bank-account
/ˈbæŋk ˌaʊnt/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A bank account is an account at a bank where you keep money, pay bills, or receive payments. It records money in and money out.
- I opened a bank account last week.
- My salary goes into my bank account.
- She pays rent from her bank account.
Adinary Nuance
A bank account is the actual place where your money is kept with a bank. It is different from cash, which is money in hand, and from savings, which is money you set aside. In everyday English, people often say “account” when the banking context is clear.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tài khoản ngân hàng
- Spanish
- cuenta bancaria
- Chinese
- 银行账户
- Japanese
- 銀行口座
- Korean
- 은행 계좌
Etymology
Bank account combines bank, from French banque and Italian banca, with account, from Old French aconter, meaning “to count” or “to calculate.” The phrase became common with modern banking.
Common phrases
open a bank accountclose a bank accountbank account numberjoint bank account
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is bank account the same as account?
- Often, yes. People say “account” when the bank is clear from context.
- What is the difference between a bank account and cash?
- Cash is money you hold physically. A bank account holds your money at a bank.
- Is bank account used in business English?
- Yes. It is very common in business, finance, and everyday life.
- Can I say current account and savings account?
- Yes. Those are two common types of bank account.