There are several ways to check your bank
account balance. The following details are for the UK, but can be taken in
general for other countries as well.
The most common way
of learning your bank account balance is for the bank to let you know in the
form of a bank statement, which will show all the money entering and leaving
your account over a set period of time, and the overall balance left in your
account to date.
Banks used to issue statements monthly, but many have switched
to once every three or four months to save paper, and because there are now faster
methods of checking your bank balance.
You Will Need to Prove Your Identification
for the Following Methods
You can go to the
bank in person, or use one of its ATMs (or cash machines). To do either, you
will need your bank card. If you use an ATM, then it will ask you for a PIN
(Personal Identification Number), usually a four figure number.
You will then
be offered several different services, including the option of checking your
bank balance. If you prefer to go inside the bank and deal with a person, then
they will also need your bank card or account details to be able to help you.
Another option is to
telephone the bank's customer services department. The number should be present
on any recent letters the bank has sent you, or can be found in a phone
directory, or online using Google.
If you choose this method, you will be asked
a number of questions for security reasons, including your bank account number,
your full name and date of birth, and so on. This process can be
time-consuming, so most people prefer to go online and use their bank's
website, or by using their bank's app on their mobile phone.
To use the bank's
website to check your account's balance, you will need to have registered
first. If you haven't registered, the website itself will guide you through the
process. Remember, you will be given a special password to let you use the
website in future, so note it down and keep it in a safe place.
Once this is
done, you will be able to check your bank account balance whenever you wish, after entering your password and perhaps one or two other security details. If you're still not sure, your branch should
be happy to help. In the meantime, here's a short film showing the basics of
online banking: