Exercise 7 a) Read the text about bank accounts and decide if the following statements are true or false

1. You can only withdraw money 5 times a week from a current account.

2. You cannot collect interest from a current account.

3. The manager interviews the applicant because he wants to know how much money he earns.

4. The applicant receives a cheque book immediately after the interview.

5. A deposit is more popular than a current account.

6. The bank keeps the pass book.

7. The bank pays customers whose money is in a deposit account.

8. It is possible to withdraw more than €20 from a deposit account.

There are different kinds of bank accounts. The most popular are the current and deposit accounts. A current account pays no interest but it has other advantages. Firstly, it enables people to keep their money in a safe place. Secondly, it allows them to withdraw it at any time. Thirdly, it provides them with a cheque book so that they do not have to carry a lot of cash.

To open a current account it is necessary to see the branch manager. He has to decide whether the applicant is likely to keep the account in credit. A current account holder can only overdraw with the manager’s permission. The manager will therefore want to meet the applicant to get the necessary background information. For example, he will want to know the applicant’s occupation and his place of work. He will also probably want a reference from his/her employer. If, after the interview the manager is satisfied with the applicant he will approve the application, arrange for the applicant to be given a cheque book and arrange for a monthly statement to be sent to him/her.

A deposit account is another popular kind of account. It has advantages over a current account. First of all it is easier to open than a current account. There is no need to see the manager. A customer only has to fill in a form and then deposit the minimum amount of money required by the bank. The customer is then given a pass book which he must bring to the bank every time he wishes to withdraw or deposit money. The pass book is the customer’s record of the account.

Secondly a deposit account earns interest for the customer. The bank invests the money that the customer pays in and, in return, the bank pays the customer interest.