Using an ATM

Rahul visits an ATM for the first time to withdraw cash and check his account balance.

Meanings in Rahul, Security guard

Key words and phrases

ATMa machine that lets you withdraw cash from your bank accountHe went to the ATM to withdraw cash.

PINa secret number used to access your accountHe entered his PIN carefully.

withdraw cashto take out physical money from an accountHe withdrew two thousand rupees.

balance inquirychecking how much money is in an accountHe did a balance inquiry before withdrawing.

receipta printed record of a transactionHe took the receipt after his withdrawal.

insert the cardto place a card into a machine slotHe inserted the card and waited for the screen.

transactionan act of using money, like a deposit or withdrawalThe transaction was completed successfully.

denominationthe value of a currency noteHe chose the option for smaller denominations.

card blockedwhen a card stops working, often after wrong PIN attemptsHis card got blocked after three wrong attempts.

keep it confidentialto not share private information with othersAlways keep your PIN confidential.

cash withdrawal limitthe maximum amount that can be withdrawn in one dayHis cash withdrawal limit is twenty-five thousand rupees a day.

mini statementa short printed list of recent account transactionsHe printed a mini statement to check his recent transactions.

screen instructionsthe steps shown on the ATM display to guide a userHe followed the screen instructions carefully.

cancel transactionto stop a process before it is completedHe decided to cancel transaction and start again.

card slotthe opening in an ATM where a card is insertedHe pushed his card gently into the card slot.

out of ordernot working properlyThe first ATM he found was out of order.

cash jamwhen cash gets stuck inside the ATM during dispensingHe reported a cash jam to the bank helpline.

OTPa one-time password used for extra security in a transactionHe entered the OTP sent to his phone.

cardless withdrawalwithdrawing cash from an ATM without using a physical cardThe bank app now offers cardless withdrawal.

service chargea fee charged for using certain banking servicesA small service charge applies after five free withdrawals.

Useful sentences

Ask Do I insert my card first or select the language?
Answer Insert your card first, then choose your language.
Ask How do I check my account balance here?
Answer Select the balance inquiry option on the screen.
Ask How much cash would you like to withdraw?
Answer Two thousand rupees, please.
Ask Should I take a receipt after the transaction?
Answer Yes, it's good to keep one for your records.
Ask What should I do if I forget my PIN?
Answer You'll need to visit your bank branch to reset it.
Ask What is my daily cash withdrawal limit?
Answer It is twenty-five thousand rupees per day.
Ask Can I print a mini statement here?
Answer Yes, just select that option on the screen.
Ask What should I do if the machine shows out of order?
Answer Try another nearby ATM instead.
Ask What should I do if I face a cash jam?
Answer Note the receipt details and call the bank helpline immediately.
Ask Does this ATM support cardless withdrawal?
Answer Yes, you can use the OTP sent to your phone instead.

Dialogue

RahulExcuse me, is this ATM working right now?

Security guardYes, it's working fine. Please go ahead.

RahulThank you. This is my first time using an ATM alone.

Security guardNo problem. Just insert your card and enter your PIN carefully.

RahulGot it. And remember to keep it confidential, right?

Security guardExactly. Never share your PIN with anyone.

RahulUnderstood. Oh, this screen shows my cash withdrawal limit too.

Security guardYes, just follow the screen instructions and select the amount.

RahulDone. Should I also print a mini statement before I leave?

Security guardThat's a good habit. It helps you track your recent transactions.

Common mistakes

Saying "I take money from ATM" instead of "I withdrew cash from the ATM" (use "withdraw," the standard banking verb).
Saying "Tell me your PIN" as an acceptable request — a PIN should never be shared; say "I can't share my PIN" instead.
Saying "My card is block" instead of "My card is blocked" (use the correct past participle form).
Saying "Machine is not working" instead of "The machine is out of order" in formal contexts (use the standard phrase).
Saying "Cash is stuck" casually instead of "There is a cash jam" when reporting an ATM issue.
Saying "Give me OTP" instead of "Please enter the OTP sent to you" (never ask someone else for their OTP).

Quick quiz

1. What word means checking how much money is in an account?

2. Complete: "His card got ___ after three wrong attempts."

3. What should you always do with your PIN?

4. What is a short printed list of recent account transactions called?

5. What do you call a machine that is not working properly?

6. What is a one-time password used for extra transaction security called?

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