bank account
B1Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
An arrangement with a bank where money is deposited and withdrawn, identified by a unique number.
The formal financial record of the relationship between a bank and a customer, detailing deposits, withdrawals, balances, and sometimes linked services like debit cards or overdrafts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily countable (e.g., 'open an account', 'two accounts'). Can be conceptualized as a container (funds are 'in' it) or a relationship ('with' a bank).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling preferences. Both use 'current account' (UK) and 'checking account' (US) for day-to-day transactional accounts. 'Savings account' is universal.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotations; it is a standard financial term.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties due to its fundamental role in personal finance.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have/possess/own a bank account (with [Bank])open/set up a bank account (at/in [Bank])deposit money into a bank accountwithdraw money from a bank accountcheck/access your bank accountVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Break the bank”
- “Laugh all the way to the bank”
- “On the bank's books”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A record of company funds, used for payroll, receivables, and payables.
Academic
Discussed in economics, finance, and sociology regarding financial inclusion and monetary systems.
Everyday
Used for personal money management, paying bills, and receiving salaries.
Technical
In banking, refers to a specific ledger record within a core banking system, with associated BIC/IBAN identifiers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- To bank account' is not a verb. Use 'to bank' (I bank with Barclays) or 'to account' (separate meaning).
American English
- To bank account' is not a verb. Use 'to bank' (I bank at Chase) or 'to account for' (explain).
adverb
British English
- No direct adverbial form.
American English
- No direct adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- bank-account details
- bank-account holder
- bank-account security
American English
- bank-account information
- bank-account fees
- bank-account balance
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a bank account.
- My salary goes into my bank account.
- I want to open a bank account.
- You need a bank account to receive the payment.
- I checked my bank account online this morning.
- We have a joint bank account for household bills.
- After the fraud alert, the bank froze his account temporarily.
- Setting up a business bank account is a crucial first step for any entrepreneur.
- The terms and conditions for your savings account depend on the interest rate.
- The investigation traced the illicit funds through a series of offshore bank accounts.
- Her bank account was inadvertently overdrawn due to a standing order she had forgotten about.
- Financial inclusion policies aim to provide every citizen with access to a basic bank account.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a river BANK where you store your money ACCOUNT. Your money is safely stored on the 'bank' of the financial system.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER (money is IN an account, you PUT money INTO it), RESOURCE (you DRAW ON your account), RECORD (the account SHOWS your balance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'bank account' as a direct translation for 'счет в банке' in every context. It's correct but remember the collocations (open, close) differ from Russian 'открыть/закрыть'.
- Do not confuse with 'bank card' (банковская карта) which accesses the account.
- In Russian, 'расчетный счет' is a 'current account' (UK) or 'checking account' (US), not just any 'bank account'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'in my bank account' (correct for balance) vs. 'on my bank account' (incorrect). 'With' is used for the bank relationship: 'an account with HSBC'.
- Omitting the article: 'I need to open bank account' (incorrect) vs. 'I need to open a bank account' (correct).
- Confusing 'bank account' with 'bank statement' (the document) or 'bank balance' (the amount).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common British English term for a standard transactional bank account?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word noun phrase, often hyphenated when used as a compound modifier (e.g., bank-account number).
A bank account is the financial record held at the bank. A bank card (debit/credit card) is a physical or virtual tool used to access or borrow against that account.
Yes, this is a common and natural way to say you have no money in it. Other phrases are 'my account is overdrawn' (negative balance) or 'my account is low'.
Typically, proof of identity (passport, driving licence), proof of address (utility bill), and sometimes an initial deposit. Requirements vary by country and bank.
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