ESL Banking Vocabulary

This page contains various resources about ESL banking vocabulary. They are:

• Banking vocabulary list with definitions.
• Banking vocabulary flashcards that you can download.
• Spoken banking vocabulary to help with pronunciation.
• Banking vocabulary exercises to test your understanding of the information.

Just scroll down to find the section you want.

Banking Vocabulary List with Definitions

Where ever you go in the world it is likely you will need to use ESL banking vocabulary. No matter where you are, you will need to be able to access money.

• 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)

Banking Vocabulary Flashcards

To help you learn the ESL banking vocabulary above, Excellent ESL 4U has produced some flashcards that you can download and print out. Just click on the image or link below to download the flashcards.

ESL banking vocabulary flashcards

Spoken Banking Vocabulary

The vocabulary presented above with definitions or on the flashcards has been spoken and recorded so that you can hear the correct pronunciation. Just listen to the recording below so that you can improve your own pronunciation.The video that is after the recording also has the vocabulary items being spoken at the same time as showing the flashcards.

ESL Banking Vocabulary Exercises

When you know and understand all the vocabulary presented on this page you can try the following exercises all about the ESL banking vocabulary you have just learnt.

Exercise 1 - Correct Definition

In the following 5 questions you will be given a word from the vocabulary list above and 4 possible definitions. Chose the correct option from the list of definitions. When finished do not forget to post your score to Facebook to show all your friends how good your English is!

ESL Banking Vocabulary Definitions

Choose the correct definition for the banking vocabulary in this quiz.

1) What is the definition of Balance?

    A) The amount of money in an account: could be positive or negative.
    B) Money to be paid to the bank to use certain services or as a fine if a mistake is made.
    C) The area in a bank where the tellers work.
    D) Borrowed money that is received now but needs to be paid back, often monthly, with interest added.

2) What is the definition of Borrow?

    A) Either a paper or electronic summary of the money paid into or out of an account that month.
    B) To empty an account of money and tell the bank it is no longer going to be used.
    C) To get money from a bank now that a person does not own and so has to pay to the bank at a later time.
    D) Any situation where money is deposited or withdrawn from an account.

3) What is the definition of Overdrawn?

    A) The record of the money that a customer has at the bank.
    B) An amount of money that can be used each month that the customer does not own.
    C) A four digit number used to access ATM machines.
    D) To have used more money than there is in the account so that money is owed to the bank.

4) What is the definition of Bank manager?

    A) To start an account at a bank for the first time.
    B) A person who works at the bank counter and accepts and gives out money to the bank’s customers.
    C) A staff member who helps customers.
    D) The person who is in charge of a branch of the bank.

5) What is the definition of Identification?

    A) Someone who works at a bank to prevent thieves from steeling the money.
    B) An item that proves your identity, such as a passport or driver’s license.
    C) 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.
    D) A written order telling the bank to pay or transfer money to someone.

Score =

Correct answers:

Exercise 2 - Correct Meaning

In this exercise each question has a definition of a word from the ESL banking vocabulary list and you need to chose the word with the same meaning. There are 5 questions with 4 options to chose from in each.

ESL Bankin Vocabulary Identification of Meaning

Choose the word that matches the definition given in each of the five questions in this quiz.

1) What is the meaning of the following definition: Money to be paid to the bank to use certain services or as a fine if a mistake is made?

    A) Balance
    B) Bank charges
    C) Loan
    D) Overdraft

2) What is the meaning of the following definition: The bank or the building where customers use the bank services?

    A) Branch
    B) Interest
    C) Open an account
    D) Transaction

3) What is the meaning of the following definition: An instruction to the bank to pay the same person or company the same amount of money on a regular schedule, often monthly?

    A) Payee
    B) Debit card
    C) Close an account
    D) Standing order

4) What is the meaning of the following definition: To give the bank money to be added to a customer’s account?

    A) Counter
    B) Deposit
    C) Bank card
    D) Guard

5) What is the meaning of the following definition: A four digit number used to access ATM machines?

    A) Balance
    B) ATM card
    C) PIN number
    D) Withdrawal

Score =

Correct answers:

Exercise 3 - Identify Picture

Identify what is shown in each of the 5 pictures (A-E), below, by answering the following questions.

ESL Banking Vocabulary Picture Descriptions

Identify the best description for each of the images (A-E) given above that correspond to the five questions in this quiz.

1) Which description best describes picture A given above?

    A) Bank statement
    B) ATM card
    C) ATM
    D) Teller

2) Which description best describes picture B given above?

    A) Deposit
    B) Main branch
    C) Teller
    D) Bank manager

3) Which description best describes picture C given above?

    A) Debit card
    B) Loan
    C) Cash
    D) Interest

4) Which description best describes picture D given above?

    A) Guard
    B) Paying-in slip
    C) Payee
    D) Bank manager

5) Which description best describes picture E given above?

    A) Teller
    B) Deposit
    C) Main branch
    D) Statement

Score =

Correct answers:

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