Unit 3 Banking: Opening an Account
Vocabulary a bank (banks) a bank teller (bank tellers) a window (windows) an ATM (ATMs) More Vocabulary: a line, (lines) waiting in line a deposit, (deposits) making a deposit balance: interest: credit: deposit: withdrawal: minimum: maximum: the money you have in an account the money the bank pays you for putting your money in their bank a record of how good you are at paying your bills money put in the bank money taken out of the bank the least; the opposite of maximum the most; the opposite of minimum
Personal Reflection How much do you know about banking? Do you have a bank account? Are you getting the most from your bank? Directions. Think about your banking skills. Put an X in the box in each row that best shows where you are with your banking skills. Banking Skills Self-Assessment Area of Focus Ready to Learn Beginner Experienced Expert How to Open a Bank Account I do not know how to use banks. I know a little about banks. I do not know how to open an account. I know how to open a bank account. I know how to open a bank account. I know how much interest I receive on my accounts and if there are any fees charged. How to Choose a Bank I do not know anything about banks. I know a little about banks. I don t know how to choose one. I have a bank. But I don t know if it s the best one for me. I have a bank. I looked into several banks before I picked mine. How do you feel about banks? Do you trust them? Would you put your money in a bank? Write your feelings about banks here.
Some Benefits of Banks Note: These same benefits also are true for credit unions and for savings and loans. Banks help people to manage their finances (money). Most people put their money in banks. Some people do not put their money in banks. Some people do not trust banks. Some people do not know how to use banks. Some people do not know how banks can help them. Here is some information about banks. Banks are safe. Some people are afraid that a bank will lose their money. They are afraid the bank will be robbed. They are afraid the bank will go broke. Most banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This means that people will get their money back (up to a maximum of $100,000), even if something bad happens to the bank. Banks can help people to save money. Many people cash their checks at check cashing stores. They pay the store money to cash their check. They pay 3% - 10% of their check to the store. People do not have to pay a fee to deposit and withdraw their money from their bank account. Banks can help people to make more money. Some people keep their money at home. Money cannot grow if you keep it at home. If it is in a bank, it can get interest (money the bank gives you for putting your money in their bank). Banks can help people to establish credit. You can apply for a loan from a bank. A loan is money you borrow for a certain period of time. A loan needs to be paid back. The bank will charge interest. This interest is money you pay the bank for using their money. If you have been a good customer at the bank and have managed your money well, the bank is more likely to give you a loan. What About You? What do you think about bank accounts? Discuss your answer with a partner. Write what is good about having a bank account (the advantages). Write what is not good about having a bank account (the disadvantages). Having a Bank Account Advantages Disadvantages
Some Benefits of Banks Worksheet Directions. Read the article Some Benefits of Banks. Fill in the blanks below with these words from the article. finances fee bank maximum interest account insured customer 1. Banks can help people to manage their. 2. Most banks are by the FDIC. 3. Bank accounts are insured up to a of $100,000. 4. Banks will not charge a for people to deposit a check and withdraw the money from their account. 5. Every month you can get on savings you put in the bank. 6. You can apply for a loan from a. 7. If you have been a good, the bank is more likely to give you a loan. Directions. Write the meaning of the words and phrases below. 1. finances: 2. interest: 3. loan: 4. credit:
A Hard Lesson to Learn From Cundinas to Bank Accounts My name is Juanita. I learned a hard lesson - - twice! I joined a cundina. I joined because it would force me to save money. We had thirty members. Every member put in $100 every week. Every week, for thirty weeks, we would take turns withdrawing (taking out) $3,000. I was going to get $3,000 after twenty-five weeks. I was one of the last people to take the money out. I put in my money every week, but I never got my $3,000. The cundina leader did not give it to me. I couldn t get it from her. That was four years ago. I lost my money. I tried another one with different people. We put in $50 a week and would take out $1,000. Again, I never got my share. I don t think a cundina is a very smart way to save. Sometimes the members are not responsible. You cannot always trust them. Last year my cousin asked me to join a pyramid. It is another way to save money together with friends or family. In a pyramid people take turns getting their money. I did not join. I learned my lesson. Now I use my bank account when I want to save money. Every week I withdraw (take out) $100 from my checking account and I deposit it (put it) into my savings account. At the end of the year I have $5,000. It is a good way to save. I never lose my money in the bank. Cundinas are a tradition from the Hispanic community. Cundinas depend on trust. Members trust that every member will put in their money every week. Every week a different member gets to take out the full amount. Example: Ten people are members. Everyone puts in $100 each week. The total in the cundina is $1,000 every week. The members take numbers to decide who gets the first $1,000, the second $1,000, and so on. The cundina lasts for ten weeks. In ten weeks everyone puts in $1,000. Everyone takes out $1,000. 10 members x $100/week = $1,000 each
Math Practice Juanita was in the cundina with 30 people. Each member put in $100 a week. Juanita was number 25 in the cundina. That means she would take out $3,000 in the 25th week. 1. How much money had Juanita put in on the 25th week? 2. How many more weeks would she have to give $100 after she got her $3,000? 3. If Juanita put $100 a week in a savings account for a year, how much money will she have at the end of the year? 4. If the savings account pays 3% interest per year, how much money (interest) will her money make? Math Tip 3% = 3/100, or.03 To answer number 4, multiply your answer in number 3 by.03. What About You? Have you ever joined a cundina? Have you ever saved money together with other people? What was your experience? Directions. Circle the number that shows your experience. Tell a partner about your experience. Poor Fair Good Excellent My experience was 1 2 3 4 5 What are some other ways to save money? Discuss it with a partner. Write your answers here.
Interest on Savings A Worksheet Juanita wants to save $100 a month. How much will she have if she saves $100 a month by keeping it at home? How much will she have if she saves $100/month in a bank account that pays 3% monthly interest?* Directions. Compare the two by filling in the chart. The first three months are done for you. Month Deposit Add deposit ($100) to previous balance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Balance at Home Add deposit to previous balance. Add 3% (Multiply by.03 to get 3%.) Balance In a Bank with 3% Interest $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 + $100 = $200 $100 $100 + $200 = $300 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 100 + 100 =200 + 3% (6.00) = 100 + 206 = 306 +3% ($9.18) = 100 + 315.18 = 415.18 + 3% (12.46) = $206.00 $315.18 $427.64 * Not every bank account pays interest monthly. Many accounts only pay interest quarterly (four times a year; every three months). Interest is usually added at the end of the month.
How to Open a Bank Account In most states, you must be at least 18 years old to open your own account. Banks require the following personal information to open an account: your name, address, and telephone number your social security number a picture identification You may also be asked: your mother s maiden name (her last name before she married) your date of birth (DOB) prior addresses of places you have lived Directions. The bank will ask for your personal information to open an account. Write your personal information below. How to Choose a Bank Finding the right bank for you is important. Look at several banks and compare them before you choose one. 1. Find a bank that is convenient for you (easy to get to and open when you will need it). 2. Make sure it is insured by FDIC, or if it s a credit union, by NCUA. 3. Find out their fees for checking and savings accounts. Name: Address: 4. Find out what the fees are to use the ATM. City: State: Zip: Social Security Number (SSN): * Date of Birth (DOB): Mother s maiden name: Most recent prior address: *Your social security number is your private identification number. Do not write it here. Do not write it on forms unless it is required, (for example, on legal forms, job applications, citizenship applications, etc.) Do not let anyone steal your social security number. This could become a very serious problem called identity theft.
Shopping for a Bank Dianna is shopping around (looking) for a bank. She is visiting banks to ask questions. She is looking for the best one for her. Here is the information Dianna has found. Bank A It is next door to where Dianna works. It is convenient. It requires $100 to open an account. The monthly fee is $12. (A $100 balance must be kept. If a $1,000 balance is kept in the account, there will be no monthly fee.) The account earns no interest. (But if a $1,000 balance is kept, the account will earn 1.5% interest.) There is no fee for using an ATM card. There is a 25 per check fee. Credit Union It is near Dianna s home, but it is not open after she gets off work. It requires $100 minimum to open an account. A $100 a month balance must be maintained. There is no monthly fee. There is no ATM fee. It earns 1.2% interest. There is no fee for checks. Bank B It is across the street from Bank A. It requires a $25 deposit to open an account. The same amount ($25) must be maintained monthly. The monthly fee is $8.00. The account gets no interest. There is a $15 fee for an ATM card. There is no fee to write checks. Savings & Loan The bank is near Dianna s home. It is open after she gets off of work. It requires $50 to open an account and a $20 monthly balance. It has a monthly fee of $7.50. It pays no interest. There is no ATM fee. A 15 fee is charged for every check Tip: Always ask if there is a basic account that would cost less. Sometimes a bank has a special account for people who do not write many checks.
Checking Accounts Comparison Chart Worksheet 1 Directions. Use the information from Shopping for a Bank to fill in the comparison chart below. Bank A is done for you. Item to Compare Bank A Minimum deposit to open an account $100 Minimum balance required $100 Monthly fee $12 Bank A with $1,000 minimum balance Bank B Credit Union Savings & Loan Interest earned Cost per check None $.25/check Convenient location Yes ATM fee None 1. Dianna opens her account at Bank A. She deposits $100. She writes five checks a month. What does she pay for banking? Monthly fee Check fees Total 2. What banking fees will Dianna pay if she opens her account a. at Bank B? b. at Bank A (if she keeps a $1,000 balance)? c. at the Credit Union? d. at the Savings & Loan? What Do You Think? Which bank do you think would be a good bank for Dianna? Why? Discuss your answer with a partner.
Asking Questions Practice Directions. Below is information you may want to know to open an account. Make questions for these items. Begin the questions with What is. Remember to end a question with a question mark (?). The first one is done for you. When you are finished, practice asking the questions with a partner. 1. Minimum deposit to open an account What is the minimum deposit to open an account?_ 2. Minimum balance required 3. Monthly fee 4. Interest earned 5. Cost per check 6. ATM fee What other questions do you want to ask? Write them here.
Checking Accounts Comparison Chart Worksheet 2 Item to Compare Bank A Bank B Bank C Bank D Minimum deposit required to open an account $100 $25 $20 $1,000 Minimum balance required $50 $5 $5 $1,000 Monthly fee $5 $8 $10 None Interest earned None None None 1.5% Cost per check $.15/check 25 /check No Charge No Charge Convenient location Yes Yes No No ATM fee None $5 None None Directions. Use the Comparison Chart Worksheet 2 to answer the questions below. 1. Which account earns interest? 2. Which account requires the least deposit to open the account? 3. Which account requires the largest balance? 4. In which bank(s) can you open an account if you have only $25? 5. Which account charges the lowest monthly fee? 6. Which bank(s) are not convenient? 7. Which account(s) charge a fee for each check you write? 8. Which bank charges an ATM fee? What About You? Do you have a checking account? If yes, what fees do you pay for your account. Discuss your answer with a partner?
Bank Comparison Charts Call or visit three banks in your area to get information about their services. Write the information on the charts below. (Note: For this activity you can also visit credit unions and Savings and Loans in your area.) Checking Accounts Item to Compare What is the minimum deposit required to open an account? Bank Name: Bank Name: Bank Name: What is the minimum balance required? What is the monthly fee? How much interest is earned? What is the cost per check? Is it a convenient location? Is it insured by FDIC or NCUA? Savings Accounts Item to Compare What is the minimum deposit required to open an account? Bank Name: Bank Name: Bank Name: What is the minimum balance required? How much interest is earned? What is the limit for the number of free withdrawals?
Clap the Stress o o O o O o o o O o an account Good morning. Can I help you? afternoon deposit application a brochure the teller information that s okay my paycheck Write your answer No, that s all. to open conversation ATM your check stub to deposit Wait in line. Check it out. Conversations Conversation 1 Person 1: Person 2: Person 1: Person 2: Person 1: Hello. Can I help you? Yes, I d like some information. I want to open an account. What kind of account? A checking account. Okay. I can help you here. Conversation 2: Person 1: Person 2: Person 1: Person 2: Good afternoon. How are you today? Fine. I d like to open an account. Here s my application and a deposit. Everything looks good. Wait in line at window three, please. Okay. Thank you. Conversation 3 Teller: Customer: Teller: Customer: Good morning. How can I help you? I want to deposit my paycheck. Put $100 in my savings account. Put the rest in my checking account. Do you want any cash back? No. I ll use the ATM.
A credit union is a bank for a group of people with something in common. They may work for nonprofit organizations, or government agencies, or a particular large company. To bank at a credit union, a person must be a part of the group. Credit unions are usually not open to the public. Answer the questions. 1. Are you a member of a credit union? If yes, which one? 2. Is your employer a member of a credit union? (If you do not know, ask someone at work who knows.) Conversation 1 Person 1: Person 2: Person 1: Person 2: Person 1: I m looking for a good bank. Where do you bank? I bank at the credit union. Think I could open an account there? No. You have to work for my company to bank there, but I hear that National Bank is really good. Thanks. I ll check it out. Conversation 2 Person 1: Person 2: Person 1: Person 2: Person 1: May I help you? I want to open an account. What do I need? We re a credit union for Unified Services Group. Do you work there? Yes, I do. Good. I need your social security number, a picture I.D. and your check stub.
An English Idiom bank on it -- a sure thing; be sure it is true/it will happen Conversation 1 Person 1: My friend is late, but I know he will be here. Person 2: I wouldn t bank on it. I saw him leave with his girlfriend an hour ago. Conversation 2 Person 1: Do you think he ll give me a good price on this van? Person 2: Absolutely. You can bank on it. Person 1: Good. I ll call him. Write a sentence using the phrase bank on it. Can you bank on it? Directions. Read the statements. If the statement is true, put an X in the box Yes, you can bank on it. If the statement is false (not true), put an X in the box No, you can t bank on it. 1. All banks are the same. 2. All banks are insured. 3. Banks will pay interest on your savings accounts. 4. You will pay a fee (money) if you bounce a check. 5. It costs more to cash checks at check-cashing stores than at banks. Yes, you can bank on it. No, you can t bank on it.
Word Work What Do These Mean? Here are some common initials that you might hear at the bank. Do you know what they mean? The answers are at the bottom of the page. 1. ATM 2. CD 3. FDIC 4. NCUA 5. SSN 6. IRA 7. DOB 8. PIN 9. Mo. 10. No. What other ones do you know? Write them here. TGIF... Thank goodness it s Friday! Answers: 1. Automatic Teller Machine 2. Certificate of Deposit 3. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 4. National Credit Union Administration 5. Social Security Number 6. Individual Retirement Account 7. Date of Birth 8. Personal Identification Number 9. Month 10. Number
Days, Months and Numbers The days of the week and months of the year also have abbreviations. Write the word next to the abbreviation. (Note: Days and months always begin with a capital letter.) Days of the Week Months Mon. Tues. Wed. Thur. Fri. Sat. Sun. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May* Jun. Jul. Writing The Date In the United States write the month first, then the day, and then the year. Examples: January 10, 2004 Jan. 10, 2004 1/10/04 Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. *The month of May does not have an abbreviation. Directions: Fill in the blank with the ordinal word. Ordinal Numbers 1 st first 2 nd second 3 rd third 4 th fourth 5 th fifth 6 th sixth 7 th seventh 8 th eighth 9 th ninth 10 th tenth My Bank Account Yesterday I went to the bank. I opened my 1st bank account. I was the person in line, but 5th I did not have to wait long. After I opened my 1st account, I decided to open a one. The one is for checks, the one is 1st 2nd for savings. I may open a account to save 3rd for my son to go to college. He is in the 4th grade now, but time will go fast. 2nd
Writing the Date Practice. Write the dates listed below. Say the date you write. Example: 3/10/01 March 10, 2001 March tenth, two thousand one 1. 2/14/03 2. 8/23/98 3. 10/9/02 4. 12/22/04 5. 5/17/94 On most application forms you must write the date with two numbers for the month and two numbers for the day. The year is written with two or four numbers. Example: 02/03/2004 or 02/03/04. Directions: Read the date. Use numbers to write the date in the box. 1. March 18, 2004 Mo. Day Yr. 2. June 6, 1995 Mo. Day Yr. 3. Sept. 29, 2001 Mo. Day Yr. 4. Nov. 1, 2003 Mo. Day Yr.
Pronunciation Sounds of English In some languages (e.g. Spanish) these two letters sound the same. In English they are different. Practice making the sounds. Practice hearing the sounds. /b/ (It is a short sound. The lips are pressed together to start the sound.) Beginning Middle End bank about job balance vocabulary rob been number cab buy robber but begin bill /v/ (It is a sound you can hold for a long time. The top teeth are on the bottom lip.) Beginning Middle End van government save visit seventh have valley savings leave vent divide event Listen Up Your teacher will read some words. Listen. Write b if the word begins with the /b/ sound. Write v if it begins with the /v/ sound. 1. 4. 7. 10. 2. 5. 8. 11. 3. 6. 9. 12. Listen for the sounds /b/ and /v/ at the end of the word. Write the letter you hear. 1. 4. 7. 10. 2. 5. 8. 11. 3. 6. 9. 12. Read the sentences. 1. My bank balance will begin to grow. 6. The van will leave for the valley. 2. What about your job? 7. I have a savings account. 3. He robbed the bank and left in a cab. 8. Vince will visit me at the event. 4. Did you buy the baby a bottle? 9. Leave your van here. 5. It is a big bill, but I can pay it. 10. Vickie will divide the money.
Word Work too many - too much Some English language learners do not know when to use too much and when to use too many. Use too many when you can count the things you are talking about. Use too much when you cannot count them. Example: There are too many bank customers. There is too much water in the glass. You can count how many customers: one, two, three You cannot count water (although you can count containers of water). When you use a non-count word like water, you would use much (I drank too much water). If you use customers or glasses of water, you use many (We have too many customers, I drank too many glasses of water.) Practice Directions. Fill in the blanks using many or much. Read the sentences with a partner. Example: I have too much homework. 1. I have too money. 2. I have too dimes. 3. He eats too bread. 4. There are too bills every month. 5. They have too fun. 6. She gives too gifts. 7. He eats too slices of bread. Write your own sentences using too much and too many. 1. 2.
Personal Action Plan Directions. Talk with a partner about your banking skills. What would you like to learn to improve your skills? Write it down here. 1. Rate your skills. Put a check mark ( ) in the box to show how much you know about banking. 2. Can you improve your skills? Write something you want to learn to improve your banking skills. (For example, learn about different savings accounts.) My Personal Action Plan 1. About banks, I know ٱ nothing ٱ a little ٱ some ٱ a lot 2. To improve my banking skills I want to learn 3. Write one thing you will do this week to help you to do what you wrote in #2. (For example, call two banks and ask what interest they pay on a savings account.) 4. Sign your name. 5. Write today s date. 3. This week I will Signature Date
The Big Picture Our Neighborhood In Financial Services in Distressed Communities: Issues and Answers, James H. Carr and Jenny Schuetz report that poor and low-income neighborhoods do not have many banks. Middle-class and rich neighborhoods have a lot of banks. South Central Los Angeles has one banking institution for every 36,000 people. Pacific Palisades has one banking institution for every 1,250 people.* Poor areas have more pawn shops, check-cashing stores, payday lenders, and rent-toown stores. Many times these stores charge their customers a lot of money. Some people say that they charge high fees because they know the people cannot find a bank in the area. Others say that they charge high fees because they know their customers do not have money to open a bank account. Some people say they charge high fees because they are afraid the customers will not pay them back. They want to cover their costs. In 1995 a survey of low income families showed that 25% did not use banks. It also showed that 33% of African-American households and 29% of Hispanic households did not use banks. Some people feel that these types of businesses are not good for a community. What do you think? What about your neighborhood? Are there too few banks in your neighborhood? Too many? Or just enough? Use the worksheet on the next page to learn about services in your neighborhood. Work with a partner, or with a team, to find the answers. Decide how you will look for the answers. You might use: the telephone book the Internet a directory from the Chamber of Commerce a librarian at the public library You can also interview your friends and family to learn where they cash checks and take care of money matters. Work with your team to decide how to do this research. * Foundations, Larry, Peter Rufano, and Patricia Walker, Collaborating with Congregations, Harvard Business Review, July/August 1999.
Community Analysis Worksheet Find out how many of the following businesses are in your neighborhood. Put an X in one of the boxes to show if you think it is Too Many, Too Few, or Just Right. Type of Institution Banks Number of Institutions in Neighborhood Too Few Too Many Just Right Credit unions Savings and loans Pawn shops Rent-to-own stores Check cashing stores Payday loan stores Other: Other: What did you learn about your community? Write it here. What other information do you want to learn? Write your questions here.
Write the new words from the lesson. Word List English My Language To Think About List (Write what questions you have; what things you want to know more about.) To Do List (Write what you will do to learn more about your questions from this lesson.)