Inquiring about Account Balance and Transactions
A customer needs to check their current account balance, review recent transactions, or request a bank statement. This can be done at the counter or through self-service options.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
account balance
The amount of money currently in your bank account, like how much you have available to spend or withdraw.
transactions
Records of money movements, such as deposits, withdrawals, or payments, that happen in your bank account.
debit card
A plastic card linked to your bank account that lets you pay for things or withdraw cash directly from your funds.
verification
The process of checking your identity to ensure security, often by asking for personal details like your birthday.
date of birth
The specific day, month, and year you were born, commonly used for identification in banking.
printout
A paper copy of information printed from a computer, useful when you want a physical record of your bank details.
bank statement
An official document from the bank showing all your account activity, like transactions, over a certain period, such as a month.
ATM
Short for Automated Teller Machine, a self-service machine outside or inside banks where you can withdraw cash using your card.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I'd like to check my account balance and recent transactions, please.
This is a polite way to start a conversation at a bank counter. Use 'Excuse me' to get attention, 'I'd like to' for a formal request, and 'please' to be courteous. It's useful for making inquiries in service situations.
Do you have your debit card or account number with you?
A question to confirm if the customer has identification. 'With you' means carrying it at the moment. This pattern is common in customer service for security checks; use it when needing proof of identity.
Could you please confirm your date of birth for verification?
A polite request for personal information using 'Could you please' for courtesy and 'for verification' to explain the reason. It's essential in banking for security; practice this for formal ID requests.
Your current balance is $1,250.75.
A direct statement giving account information. 'Current balance' specifies the up-to-date amount. Use this structure to report facts clearly; note how numbers are read in English, like 'one thousand two hundred fifty dollars and seventy-five cents.'
Would you like to see a printout of your last ten transactions, or perhaps a full bank statement?
Offers choices using 'Would you like to' for politeness and 'or perhaps' to suggest an alternative. This is useful for providing options in service interactions; it helps customers feel involved in decisions.
Could you tell me if there's an ATM nearby where I can withdraw cash?
A request for directions with 'Could you tell me' for politeness and 'where I can' to specify the purpose. Great for asking about locations; 'nearby' means close by, and 'withdraw cash' means take out money.
Here's your transaction list.
A simple way to hand over documents using 'Here's' as a contraction of 'Here is.' It's straightforward for service endings; use it when giving items to customers to sound natural and helpful.
Thank you so much for your help!
An expression of strong gratitude with 'so much' for emphasis. Common at the end of interactions; use it to show appreciation in banking or any service to leave a positive impression.