Dopo il prelievo, il saldo è più basso di quanto pensassi.

It means after the withdrawal.

Grammatically, dopo means after, and it is followed here by a noun phrase: il prelievo. So the structure is simply:

dopo + noun = after + noun

Examples:

• dopo cena = after dinner
• dopo il film = after the film
• dopo il prelievo = after the withdrawal

In this sentence, it sets the time frame for what follows: the balance is lower after the money was taken out.

The comma separates the introductory time phrase from the main clause.

So the sentence is divided like this:

• Dopo il prelievo, = introductory context
• il saldo è più basso di quanto pensassi. = main statement

In Italian, this comma is common and natural, especially when the opening phrase gives time, place, or context. It is not always absolutely required in short sentences, but here it helps readability.

Because il prelievo refers to a specific withdrawal, one that is known from the context.

Italian often uses the definite article where English might also use the:

• il prelievo = the withdrawal

If you said un prelievo, it would sound more like:

• a withdrawal
• one withdrawal among others
• not yet clearly identified

Here the sentence is about a particular withdrawal that has just happened or is already understood, so il prelievo is the natural choice.

No. Prelievo has a broader meaning: it means a taking, withdrawal, or collection/removal of something.

Common uses include:

• prelievo di contanti = cash withdrawal
• prelievo di sangue = blood sample / blood draw

So the word itself is not limited to banking. In this sentence, though, because of saldo (balance), the banking meaning is clearly intended.

Here saldo means balance, specifically a bank or account balance.

So:

• il saldo = the balance

In banking Italian, this is the standard word for the amount currently in an account.

Examples:

• controllare il saldo = to check the balance
• saldo disponibile = available balance

A learner should be careful not to confuse this with other meanings they may see in shops, where saldo/saldi can refer to sales/discounts. In this sentence, it definitely means balance.

Because basso agrees with saldo, and saldo is masculine singular.

Agreement in Italian works like this:

• masculine singular: basso
• feminine singular: bassa
• masculine plural: bassi
• feminine plural: basse

Since the subject is il saldo, the adjective must be basso:

• il saldo è basso
• not il saldo è bassa

Yes. Più basso is a very natural way to say that the balance is lower.

Italian often talks about levels, prices, numbers, and balances as being:

• alti = high
• bassi = low

So:

• il saldo è più basso = the balance is lower

You could also hear more formal alternatives such as:

• inferiore = lower
• minore = smaller/lesser

But più basso is common, clear, and idiomatic.

This is a very common Italian comparison pattern:

più/meno + adjective/adverb + di quanto + verb

So:

• più basso di quanto pensassi = lower than I thought

Here di quanto introduces the second part of the comparison. In English we simply say than, but Italian often uses di quanto when the comparison is followed by a whole clause.

Compare:

• È più difficile di quanto immaginavo. = It’s more difficult than I imagined.
• Costa meno di quanto pensassi. = It costs less than I thought.

So di quanto pensassi does not mean of how much I thought in normal English. It functions as than I thought.

Because the comparison is followed by a clause, not just a single word.

In this sentence, the comparison is:

• più basso ... di quanto pensassi

The part pensassi is a full verb, so Italian naturally uses di quanto.

A useful guideline is:

• use di quanto when the comparison continues with a clause
• che is used in other kinds of comparisons

For example:

• È più alto che largo. = It’s taller than it is wide.
• È più basso di quanto pensassi. = It’s lower than I thought.

So in your sentence, di quanto is the normal choice.

Pensassi is the imperfect subjunctive of pensare, and it is very natural in this structure.

Italian often uses the subjunctive after di quanto when the comparison depends on a personal impression, expectation, or mental judgment:

• più basso di quanto pensassi
• più semplice di quanto credessi
• meno costoso di quanto immaginassi

Why not penso? Because the sentence is about what you thought before, not what you think right now.

Why not pensavo? You may hear pensavo in everyday speech, and many Italians do say it. But pensassi is the more standard and grammatically careful choice in this type of comparative sentence.

So for a learner, pensassi is the safest version to use.

Yes, you can think of the sentence as slightly shortened.

Di quanto pensassi really means something like:

• than I thought it was
• than I had thought

Italian often omits the repeated part when it is obvious from context. The fuller idea would be something like:

• il saldo è più basso di quanto pensassi fosse
• literally: the balance is lower than I thought it was

But Italian usually prefers the shorter, cleaner version:

• più basso di quanto pensassi

So yes, there is an implied idea after pensassi, but leaving it out is perfectly normal.

Yes. Italian word order is fairly flexible.

You could also say:

• Il saldo, dopo il prelievo, è più basso di quanto pensassi.
• Il saldo è più basso di quanto pensassi dopo il prelievo.

But the original sentence:

• Dopo il prelievo, il saldo è più basso di quanto pensassi.

is very natural because it starts with the time/context, then gives the main point.

So the original order is probably the best choice if you want to emphasize after the withdrawal first.