem and request help politely.
- Compare two options: debit card vs credit card — which suits you?
Mini Writing Tasks
- Write a short message asking your bank to confirm a transfer.
- Write a polite complaint about a fee you don’t understand.
- Write a simple budget for next month with three categories.
Vocabulary You’ll Hear
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Natural Example |
|---|---|---|
| Current account | Everyday bank account for spending. | “Your salary goes into your current account.” |
| Standing order | Regular fixed payment from your account. | “The rent goes by standing order.” |
| Direct debit | Company collects variable amounts. | “The energy bill is by direct debit.” |
| Overdraft | Agreed negative balance limit. | “There’s a fee if you go over your overdraft.” |
| Interest rate (APR) | Cost of borrowing as a percentage. | “Check the APR before you take out a loan.” |
| International transfer | Payment to another country. | “International transfers may take 1–3 days.” |
| Proof of address | Document showing where you live. | “A utility bill counts as proof of address.” |
| Fraud alert | Warning about suspicious activity. | “We placed a fraud alert on your card.” |
How I Teach This (and Why It Works)
In my lessons, I keep money talk simple and practical — short questions, clear explanations, and useful app language. We practise real dialogues so you can solve problems quickly and feel confident with everyday banking.
If you want to speak about finance more clearly, join my online English lessons with a native speaker. My English speaking course is practical and supportive. You can take English lessons online with a native speaker online, wherever you are.