die Bank
bank
A company that offers financial services, such as managing accounts, granting loans, and handling payment transactions.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss zur Bank gehen, um Geld abzuheben.
I have to go to the bank to withdraw money.
die Bank
bank / bench
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Meanings
die Bank
bench
A long piece of seating furniture for several people, often found in parks, gardens, or public spaces.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns eine Pause auf der Bank dort drüben machen.
Let's take a break on the bench over there.
die Bank
bench
In sports, the seating area for substitute players and coaches at the edge of the field.
EXAMPLE
Der Stürmer musste das ganze Spiel über auf der Bank sitzen.
The striker had to sit on the bench for the whole game.
durch die Bank
across the board
An idiom that means 'without exception' or 'consistently'.
EXAMPLE
Die Schüler waren durch die Bank gut auf die Prüfung vorbereitet.
The students were well prepared for the exam across the board.
die Bank
bank
An institution or place for storing and providing important resources, e.g. a blood bank or a database.
EXAMPLE
Die Patientin erhielt eine Spende von der Blutbank.
The patient received a donation from the blood bank.
die Bank
bank
A shallow area of sand or gravel in the sea or in a river.
EXAMPLE
Vorsicht, vor der Küste gibt es eine große Sandbank.
Careful, there is a large sandbank off the coast.
Usage tips
Two main meanings
The two most common meanings are the financial institution and the seating furniture. The context makes clear what is meant: words like 'Geld' (money) or 'Konto' (account) point to the financial institution, while 'sitzen' (to sit) or 'Park' (park) point to the bench.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe ein neues Konto bei einer anderen Bank eröffnet.
I opened a new account at another bank.
Prepositions (finance)
In connection with the financial institution, certain prepositions are typical. You go 'zur Bank' (to the bank, direction), work 'bei der Bank' (at the bank, employer), and have money 'auf der Bank' (in the bank, location).
EXAMPLE
Er arbeitet seit zehn Jahren bei dieser Bank.
He has been working at this bank for ten years.
Prepositions (seating)
When the seating option is meant, the preposition 'auf' is almost always used. Movement is expressed with the accusative ('sich auf die Bank setzen' — to sit down on the bench), and a state with the dative ('auf der Bank sitzen' — to be sitting on the bench).
EXAMPLE
Setz dich doch einen Moment auf die Bank.
Sit down on the bench for a moment.
Context: sports
In a sports context, 'die Bank' (the bench) refers to the area for substitute players. The expression 'auf der Bank sitzen' (to sit on the bench) means that a player is not actively taking part in the game.
EXAMPLE
Der verletzte Spieler saß während des Finales nur auf der Bank.
The injured player only sat on the bench during the final.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'durch die Bank' is a fixed unit and means 'without exception' or 'all without exception'. It has nothing to do with money or sitting.
EXAMPLE
Die Kritiken für den neuen Film waren durch die Bank positiv.
The reviews for the new film were positive across the board.
Compound words
In meanings like 'Datenbank' (database) or 'Blutbank' (blood bank), 'Bank' is the second part of a compound word. The first part (e.g. 'Daten' (data), 'Blut' (blood)) explains what is collected or stored there.
EXAMPLE
Alle Kundendaten sind in einer sicheren Datenbank gespeichert.
All customer data is stored in a secure database.
Compare with
Bank vs Kreditinstitut
credit institution
Here, Bank and Kreditinstitut refer to a company that conducts banking business. Bank is the usual everyday term. Kreditinstitut is a more formal collective term that includes, for example, banks and savings banks, and is especially suitable for official texts.
Bank
Ich frage meine Bank nach einem günstigeren Kredit.
I’m asking my bank about a cheaper loan.
Kreditinstitut
Im Vertrag wird das Kreditinstitut genannt, das den Kredit vergibt.
The contract names the credit institution that is granting the loan.
In real life
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