What Does a Bank Teller Do?
A bank teller is responsible for processing routine operations in a bank, such as cashing checks, depositing or withdrawing money, issuing savings bonds, and collecting loan payments. They ensure a high level of service and transaction efficiency. They must have excellent communication skills and customer service skills. Bank tellers need acute attention to detail as they are responsible for identifying risk factors for fraudulent activity or potential scams. Bank tellers have solid analytical skills, working knowledge of computers and electronic banking systems, and strong data entry skills.
As bank tellers are typically the first point of contact when customers enter a bank, this role requires excellent interpersonal skills. Bank tellers must be patient, understanding, good problem solvers, and resourceful in dealing with customers on a daily basis. They may be required to sell products and services or make sales referrals as part of their duties at the bank. They also should stay current on all regulations and policies and ensure they are upheld.
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National Average Salary
Bank teller salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a Bank Teller is:
$33,040
Bank Teller Job Descriptions
Crafting the perfect job description may be the key to finding an exceptional bank teller. To help you with your recruiting search, our team has put together some examples from past openings.
Example 1
[Your Company Name] is searching for an experienced bank teller to join our retail branch. The teller is the first person that our customers see. If you would like to apply for the job, you need experience in a customer-focused environment with elementary accounting skills, allowing you to feel comfortable with handling large sums of cash for our trusting customers. You should have a knack for paying attention to small details and possess a natural ability to actively listen to our customers about their concerns and needs.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Follow companies procedures to calculate and manage all the funds they give out and receive from customers
- Build and maintain customers’ trust by providing quality service
- Answer any questions customers may have about their account or other products/services
- Collect checks, money, debit and credit payments from members
- Utilize the provided electronics to correctly document all the transactions carried out on the shift
- Solve any problems that arise on the account or during a transaction
- Make sure the drawer is balanced at the end of the shift to ensure all transactions went smoothly
Education and experience
- A completed high school diploma or an equivalent GED certificate
- At least six months of experience handling customer service
Required skills and qualifications
- Being able to pass a background check
- Basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication
- Ability to communicate any issues or opportunities to colleagues or customers effectively
- High moral standing and strong sense of integrity
- Ability to accomplish thoroughness and accuracy when completing a transaction
Preferred qualifications
- Being fluent in a different language other than English
- Obtaining an undergraduate degree in a finance-related field
- Experience with handling large sums of money
- Experience with utilizing different computer programs, such as Microsoft teams and Outlook
- Experience in a sales-related role that prioritized the customers’ wellbeing
- Mathematical experience in algebra to increase accuracy with transactions
Example 2
The Teller is responsible for assisting with the execution of branch activities, including day-to-day delivery of client-facing services and processing transactions. The role of a Teller is to provide exceptional customer service and maintains knowledge of products, fees and stay current on bank offerings that will deepen a customer relationship.
Responsibilities
- Accurately and efficiently process transactions (deposits, withdrawals, check cashing, ATM, night drop)
- Answer questions and resolve customer concerns regarding services provided by the Bank
- Sells cashier’s checks
- Vault and ATM balancing
- Holds/Stop payments
- Monthly certifications
- Account research
- Order supplies and process mail
- Assist with processing and scanning of daily teller work
- Review and verify daily reports assigned by Branch Management
- Adhere to bank policies, operational controls, and regulatory procedures to ensure the safety and security of client and bank assets
- Participate and contribute to the branch’s overall goals
- Perform other duties as assigned
Required qualifications
- One year of recent Teller or cash handling experience
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Excellent customer service skills including proper telephone etiquette
- Basic math skills
- Accurate typing and basic computer skills
- Good written and verbal skills required
- Detailed and accurate in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to work well in a team oriented environment
Preferred qualifications
- Basic knowledge of Word and Excel preferred
- Fluency in Spanish is preferred
Physical requirements
- Local travel may be required
- Role requires sitting or standing in front of a computer monitor for prolonged periods of time in a fixed neck position
- Constant use of a computer or other office equipment resulting in repeating motions of the hands and wrists
- Light work that may include moving objects up to 20 pounds
Example 3
Essential duties and responsibilities
- Provides quality customer service which includes consistently demonstrating the following:
- Maintains a positive and cooperative attitude at all times
- Acknowledges and responds immediately to the customer. “Customer before paperwork.”
- Greets the customer by name; learn name and use in closing
- Makes eye contact, demonstrates user-friendly non-verbal behavior
- Thanks customer for their business
- Assists with phone answering as needed
- Courteously and pleasantly answers customer questions and directs them to other departments when required
- Identifies opportunities to cross-sell bank products and services to new and existing customers
Teller operations
- Processes customer deposits and withdrawals, verifying all cash or endorsements and issuing receipts according to established procedures
- Verifies account information from the computer to validate all customer data, before completing transactions or releasing funds
- Maintains sufficient cash drawer funds to provide timely customer service and balances the drawer according to established procedures. Cash differences not to exceed established amount
- Ensures that all transactions are thoroughly documented on the teller tape to minimize bank liability and maintain audit trail of customer transactions
- Cashes checks for account holders and approved check cashing customers, within the limits set forth in the cashing policy, upon verification of signatures
- Processes additional transactions as assigned but not limited to: mail and night deposit items under dual control, telephone transfers and money orders, cashiers checks, travelers checks, cash advances, sells and redeems savings bonds, process currency and coin orders, count coin, process food coupons according to established procedures, ensuring that all transactions are recorded promptly and accurately
- Sells excess cash to vault teller to avoid exceeding drawer limit. Ensures that cash drawer is stocked with sufficient cash to meet customer demand
- Follows all bank regulations that effect the teller operations, including but not limited to: Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Regulation CC: Expedited Funds Availability Act, CIP, etc.
- Adheres to all bank security policies for the location and the position
Other responsibilities
- Accepts rent payments for safe deposit boxes per safe deposit box agreement
- Daily processing of TT&L payments and money orders
- Performs various responsibilities and special projects as assigned by management
Example 4
Major responsibilities are as follows
- Represents [company] as a customer service professional
- Maintains positive, friendly, and professional communications with customers, co-workers, and management whether in person, by phone, in writing, and/or through computerized and other electronic means
- Safely operates cash processing equipment and keeps equipment in good working order
- Accurately and efficiently counts and logs client’s deposits into our teller software system
- Uses handheld electronic devices to scan and track deposits
- Prepares currency/coin orders
- Ensures accurate count and tracking of all vault assets
- Ensures the safety of all negotiables and confidential records
- Notifies supervisor/manager of any delays, issues, concerns, or problems in a timely manner
- Maintains a clean and orderly teller processing area
- Performs other duties as assigned
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent is required.
- One or more years of teller, vault teller, vault custodian, cage cashier, fill bank, soft count, slot attendant, cash logistics, lead cashier, or equivalent cash handling experience is preferred
- Accuracy and good math skills are required
- Must be able to use a computer and other cash processing equipment
- Must be able to lift 30 pounds and sometimes a team lift of around 50 pounds
- Exhibits professionalism, politeness, and courtesy and willingly steps in and helps the team
- Trustworthiness and the ability to act with integrity is of utmost important
Candidate Certifications to Look For
- AIB Customer Service Representative Certificate. The AIB is the undisputed professional credential for a variety of banking personnel with the desire to increase their knowledge and applied skills into their routine banking transactions. Candidates will need to complete 11 different courses, including Banking Today, Building and Retaining Customer Relationships, Cross-Selling Deposit Products, Dealing Effectively with Co-Workers, Effective Referrals, Ethical Issues for Bankers, Introduction to Relationship Selling, Regulatory Compliance for Customer Service Representatives, Revitalizing Customer Service, Telephone Etiquette, and Understanding Bank Products. The main emphasis of all these courses is increasing product knowledge and customer satisfaction.
- ABA Bank Teller Certificate. This certificate is perfect for candidates looking to develop the essential skills they need to become effective bank tellers. They will be able to master core competencies such as cash handling, check cashing, cash payments, deposit and withdrawal processing, and settlements of teller cash along with proof of transactions. Candidates will also be introduced to ways to build interpersonal skills with customers and coworkers.
- Certified Bank Teller. The CBT is one of the most popular certificates earned for new tellers. Candidates will first go through comprehensive training that will cover the following professional knowledge areas: Teller Operations, Sales and Service, Banking Basics, Specific Business Competencies, and Ethics. After that, they must pass a test that will cover all these topics. In order to be eligible to complete the certificate, candidates will need a minimum of six months of experience as a teller, a completed AIB Bank Teller Certificate, a letter of recommendation from your senior manager, and a completed application that confirms they met all the eligibility requirements.
Sample Interview Questions
- What interests you about becoming a bank teller?
- Why did you choose our bank?
- What do you think are the most important qualities a bank teller should have?
- Describe a time when you had to deal with an upset customer.
- How would you handle a situation wherein a customer was wrongly charged on their account?
- If I were a customer making a common deposit into my account, how would you sell a new product that the bank recently came out with?
- How would you react if you saw a fellow employee take money from our institution?
- Are you comfortable dealing with large sums of money?
- What strategies would you use to make a customer feel welcomed?
- How do you deal with stressful situations?
- What skills do you have that would help you succeed in this role?
- Do you have any experience with spotting fraudulent checks or counterfeit money?
