Emily: Good morning, I’d like some information about opening a bank account, please.
Mr. Carter: Good morning, of course, I’d be happy to help, are you interested in a current account or a savings account?

Emily: I think I need a current account for my salary and everyday payments.
Mr. Carter: That’s fine, our current account comes with a debit card and access to online banking.

Emily: Do you charge a monthly fee for the account?
Mr. Carter: We have two options, one with no monthly fee and one with a small fee but more services.

Emily: What’s the difference between them?
Mr. Carter: The free account has basic services, and the other one includes free ATM withdrawals abroad and a better card.

Emily: How much is the monthly fee for the second account?
Mr. Carter: It’s 6 euros per month, and there is no minimum balance required.

Emily: And for the free account, is there any minimum balance?
Mr. Carter: Yes, for the free account you need to receive your salary here or keep at least 300 euros in the account.

Emily: I will receive my salary here, so that should be okay.
Mr. Carter: In that case, the free account might be perfect for you.

Emily: What documents do I need to open the account?
Mr. Carter: You need your ID or passport, proof of address, and a copy of your work contract if you have one.

Emily: Alright, I have my ID and my rental contract with me today.
Mr. Carter: That’s good, we can start the process now and you can bring any missing document later if necessary.

Emily: How long does it take to open the account?
Mr. Carter: It usually takes about 20 minutes, and the account is active the same day.

Emily: And when do I receive the debit card?
Mr. Carter: We send the card to your address within five to seven working days.

Emily: Can I use online banking as soon as the account is open?
Mr. Carter: Yes, we will give you a temporary username and password so you can log in and change them.

Emily: What can I do with online banking?
Mr. Carter: You can check your balance, see your statements, make transfers, and pay bills from your computer or phone.

Emily: Do you also have a mobile app?
Mr. Carter: Yes, we have a free app where you can manage your account, block your card, and receive notifications.

Emily: Are there any extra fees for online transfers?
Mr. Carter: Transfers inside the country are free, and transfers to other European banks have a small fee.

Emily: Okay, that sounds reasonable.
Mr. Carter: We also send you alerts for any unusual activity on your account to help keep it secure.

Emily: That’s important to me, I’m always worried about security.
Mr. Carter: We use strong security systems, but we also recommend that you never share your PIN or password.

Emily: If I travel, can I use the debit card in other countries?
Mr. Carter: Yes, you can use it abroad, but there may be a small fee for payments and ATM withdrawals outside the euro zone.

Emily: And if one day I want to close the account, is there any penalty?
Mr. Carter: No, there is no penalty, you can close the account at any time, you just need to sign a simple form.

Emily: Thank you, that’s clear, I think I’d like to open the free current account today.
Mr. Carter: Perfect, we can start right now, could I see your ID and rental contract, please?

Emily: Yes, here you are.
Mr. Carter: Thank you, I’ll enter your details in the system and then we’ll sign the account agreement.

Emily: Great, and after that I’ll download the app and try online banking.
Mr. Carter: Excellent idea, if you have any questions later, you can come back or call our customer service line.

Emily: Thanks a lot for your help and explanations.
Mr. Carter: You’re very welcome, Emily, we’re happy to have you as a new customer.

En el diálogo aparece un inglés muy útil para hablar con personal de banco usando términos sencillos.

Tipos de cuenta
Se contraponen dos términos básicos: current account y savings account.
Current account es lo que en España suele ser cuenta corriente, para nómina y pagos diarios.
Savings account es una cuenta de ahorro, normalmente para guardar dinero y ganar algo de interés.

Términos de comisiones y condiciones
Aparecen expresiones muy frecuentes en contextos bancarios:
monthly fee (comisión mensual),
no monthly fee (sin comisión),
minimum balance (saldo mínimo),
receive your salary here (domiciliar la nómina),
return period aquí no sale, pero sí la idea de no minimum balance required.
También: basic services, more services, free ATM withdrawals abroad. ATM es el cajero automático; withdrawals = retiradas.

Tarjeta y banca online
Vocabulario muy básico pero clave:
debit card, online banking, mobile app, log in, username and password, check your balance, see your statements, make transfers, pay bills, block your card, notifications, unusual activity, keep it secure.
Todo esto describe acciones típicas que vas a hacer con tu cuenta desde el banco, el ordenador o el móvil.

Documentación y proceso
Términos importantes para abrir la cuenta:
ID or passport, proof of address (justificante de domicilio), rental contract, work contract, open the account, account is active, account agreement, enter your details in the system.

El cliente empieza con una fórmula muy estándar y educada:
“I’d like some information about opening a bank account, please.”
El uso de I’d like la hace muy cortés sin sonar insegura.

Para preguntar por comisiones y condiciones se usan preguntas muy directas pero amables:
“Do you charge a monthly fee for the account?”
“What’s the difference between them?”
“How much is the monthly fee…?”
“And for the free account, is there any minimum balance?”
Son preguntas claras, sin rodeos, pero con please al inicio o al final de la conversación.

Para hablar de la propia situación:
“I think I need a current account for my salary and everyday payments.”
“I will receive my salary here, so that should be okay.”
Este tipo de frases explican muy bien el contexto personal sin dar demasiados detalles.

Para hablar de la banca online:
“Can I use online banking as soon as the account is open?”
“What can I do with online banking?”
“Do you also have a mobile app?”
Tres preguntas muy reutilizables en cualquier banco.

Para aclarar seguridad y comisiones:
“Are there any extra fees for online transfers?”
“If I travel, can I use the debit card in other countries?”
“If one day I want to close the account, is there any penalty?”
Todas siguen el mismo patrón, fácil de copiar: Are there any…? / If I…, can I…? / Is there any…?

Uso de PRESENTE SIMPLE para normas y productos
Las políticas del banco y las características de los productos se expresan en presente simple:
“We have two options.”
“Our current account comes with a debit card.”
“Transfers inside the country are free.”
“There is no penalty, you can close the account at any time.”
Es el tiempo natural para hablar de cosas que son “así en general”.

Uso de “would like” y “be interested in”
El cliente usa “I’d like some information…” y el empleado “I’d be happy to help”, “Are you interested in a current account or a savings account?”.
Would like y be interested in son muy típicos para sonar respetuoso y neutral.

Uso de CAN / COULD para posibilidad y servicio
“You can check your balance, see your statements, make transfers, and pay bills.”
“You can close the account at any time.”
“Can I use online banking as soon as the account is open?”
Can indica posibilidad real, tanto para el cliente como para lo que permite el banco.

Condicionales sencillos con IF
“If I travel, can I use the debit card in other countries?”
“If one day I want to close the account, is there any penalty?”
Son condicionales de tipo 1: If + present simple, can / is / are…. Muy útiles para preguntar por escenarios futuros.

Uso de FUTURO con WILL para promesas y proceso
El empleado explica lo que va a pasar:
“We will give you a temporary username and password.”
“We send the card to your address within five to seven working days.”
Aquí will y el presente simple (we send) se combinan para describir el procedimiento estándar.

Claridad al hablar de dinero y comisiones
En inglés, preguntar directamente “Do you charge a monthly fee?” o “How much is the monthly fee?” es completamente normal. No se considera de mala educación; al contrario, se ve como algo responsable.
En español a veces damos por hecho cosas sin preguntar; en el contexto anglófono se espera que el cliente pregunte por fees, conditions, minimum balance, penalties.

Tono profesional y cordial
El empleado usa un tono muy de atención al cliente:
“I’d be happy to help”, “That’s fine”, “In that case, the free account might be perfect for you.”
Y añade consejos de seguridad:
“We recommend that you never share your PIN or password.”
Este tipo de “mini consejos” son muy habituales y no se perciben como regañina.

Online banking como algo central
En el diálogo, la banca online no es un extra, es parte central del servicio:
online banking, mobile app, notifications, block your card, unusual activity.
En muchos países anglófonos, se da por hecho que el cliente va a usar la app y la web casi más que la sucursal.

Cierre de cuenta sin drama
La frase “you can close the account at any time, you just need to sign a simple form” transmite que cerrar la cuenta es un proceso normal, no un conflicto.
En algunos contextos hispanos, cerrar una cuenta puede sentirse más “tenso”; aquí se presenta como un derecho más del cliente.

Frases para empezar en el banco
Lleva preparadas estructuras como:
“I’d like some information about opening a bank account.”
“I’m interested in a current account for my salary.”

Preguntar por comisiones y condiciones sin miedo
Puedes copiar casi tal cual:
“Do you charge a monthly fee for the account?”
“Is there any minimum balance?”
“Are there any extra fees for transfers or ATM withdrawals?”

Hablar de tu situación
Frases sencillas pero muy útiles:
“I will receive my salary here.”
“I need the account for everyday payments and online shopping.”
“I travel sometimes, so I need to use the card abroad.”

Preguntar por la banca online y la app
“Can I use online banking as soon as the account is open?”
“What can I do with the mobile app?”
“Do you send notifications for payments or unusual activity?”

Cerrar la conversación y decidir
Cuando ya lo tienes claro:
“I think I’d like to open the free current account.”
“Could you tell me what documents I need to bring?”
“Thanks a lot for your help and explanations.”

Para ir al banco y preguntar por una cuenta en inglés necesitas tres cosas:
Conocer el vocabulario básico: current account, savings account, monthly fee, minimum balance, debit card, online banking, mobile app, transfer, statement, ATM, penalty.
Tener 4–5 preguntas modelo sobre comisiones, requisitos y banca online: “Do you charge a monthly fee?”, “Is there a minimum balance?”, “Are there any extra fees for transfers?”.
Usar estructuras corteses pero claras con I’d like, I’m interested in, Can I…?, If I travel, can I…? para explicar lo que necesitas y comprobar condiciones.