An individual who handles the day-to-day financial transactions of a bank's customers
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What is a Bank Teller?
Most understand what a bank teller is and the job that the person does. A bank teller handles the day-to-day financial transactions for customers. They may include money transfers, money orders, deposits and withdrawals, and checking transactions.
A bank teller must demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of the bank he or she works for, its systems, its policies, and arguably the most important ability – how to both count money and be responsible with it.
Summary
- A bank teller is responsible for the day-to-day financial transactions that customers of a bank need to take care of.
- Bank tellers must possess excellent basic math/counting skills, as well as exceptional people skills.
- Training can begin before being hired; however, most of a teller’s training is done once they are hired by a bank.
Job Responsibilities of a Bank Teller
A bank teller is typically responsible for providing the first impression for a bank. They are often responsible for making the customer feel safe, answering pertinent questions, and promoting the bank’s services. The goal is to provide the customer with excellent service so that the customer continues to use the bank for all of his or her financial needs.
Bank tellers may also be responsible for:
- Filling out paperwork/deposit and withdrawal slips
- Overseeing ATM deposits and withdrawals
- Answering the phones
- Balancing numbers at the end of the business day
Education and Skills
To be hired as a bank teller, the primary educational requirement is a high school diploma or GED. In order to be trusted with the most basic of duties, the teller needs to possess a basic education.
Perhaps the most important qualifications for being hired as a teller in a bank are excellent basic math skills (the ability to accurately count out cash/balance transaction data) and excellent people skills.
Again, bank tellers work with money on a daily basis. Their skills with numbers need to be spot-on, and their accuracy needs to be trustworthy. Obtaining at least a partial college education makes a candidate more likely to be hired. However, when individuals possess a college degree – especially one that relates to math, accounting, or another area of finance – they tend to be fast-tracked to a managerial position within a bank.
People skills are also critical for bank tellers. They are, as discussed above, responsible for the first impression that a customer receives when using a bank. Thus, they need to be able to communicate information about the bank and available services in a concise and friendly way.
Training
Training for bank teller jobs can start well before the individual is hired by a bank. Working in any retail environment where cash is exchanged and register work is required is excellent training for someone looking to work in a bank.
The majority of a teller’s training, however, is done on the job. For the first several weeks after being hired, the new employee is trained by the individuals at the bank he or she is hired by. While basic math and register skills can be used liberally, each bank will likely follow its own policies and systems of counting out, handing over, and recording transactions. Therefore, a teller must get specialized training at whatever financial institution employs him or her.
Additional Resources
CFI offers the Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA)™certification program for those looking to take their careers to the next level. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following resources will be helpful:
FAQs
Answers customer questions and provides information about the bank services, including credit cards, loans, and bank accounts. Verifies customer identities and keeps all information confidential. Counts cash at the start and end of each shift. Records all transactions throughout the workday.
What are the responsibilities of a bank teller? ›
Responsibilities
- Handle transactions for customers, including check cashing, deposits, withdrawals, transfers, loan payments, cashier's checks, and opening and closing of accounts.
- Identify customer needs, provide information on new products and services, and direct customers to branch representatives as needed.
Experienced bank teller passionate about helping customers navigate their finances. Friendly and helpful demeanor and proven success with reaching sales goals as well as the satisfaction of customers. Attention to detail in regards to calculating accurate counts and balances.
What are the requirements for a bank teller? ›
Bank Teller Qualifications
Possess a high school diploma (or equivalent) Have experience handling cash, as well as personal information. Pass a thorough background check. Possess basic computer skills.
What is the job description of a bank cashier? ›
Bank Cashier Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications. A Bank Cashier, or Bank Teller provides face-to-face services in banks and handles customers' concerns and complaints. Their duties include greeting customers, opening and closing accounts and handling deposits and withdrawals.
Is bank teller a hard job? ›
The role of a bank teller is often physically demanding, requiring long periods of standing, repetitive motions, and handling of heavy cash drawers. These physical demands can lead to exhaustion and discomfort, which may affect a teller's ability to engage in personal activities or hobbies outside of work.
What is the difference between cashier and teller? ›
A bank teller (often abbreviated to simply teller) is an employee of a bank whose responsibilities include the handling of customer cash and negotiable instruments. In some places, this employee is known as a cashier or customer representative. Tellers also deal with routine customer service at a branch.
What is the key skill for Bank Teller? ›
Cash Handling Experience: Experience with cash handling is fundamental, as tellers deal with various cash transactions daily. Customer Service Skills: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills are crucial for effectively serving and engaging with customers.
What is a banker resume job description? ›
Personal Banker Job Responsibilities:
Processes deposits and pay out funds in accordance with bank procedures, recording all transactions accurately and balancing each day's operations. Receives cash and checks for deposit, verifies amounts, and looks for check endorsem*nts.
What should I put on my resume for banking? ›
To write a strong personal banker resume, you must create an accomplishment-driven document highlighting your banking expertise, sales achievements, and client relations skills. Emphasize your ability to educate clients on financial products, generate new business, and deliver exceptional customer service.
The teller position in a bank is generally an entry-level position open to high school graduates. Most successful job applicants have records of high performance in other jobs that include substantial customer service components.
What do banks look for when hiring a teller? ›
Generally, the most important qualities that banks and credit unions look for when hiring tellers are basic math and verbal skills, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail. Pre-employment testing can help ensure that tellers have the right skills and personality traits.
Who pays the most for a Bank Teller? ›
Top companies for Tellers in United States
- Citi. 3.9 $22.43per hour. 19,932 reviews120 salaries reported.
- Flushing Bank. 3.5 $22.09per hour. 73 reviews54 salaries reported.
- Bank of the West. 3.4 $20.36per hour. 1,598 reviews7 salaries reported.
- M&T Bank. 3.4 $19.93per hour. ...
- Wells Fargo. 3.7 $18.75per hour. ...
- Show more companies.
A Cashier's primary role is to assist customers in the in-store check-out process. Main cashier duties and responsibilities include ringing up sales, bagging items, requesting price checks, honoring coupons, collecting payment, and giving appropriate change.
What is a teller in a bank? ›
Tellers verify a customer's identity and financial information before processing a transaction. Tellers are responsible for accurately processing routine transactions at a bank. These transactions include cashing checks, depositing money, and collecting loan payments.
What is the highest salary for a bank cashier? ›
HDFC Bank Cashier salary in India ranges between ₹ ₹1 Lakh to ₹ ₹5.1 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ ₹3.3 Lakhs.
What are the duties and responsibilities of head teller? ›
A Head Teller is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a bank teller team. They are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of the teller line, providing customer service, handling customer transactions, balancing the vault, and ensuring compliance with bank regulations and policies.
What to expect working as a bank teller? ›
Tellers are responsible for accurately handling cash and checks throughout the work day, carefully examining financial documents, verifying numerical amounts and properly recording all transactions in bank information systems.
What is a good objective for a resume for a bank teller? ›
Seeking a Bank Teller position where I can utilize my customer service skills and gain experience in the banking industry. Entry-level Bank Teller looking for an opportunity to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment.
What is a teller lead role? ›
You'll process customer transactions, suggest products or services that help customers meet their financial goals, and educate customers about self-service banking options like online banking. Another large part of a Lead Teller's job is to supervise the Tellers in the branch.
