At a Brazilian Bank: Ask About Pix, Cards, and Transfers — Practice

Name the banking task you need to do

Start with the service you need: abrir uma conta (open an account), fazer uma transferência (make a transfer), or pedir um cartão (request a card). Banks may handle services differently, so ask which channel or documents apply to your case rather than assuming every branch works the same way.

Use conta corrente for a checking account and conta poupança for a savings account. Cartão de débito is a debit card; cartão de crédito is a credit card. These terms help you explain the task even when a staff member asks a follow-up question.

Ask clearly about a Pix payment

Pix is Brazil’s instant-payment system. You can ask whether a payment arrived with O Pix caiu? (Did the Pix payment go through?). A Pix key may be a phone number, email address, tax ID, or a random key; confirm the recipient and amount before authorizing a transfer.

If you are reporting a problem, describe what you can verify: the transfer appears as pending, the recipient says it did not arrive, or you need help locating the receipt. Avoid sharing a password or security code in conversation.

Remember: Use the name of the service first, then ask about the fee, status, or next step. For Pix, confirm the recipient and amount before you authorize a payment.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I’d like to open a checking account.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Quero abrir uma conta corrente.

2. How do I make a transfer through the app?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Como faço uma transferência pelo aplicativo?

3. Is there a fee for this service?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tem alguma tarifa para esse serviço?

4. The Pix payment is still showing as pending.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O Pix ainda está como pendente.

5. Where can I find the receipt?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Onde encontro o comprovante?

6. Can you confirm the amount and recipient?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você pode confirmar o valor e o destinatário?

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use the name of the service first, then ask about the fee, status, or next step. For Pix, confirm the recipient and amount before you authorize a payment.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our At a Brazilian Bank: Ask About Pix, Cards, and Transfers lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.