[B1] Bank English Conversation

Jessica:
Hello everyone, and welcome back to 5-Minute English Practice. I’m Jessica. Today, we’re going to listen to a real-life conversation at a bank. This is a very common situation. You try to pay for something, but your card doesn’t work, and you don’t know why.
In this conversation, Lisa goes to the bank because her card suddenly stopped working. She talks with a bank teller, explains what happened, and learns how the problem is solved. Try to listen to how they speak calmly and politely.
Now, let’s begin.

Lisa: Good morning.

Bank: Good morning. How can I help you today?

Lisa: I’m having some trouble with my bank card. It stopped working yesterday, so I came in to check what’s going on.

Bank: Of course. May I see your ID card, please?

Lisa: Sure. Here you are.

Bank: Thank you. Alright, Ms. Carter, I’m checking your account now. Could you tell me what happened?

Lisa: Yesterday evening, I went to the supermarket near my apartment. When I tried to pay with my debit card, the payment didn’t go through. The screen showed an error message.

Bank: Did you try to use the card again?

Lisa: Yes, I did. I thought it might be a problem with the machine, but it still didn’t work the second time.

Bank: I understand. That must have been uncomfortable.

Lisa: It really was. There were people waiting behind me, and I felt quite embarrassed. In the end, I paid with cash, but I was worried something might be wrong.

Bank: Did you receive any message from the bank after that? A text or an email?

Lisa: No, I didn’t receive anything. That’s why I’m concerned.

Bank: Alright. Please give me a moment while I check your account activity.

Lisa: Okay.

Bank: Thank you for waiting. I can see what happened now. Your card was automatically blocked last night.

Lisa: Blocked? That sounds serious. Why was it blocked?

Bank: It’s a security measure. Our system noticed some unusual activity and blocked the card to protect your account.

Lisa: Unusual activity? What kind of activity?

Bank: There were several attempts to use your card for online payments on a foreign website.

Lisa: That wasn’t me. I didn’t buy anything online last night.

Bank: That’s exactly why the system reacted. It didn’t match your normal spending pattern.

Lisa: So someone tried to use my card?

Bank: It’s possible. But the good news is that the transactions were stopped.

Lisa: Does that mean I lost money?

Bank: No, not at all. Your balance is safe, and no money was taken from your account.

Lisa: Oh, that’s such a relief. I was really worried.

Bank: That’s completely understandable. Many people feel anxious in this situation.

Lisa: I’m usually very careful with my card. I don’t share my details, and I don’t shop online very often.

Bank: Sometimes it can happen without you noticing. Public Wi-Fi or unsafe websites can expose card information.

Lisa: That’s scary. It makes me feel nervous about using my card.

Bank: I understand. The important thing is that the system worked and protected your account.

Lisa: So what should I do now?

Bank: You have two options. We can unblock your current card, or we can cancel it and issue a new one.

Lisa: Which option do you recommend?

Bank: For security reasons, I recommend getting a new card.

Lisa: Alright. How long will it take?

Bank: It usually takes about five to seven business days.

Lisa: That’s almost a week. Can I still use my money during that time?

Bank: Yes, of course. Your account is active. Only the card is blocked.

Lisa: What about my salary and bills?

Bank: They will continue as usual. There will be no interruption.

Lisa: Okay, that’s good. Let’s get a new card then.

Bank: Alright. I just need you to confirm your address on the screen.

Lisa: Yes, that address is still correct.

Bank: Great. The new card will be delivered there within a week.

Lisa: Is there any fee for replacing the card?

Bank: There is a small replacement fee. It will be deducted automatically.

Lisa: That’s fine.

Bank: I also suggest changing your online banking password today and avoiding saving your card details on websites.

Lisa: I will. Thank you for the advice.

Bank: You did the right thing by coming in quickly. Everything was handled in time.

Lisa: I’m really glad I came. I feel much better now.

Bank: I’m happy to hear that. Is there anything else I can help you with today?

Lisa: No, that’s all. Thank you very much.

Bank: You’re welcome. Have a nice day, Ms. Carter.

Lisa: You too. Goodbye.

Jessica: And that’s the end of today’s conversation. If you ever have a problem with your bank card, don’t panic. Take a deep breath, explain what happened step by step, and ask simple questions. You don’t need difficult words. Clear and polite English is always enough. Remember, improving your English doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one small step at a time. Practicing a little every day is much better than practicing a lot just once a week. Thank you for listening to 5-Minute English Practice. I’ll see you in the next lesson.