Japanese picks the verb by what exists: います for animate things, あります for everything else. The particle also shifts depending on whether the place or the thing is the topic.
Also known asarimasu imasuあります いますthere is japanesearu iru
あります for non-living things, います for living beings (people, animals).
あそこに ぎんこうが あります。
There is a bank over there.
へやに ねこが います。
There is a cat in the room.
Both mean “there is/exists”. Choose by animacy: あります for objects, plants, events; います for people and animals. The thing that exists is marked with が.
In the textbooksMinna I, lesson 10Genki I, lesson 4
に marks the location of existence: 机の上に 本が あります.
つくえの うえに ほんが あります。
There is a book on the desk.
The place of existence takes に (not で, which is for actions). Position words combine with の: 机の 上 (on the desk), いすの 下 (under the chair), 銀行の 前 (in front of the bank).
In the textbooksMinna I, lesson 10
When the thing is the topic, use は…に あります: 銀行は 駅の前に あります.
ぎんこうは えきの まえに あります。
The bank is in front of the station.
Two patterns describe the same scene from different angles: place に N が あります (introduces a new thing) vs N は place に あります (tells where a known thing is).
In the textbooksMinna I, lesson 10