Bank Teller

Bank tellers work in banking institutions. If you are a bank teller, you will have some clearly defined and repetitive tasks (e.g., greeting customers, cashing checks, depositing money).

Education
This job usually requires a high school diploma and/or a GED certificate.

Previous Experience

Previous experience working in a banking and/or retail setting is preferred.
Although many employers prefer that you have previous experience in the same or similar area of employment, it is strongly encouraged that you apply anyways - everybody has to start somewhere!

Job Duties

• Process personal deposit transactions for customers, including cash, checks, money orders, bill and loan payments.
• Ensure accuracy of signatures and verify amounts on deposit slips and ensure accounts have sufficient funds for banking transactions.
• Issue money orders, bank drafts, travelers checks, and cashier’s checks.
• Complete client transactions in a timely and efficient manner.
• Use computers to record all transactions and issue computer-generated receipts.
• Calculate daily transactions, and count monies by hand, calculator, or currency-counting machines.
• Maintain accurate records, receipts, and banking slips.
• Sell, obtain and process information regarding new services for clients (e.g., opening accounts, savings plans, bonds, travelers’ checks).
• Answer customer enquiries and address customer complaints.
• Your employer may also ask you to carry out additional duties than those listed here.

What’s Your Scene?

This job requires that you are able to work "In the Scene."  If you are working as a bank teller, you will be working with banking clients on a regular basis.  You will be speaking with and interacting with clients daily and must have relatively strong social skills.  You will also need to interact with co-workers (e.g. other bank tellers, your supervisor) regularly.

Skills / Abilities

Customer Service Skills  - You will need to know how to provide excellent customer service.  This includes being able to determine if the customer is satisfied, and to meet their needs. It requires the ability to accept complaints from customers, and to calmly deal with high stress situations and angry customers. Displaying a pleasant and cooperative attitude is important.

Manual Dexterity - This job requires the repeated and coordinated use of your hands, wrists, and fingers to type on a computer and handle bills and small coins, requiring the use of fine motor skills. 

Cash Handling – This job requires the ability to handle monies and currencies (e.g., coins and bills). You will need to be okay with touching customers' bills and coins.

Mathematics  - You will need to be able to do basic math quickly and accurately (e.g., addition, subtraction, counting).

Oral Expression - You will be required to speak clearly and effectively.

Reading Comprehension - Demonstrated ability to read, and follow written instructions and ideas.

Oral Comprehension - Demonstrated ability to understand and follow verbal instructions and ideas.

Attention to Detail - It is important that you are able to be accurate and precise for this job, as you are dealing with someone’s money.

Integrity - This job requires that employees are honest and ethical.

Computer Knowledge - You will need to have some knowledge of computer usage as bank tellers enter information and conduct transactions for clients on the computer.

Environmental Demands

Location - Banks are located indoors in a climate-controlled setting. Noise Level - The noise level will be low (fairly quiet). You will also be required to speak in a low to moderate volume as you will be discussing confidential client information. Lighting Level - Banks typically use florescent lighting. Work Hours - This job may have long or short working shifts. Most banks have regular business hours (9am-5pm).  However, some banks are open for a few hours on Saturdays (9am-1pm) and occasionally evenings (5pm-7pm).  You will have to let your employer know what types of shifts you can work (e.g., all day, mornings, afternoons). Amount of Movement - This job typically requires that you sit and stand for long periods of time. Cleanliness and Odors - This job setting is typically quite clean. Work Attire - Work attire will typically be business casual clothing.  Structure and Predictability - This job will typically have a lower degree of predictability and structure.  This means that you might do the same tasks each day, but these tasks might be completed in a different order each day.  You might not always know ahead of time how long each task will take to complete. Although you might work in the same areas or location each day, you will not interact with the same people (i.e. customers) each day.  What's the Pace? Steady:  In most cases, the work pace will be steady, which means that there will always be 1-2 clients waiting for you to assist them.   Peak: There might be other times when the bank is very busy and there are 4-6 clients waiting in line for you to check them out.  This may be a more stressful period because clients are waiting to be checked out by you.  Slow: There may also be some "down time," when there are very few clients in the bank.  This may be a more boring period, where you are required to just wait until a client arrives.

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