The Ultimate Vocabulary Guide: At the Bank in Spanish
Need to go to the bank in Spanish?
It’s important to learn common banking phrases, expressions, and vocabulary terms—whether you’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country or needing to speak about money, payments, and other bank-related activity in Spanish.
Read this article to learn how to deal with ATMs; speak with Spanish-speaking bank tellers; and hold conversations about accounts, loans, and more!
¡Vamos al banco!
Let’s go to the bank!
Basic Bank Words
Bank terms in Spanish are easy, as many of them resemble their translations in English.
This chart includes words that will help you in your experience at the bank in Spanish.
Términos Bancarios – Bank Terms
| English | Spanish |
| Bank | El banco |
| Money | El dinero |
| Credit card | La tarjeta de crédito |
| Debit card | La tarjeta de débito |
| Change | El cambio |
| Coin/currency | La moneda |
| Amount | Importe |
| Debt | La deuda |
| Check | El cheque |
| Exchange rate | El tipo de cambio |
| Cashier | El cajero / la cajera |
| Traveler’s check | El cheque de viajero |
| US dollar | El dólar americano |
| Cash desk | La caja / La ventanilla |
| ATM | El cajero automático |
| Receipt | El recibo / el comprobante |
| Deposit | El depósito |
| Withdrawal | El retiro |
| Foreign currency | La divisa |
The word moneda means coin or currency.
¿Me prestas unas monedas?
Can you lend me some coins?
El importe es en moneda nacional.
The amount is in national currency.
To cambiar dinero (exchange money) means to trade money from one currency to another. Moneda nacional is national currency and moneda extranjera is foreign currency.
El importe es en moneda extranjera.
The amount is in foreign currency.
In Spanish-speaking countries, you will rarely hear this term unless you are getting information on a specific transaction involving any foreign currency.
The colloquial way to express it is to specify what foreign currency you are referring to.
El importe es en dólares australianos.
The amount is in Australian dollars.
Cambio refers to receiving change at the bank in Spanish. Tipo de cambio literally means “type of change,” but it translates to exchange rate.
Caja (box) and ventanilla (window) mean cash desk in this situation and can also be used for services other than the bank’s. Examples are paying for water or electricity service, school tuition, and taxes.
Actions at the Bank in Spanish
These verbs refer to basic services at the bank. In order to formulate sentences you can start by saying quiero (I want) or necesito (I need), followed by the action you need to carry out:
| English | Spanish |
| To cash | Cobrar |
| To pay | Pagar |
| To authorize | Autorizar |
| To sign | Firmar |
| To withdraw | Retirar |
| To transfer | Transferir |
| To deposit | Depositar |
| To exchange | Cambiar |
| To open (an account) | Abrir la cuenta |
| To close (an account) | Cerrar la cuenta |
Read on to find example sentences using these actions at the bank in Spanish.
Questions and Answers
We’ve covered vocabulary and terms you can use in the bank in Spanish. But in reality, you’ll be having conversations.
Below are common questions and answers at the bank in Spanish. Since these interactions start with a greeting, check out The Ultimate List of Spanish Greetings and Farewells for Beginner Students.
¿Qué necesita hacer?
What do you need to do?
¿Tiene una cuenta con nosotros?
Do you have an account with us?
Pase a la tercer ventanilla para hacer el movimiento.
Go to the third window to make the transaction.
Un ejecutivo la puede ayudar con eso, por favor tome un turno.
An executive can help you with that, please take a turn.
¿Disculpe, dónde hay un cajero automático?
Excuse me, where can I find an ATM?
Movimientos en Ventanilla – Cash Desk Transactions
Now, let’s learn to use the previous words in phrases you use for specific transactions y at the ventanilla (cash desk).
Necesito cobrar un cheque.
I need to cash a check.
Quiero depositar dinero a una cuenta de débito.
I want to make a deposit to a debit account.
Necesito cambiar dólares americanos a pesos mexicanos.
I need to exchange US dollars to Mexican pesos.
Quiero abrir una cuenta y obtener una tarjeta de crédito.
I want to open an account and get a credit card.
Necesito el comprobante del retiro.
I need the receipt of the withdrawal.
Quiero cobrar este cheque de viajero ya firmado.
I want to cash this signed traveler’s check.
Necesito transferir dinero.
I need to transfer money.
Quiero autorizar un pago.
I want to authorize a payment.
Quiero reportar una tarjeta extraviada / robada.
I want to report a lost / stolen card.
Servicio Ejecutivo – Executive service
You can address a bank executive or a financial advisor to do any of these actions on your trip to the bank in Spanish:
- Ask for a mortgage credit
- Process a loan
- Open or cancel a savings, current, credit, or investment account
- Buy an insurance policy
- Contract financial instruments and service
- Transfer your payroll account
Quiero abrir una cuenta bancaria con ustedes.
I want to open a bank account with you.
¿Qué tipo de cuenta quiere abrir?
What kind of account would you like to open?
Una cuenta de ahorros.
A savings account.
Una cuenta de cheques.
A checking account.
Una cuenta de inversión.
An investment account.
Le ofrecemos estas opciones.
We offer these options.
¿Qué beneficios tiene cada una?
What are the benefits of each one?
¿Cuándo me llega la tarjeta?
When does the card arrive? / When can I expect the card?
¿Cuándo me llega la chequera?
When does the checkbook arrive? / When can I expect the checkbook?
Quisiera comprar un seguro de vida.
I would like to buy a life insurance policy.
¿Qué rendimiento da esta inversión?
What is the return on this investment?
Necesito un préstamo.
I need a loan.
Quiero tramitar un crédito hipotecario.
I want to process a mortgage credit.
Llene este formulario, por favor.
Fill out this form please.
¿Qué intereses ofrecen?
What interest rates do you offer?
¿Qué trámite debo hacer?
What is the procedure?
¿Qué documentos debo traer?
What documents should I bring?
¿Cuándo me llega la autorización de crédito?
When will I get the credit authorization?
Perdí mi tarjeta y quiero cancelarla.
I lost my card and want to cancel it.
Quiero cambiar mi nómina con ustedes.
I want to transfer my payroll account with you.
Credit / Debit Cards
When you pay for something on the phone or internet, the service provider or company will ask for a series of information about your payment method. Here’s the vocabulary you need to carry out transactions at the bank in Spanish.
| Card data | Los datos de la tarjeta |
| Account holder | El titular de la cuenta |
| Account number | El número de cuenta |
| Card number | El número de tarjeta |
| Expiry date / Valid through | Fecha de expiración / Válido hasta |
| Member since | Miembro desde |
| Security number | El número de seguridad |
| Signature | La firma |
| In case of loss, call… | En caso de extravío llame al … |
| Account status / statement / balance | El estado de cuenta / El balance de cuenta |
| Customer service | El servicio al cliente |
ATM
You will rarely hear the acronym ATM in hispanic countries. This service is most likely referred to as cajero automático (automatic cashier). Although most ATMs have an option to change language, we don’t want you to feel without tools in a case of bad luck. So here are all the phrases and terms you need to know to use an ATM machine anywhere or at the bank in Spanish.
| ATM | Cajero automático |
| Insert your card | Inserte su tarjeta |
| Enter your PIN | Ingrese su PIN |
| Enter | Entrar |
| Please wait | Por favor espere |
| Select an option | Seleccione una opción |
| Money withdrawal | Retirar dinero |
| Select account type | Seleccione el tipo de cuenta |
| Savings Account | Cuenta de ahorros |
| Please enter amount | Por favor ingrese cantidad |
| Insufficient funds | Fondos insuficientes |
| Cancel | Cancelar |
| Other amount | Otra cantidad |
| Account activity | Actividad en cuenta |
| Balance inquiry | Consulta de saldo |
| Transfers and payments | Transferencias y pagos |
| Change PIN | Cambiar PIN |
| Print receipt | Imprimir recibo / comprobante |
| Quit | Salir |
| Remove your card | Retire su tarjeta |
Practice Your Spanish Bank Knowledge!
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