banco

A financial institution where people can deposit and withdraw money, apply for loans, and manage other financial services. This is the primary and most common meaning in modern Spanish, evolving from its historical roots as a 'table' or 'bench' where money lenders operated.

• Necesito ir al banco para depositar un cheque. — I need to go to the bank to deposit a check.
• El banco central anunció un aumento en las tasas de interés. — The central bank announced an increase in interest rates.
• Abrí una cuenta de ahorros en un banco local. — I opened a savings account at a local bank.

A long seat for several people, typically found in public places like parks, churches, or schools, often made of wood or stone and usually without a backrest. It can also refer to a specific type of work surface or a sandbar or shoal in a body of water. The specific type of seating can vary widely based on context, encompassing concepts like a 'bench', 'pew', or 'stool', which may not have a single direct equivalent in English depending on the specific design and function.

• Nos sentamos en un banco del parque para leer. — We sat on a park bench to read.
• Los niños se sentaron en el banco de la escuela. — The children sat on the school bench.
• El sacerdote se dirigió a los feligreses desde el banco del altar. — The priest addressed the parishioners from the altar bench (or 'pew').
• El barco quedó varado en un banco de arena. — The boat ran aground on a sandbar.