UK Culture - Banking

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culture/banking

Introduction
This support pack accompanies: UK Culture Banking
To watch the video online, go to:
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culture/banking
This support pack contains the following materials:
a pre-watching vocabulary activity;
the tape script
a comprehension task

If you want to live in the UK, you will need a bank account. Watch the video to find out more about
banking and financial services in the UK.

Before you watch / read

Match the words and phrases in the table to their definitions.

3. building
1. prove 2. resident 4. branches 5. Council Tax
societies

6. bill 7. credit union 8. affordable 9. loan 10. property

Definitions:
a. building

b. businesses that lends you money to buy a house

c. cooperative financial organization owned and controlled by its members

d. not expensive

e. show that something is true

f. living or staying in a place or country

g. offices forming part of a large business organisation

h. money collected from households to pay for local services

i. request for payment

j. sum of money borrowed from a bank and later paid back

The British Council, 2010 Page 1 of 3

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 UK Culture - Banking
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culture/banking
Now read the transcript or watch the video to find out if you are right.

Transcript: UK Culture Banking

If you are resident you will find it useful to open In the bank, and elsewhere, you may hear the
a bank account. All the large banks and most term utility bill this simply refers to bills
building societies have a network of branches relating to the provision of services to your
across the country and all offer similar services. property such as electricity, gas, water and
telephone.
A visit to any one of them will be a friendly
experience, although to open an account, be There are other local facilities such as credit
prepared to prove your identity in a number of unions where you can save your money and
ways. You will find your passport useful, but the have access to affordable low cost loans.
bank will also want to see some form of proof Where they exist in your local area, contact
that you are living where you say you are. This details can be obtained from the Citizens
can be proved by a housing rent book, a Advice Bureau.
Council Tax, water or electricity bill for the
property, as long as its in your name.

Comprehension Task
True or false
Read the following statements and decide if they are true or false.

1. Banking services differ greatly around the country.

2. To open a bank account, you have to provide proof of residence.

3. A water bill from your house without your name on it will be accepted.

4. Banks are not the only organizations which can lend you money.

5. Other credit institutions can be found in every part of the country.

The British Council, 2010 Page 2 of 3

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 UK Culture - Banking
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culture/banking

Vocabulary task
Fill in the gaps

Complete the sentences using the words from the box.

1. Id like to buy the house but I dont think its really __________ on my salary.
property
2. If you want to buy alcohol in the UK you have to __________ you are over 18
bill
years of age.

3. The __________ of the apartment block are complaining to the council about affordable

the noise from a nearby night club.

branches
4. The man left the restaurant in a hurry without paying the __________.
loan
5. Its a well-known store with __________ in nearly every town in the country.

6. If you havent got the money to pay for the car, why dont you take out a prove
__________?
residents
7. Educational __________ has always been good, even though it is a poor

country. provision

8. It is an attractive __________ but it needs a lot of work doing on it.

Answers

The British Council, 2010 Page 3 of 3

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.