El Banco
Open an account, exchange money, ask about fees, and report a lost card — out loud.
Banks expect formal Spanish, so lead with usted and the polite quisiera: Quisiera abrir una cuenta. State the transaction first, then the amount or detail. Before you change money, always ask the day's rate and whether there's a commission — ¿Cuál es el tipo de cambio hoy? and ¿Cobran comisión? (in Mexico you'll hear the casual ¿a cómo está el dólar?). And ask for a receipt every time: ¿Me puede dar un recibo?
Below: the phrases for opening an account, changing money, and handling a card the ATM won't give back — plus a way to rehearse the whole visit out loud first.
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Regional Spanish
Textbooks teach one word. Locals use several — pick your region's and stay consistent.
| English | Mexico | Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| money (slang) | la lana | la plata |
| savings account | la cuenta de ahorros | la caja de ahorro |
| the card doesn't work | no jala | no funca |
| what's the dollar at? | ¿a cómo está el dólar? | ¿cuánto está el blue? |
Watch out
The part no phrase list can do
Isabella
Your conversation teacher for this pack
In the El Banco pack, the final lesson sits you at the teller window of a quiet branch on a Tuesday morning — and Isabella plays the teller: polished, patient, strictly usted, reading every total back to you twice before she confirms it. You're opening a savings account as a foreigner and changing some money, and she needs your documents, your amounts, and your questions about the fees. Out loud. And she talks back:
Blank mid-sentence and nothing bad happens — she waits. That's the practice, without unnecessary judgement.
Finish the 5 lessons and El Banco is yours — earned, not given.
First 10 lessons free · 10-minute spoken lessons · your AI coaching team remembers you
Quick answers
Lead politely: Quisiera abrir una cuenta (I'd like to open an account), then ask what you'll need — ¿Qué documentos necesito? Have your passport ready: Necesito mi pasaporte, ¿verdad? and ask ¿Cuánto es el depósito mínimo?
¿Cuál es el tipo de cambio hoy? (what's the rate today?), or casually in Mexico ¿a cómo está el dólar? Always follow with ¿Cobran comisión? before you commit to the exchange.
Usted, always. Banks expect the formal register, so pair it with quisiera and por favor. Informal language at the teller window sounds out of place.
El cajero automático se tragó mi tarjeta — the ATM swallowed my card. If you need it blocked: Necesito bloquear mi tarjeta, and to get a replacement: ¿Pueden emitir una tarjeta nueva?
Name the transaction first: Quisiera hacer un depósito (a deposit), Necesito retirar dinero (withdraw money), or ¿Puedo hacer una transferencia? (make a transfer). Then confirm it: ¿Me puede dar un recibo?
