open a bank account

Meaning

This phrase means to register with a bank so that you can keep your money there and use their financial services, such as saving, transferring money, or using a debit card. It is an essential daily life task, especially when moving to a new country or starting a new job.

Examples

• I need to open a bank account so my employer can deposit my monthly salary.

  I need to open a bank account so my employer can deposit my monthly salary.

• What documents do I need to bring to open a bank account?

  What documents do I need to bring to open a bank account?

• You can easily open a bank account online in just ten minutes.

  You can easily open a bank account online in just ten minutes.

• She helped her teenage son open a bank account to save his allowance.

  She helped her teenage son open a bank account to save his allowance.

• Many international students find it difficult to open a bank account without a permanent address.

  Many international students find it difficult to open a bank account without a permanent address.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to make a bank account tomorrow.

  ✓ I want to open a bank account tomorrow.

  In English, the correct verb to use when registering a new account at a bank is 'open', not 'make' or 'do'.

• ✗ He went to the bank to open a bank account of him.

  ✓ He went to the bank to open a bank account.

  Adding 'of him' is grammatically incorrect and redundant. You can say 'open a bank account for himself' or simply 'open a bank account'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• When you move to a new country, one of the first things you must do is ___.

  💡 set up a place to keep your money

  Show answer

  open a bank account

• Is it possible to ___ without a proof of address?

  💡 register with a financial institution

  Show answer

  open a bank account