Text 2. Opening an Account

Teller: Good afternoon, sir.

Michael: I’d like to open an account, please.

Teller: Certainly, sir. Do you live in Geneva?

Michael: Yes. I'm at the Interpreters' School.

Teller: Are you a student, sir?

Michael: Yes, I certainly am.

Teller: What sort of account would you like?

Michael: A current account, I think.

Teller: Have you got any large sums to deposit?

Michael: No, only a thousand francs or so a month.

Teller: Well, we can open a current account with a cheque book for you as long as the initial sum is at least three thousand francs. But, in your case, I would suggest an account that gives you more interest, and which is more practical. We normally advise students to open deposit accounts.

Michael: Can I take out money whenever I like?

Teller: Yes. There are two or three types of account. They allow you to withdraw up to ten thousand francs a month.

Michael: Can I receive money directly from abroad?

Teller: Certainly, sir.

Michael: And can I withdraw at a branch office?

Teller: Of course, though it may be more convenient to open your account in our branch near the University.

Michael: No, I live quite near here. Do you need a passport?

Teller: Yes, please.

Michael: I’m afraid I haven’t got it on me. Will my student card do?

Teller: No, I’m afraid not.

Michael: I’ll come back later, then.

Teller: Very good, sir.

Note: The initial sum necessary in order to have a cheque book varies from country to country and from bank to bank.

Guided Conversation

Exercise 1. Answer the following questions:

1. Where did the dialogue take place?

2. Who were the participants?

3. Why did the young man come to the bank?

4. What did he learn?

5. What were Michael’s requirements to his bank account?

6. Why didn’t Michael open an account with the bank?

Exercise 2. Complete as in the dialogue:

1. I’d like to open…

2. What sort of account…

3. Have you got any large sums…

4. We can open a current account…

5. I’d advise you in your case to take an account…

6. We normally advise students to …

7. Can I take out money…

8. There are two or three…

9. They permit you to withdraw…

10. Can I receive money…

11. Can I withdraw at…

12. It may be more convenient…

Exercise 3. Act out the dialogue with your partner.

Exercise 4. Make up a dialogue by analogy, imagining you are a student at a University in Britain or in the USA.

Text 3. Statement of Account

Study the information in the bank statement, then complete the passage below with the given words:

credit payment cheque account

balance debit cash deposit

debit card transactions

W BANK

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT CURRENT ACCOUNT

CLAPHAM HIGH STREET LONDON SW4

MS JANE SADLER 75 EBURY MEWS LONDON SW5			02-26-56 ACCOUNT NUMBER 54863472 STATEMENT NUMBER 01 STATEMENT DATE 1 MAR 200_
DATE	DETAILS	DEBITS		CREDITS	BALANCE
28 JAN 20 FEB 22 FEB 23 FEB 26 FEB	OPENING DEPOSIT CSH CHEQUE 000001 CHQ AUTOBANK AB69301 OXFORD ST CSH WATERSTONE AND CO. DD BENNET AND SONS TR	53.25 60.00 33.50		300.00 802.20	300.00 246.75 186.75 153.25 955.45
Abbreviations: CHQ – CHEQUE; CSH – CASH; DD – DIRECT DEBIT; TR - TRANSFER

Jane Sadler opened her………..with the Medway Bank on 28^th January 1993, with a cash …….. of £300. On 15^th February she wrote a ………. for £53.25 and this appeared as a ………. on the bank statement on 20^th February. On 22^nd February she took out £60 in ……… from a cashpoint machine. On the following day the bank debited her account by £33.50 for a …….. she had made using her ………… Her monthly salary was paid directly into her account and this appeared as a ………. for £802.20 on 26^th February. There were no further ……… on her account and she finished the month with a ……… of £955.45.