BANKER: Hello. Please have a seat.
What can I help you with today?
CUSTOMER: Thank you. I’d like to open
some accounts, actually. I just moved to London after spending several years in Spain, and I’ve been using Spanish
Bank.
BANKER: Well then, I definitely
think you’ve come to the right place. Here at HSBC we offer a variety of fantastic
personal banking options. May I ask what types of accounts you currently
have?
CUSTOMER: Oh, you know, just a
current account and a savings account. Nothing fancy.
BANKER: We have a couple of
different current accounts that may suite you. There’s a Basic Bank Account
that allows you to withdraw up to £300 per day using a Visa debit card.
CUSTOMER: So, I can only get to my
money through an ATM or by paying with debit?
BANKER: No. You also have access to
Internet Banking, from which you can pay bills or transfer money to other
accounts.
CUSTOMER: Is there a monthly fee for
this account?
BANKER: Not for this one.
CUSTOMER: That sounds like a great
option to me. And you mentioned another type of current account?
BANKER: Right. We also have a
Premier Bank Account. As a Premier Bank Account holder, you are eligible for
a Regular Savings Account.
CUSTOMER: That won’t be a problem.
BANKER: Then I do recommend going
with the Premier Bank Account so that you can benefit from the interest rates
of our savings accounts.
CUSTOMER: OK. And how much money
would I need to start one of those?
BANKER: £1,000. But then you’ll need to maintain a minimum £500 balance.
CUSTOMER: And what if I don’t?
BANKER: Then we charge a daily fee
of £25 until the minimum balance is restored.
CUSTOMER: What about a monthly fee?
Is there one for the Premier Bank Account?
BANKER: Yes, right. Thank you for
reminding me. There is a monthly fee of £5.
CUSTOMER: I’d like to know a little
more about the savings account options. It’s about time I started putting
money away.
BANKER: Sure. As I said, you are
automatically eligible for a Regular Savings Account with the Premier Bank
Account. It requires a minimum £25 deposit, and accrues a gross annual
interest of 6 percent.
CUSTOMER: Is that a fixed rate?
BANKER: For the first 12 months,
yes. Then it is adjusted each year.
CUSTOMER: I see. And I can take my
money out from there anytime?
BANKER: Actually, no. That account
does not allow for partial withdrawals. To take out money, you’d need to
empty the account and close it.
CUSTOMER: Hmm... That’s not exactly
what I’m looking for.
BANKER: There’s a more flexible
option, which is the Flexible Saver Account. It doesn’t earn a lot of
interest, a mere .10 percent, but you can withdraw at any time.
CUSTOMER: It’s not worth it for only
a .10 percent return.
BANKER: Then how about our Cash
Savings Account? It has a slightly higher interest rate of 1.7 percent, and
instant access.
CUSTOMER: Perfect. Oh, and before I
forget, will I be able to get a credit card?
BANKER: It depends. Do you have a
steady income?
CUSTOMER: Yes, I’m employed.
BANKER: OK. If you have a good
credit score, then you may be eligible for our HSBC Credit Card. It has an
annual percentage rate of 17.9 percent, and a limit of £1,200.
CUSTOMER: How can I apply for that?
BANKER: I can take care of that for
you once we open your accounts. Do you have two forms of identification and a
recent statement from your bank in Spain?
CUSTOMER: Yes, I have everything
right here.
BANKER: Wonderful. Just give me a
few minutes to get all of the paperwork together.
CUSTOMER: Thank you.
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