Do you enjoy working with the general public? Are you interested in working in a bank environment? If so, a career as a bank teller is worth considering. Here are some quick highlights of working in this field:
• Good in-house training and company supported education prospects
• Opportunity to speak to all different kinds of people
• Plenty of room for advancement
If you want to know more about the ins and outs of this career, then read on; we’ll fill you in on the details, including an overview of what bank tellers do, how much they can earn, and what you’ll need to qualify!
Education You Might Need to Become a Bank Teller
The educational requirements for getting a job as a bank teller can vary from one job to the next. Some employers only require that you have a high school diploma, whereas other will require that you have a diploma or a degree in a field related to business administration.
Whether or not it’s a requirement, taking courses, or earning a diploma or degree in a field related to business administration can be of great value for your career. Not only can it be helpful in performing the duties of a bank teller, it can also put you ahead of other applicants when looking for jobs, and help you advance to higher-level positions.
General Job Description
Bank tellers, also known as 'bank clerks' and 'financial customer service representatives', serve as the main point of contact for the customers of a bank, or other similar institutions. Their main responsibility is to handle transactions form walk-in customers. They also must accept payments, facilitate deposits, maintain current accounts and keep records of customer transactions.
Typical Job Duties
• Count cash deposited to various accounts and record any variances
• Guard against loss due to fraud and identity theft
• Sell foreign currency and advise customers of fees
• Handle transactions for current accounts
• Promote and sell the bank’s products and services to customers
Who Employs Bank Tellers? Where Do They Work?
Bank tellers are typically are employed by financial institutions such as chartered banks, credit unions, trust companies, as well as companies that provide money transfer and cheque cashing services.
Average Salary Level in This Field
The salary level you could earn as a bank teller can vary, typically depending on the following factors:
• Your level of education
• Your level of experience
• The specific responsibilities of your job
• The size and type of your employer
• The region in which you work
• Many other factors
Bank Teller Salary Alberta: According to the 2017 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans working in the Customer Service Representatives - Financial Services occupational group earn an average salary level of $37,688 per year. Unfortunately, no similar statistics were available from reliable sources for other Canadian provinces or territories at the time of writing (June 13, 2019).
Bank Teller Salary United States: According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary level of American workers in the Tellers occupational group is $24,940 per year.
Personal Characteristics Needed to Succeed
In order to take enjoyment from working as a bank teller, and to find fulfillment within the role, you will need to have certain personal characteristics, including:
• Willingness to consistently serve customers accurately, efficiently and courteously
• Willingness to keep customer information confidential
• Enjoy working in a team environment
• Prefer having clear rules and organized methods to guide work activities
• Enjoy working with the public
• Enjoy using computers and other office equipment
• Willingness to work in an environment wherein work activities are highly scrutinized by management
Common Working Conditions in This Profession
Hours: The hours you could work as a teller can vary from one job to the next. Some work part-time, other work full-time. The working hours typically reflect the operating hours of the institution, which can involve working some evenings and weekends.
Setting: As a teller, you would work in a bank branch, or similar institution, and would likely not leave or travel much during your shift.
Environment: You would likely have to sit or stand for long periods of time. You would also be under close scrutiny by supervisors when working. The work environment may be stressful at times, such as when dealing with people who are impatient, confused, angry or frustrated. It can be rewarding however, to speak with friendly customers, and help people with their banking needs.
Career Advancement Opportunities
With experience, bank tellers can often move into other sales positions or departments. With enough experience, and possibly education, it’s also possible to advance to more senior roles, including supervisory and management positions.
It’s also worth noting, that many of the major banks have very good in-house training programs, and some also provide funding to help their employees further their education on a part-time basis.
Bank Teller Jobs - Current Postings
Our job board below has "Bank Teller" postings in your regions, when available:
Similar Occupational Profiles in Our Database
Listed below are careers in our database that are similar in nature to Bank Teller, as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities, or they may be in the same industry:
• Customer Service Representative
References
Please consult the following resources to learn more about the ins and outs of a career in this field:
Occupational Profiles: “Financial Customer Service Representative.” (March 30, 2017). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
Office and Administrative Support: “Tellers.” (September 4, 2019). Occupational Outlook Handbook - United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
Online Training: “Bank Teller Certificate.” (n.d.). American Bankers Association website. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
Scholarships for Becoming a Bank Taler
The "Relevant Fields of Study" section below shows fields of study relevant to this profession. You can search for scholarships matched to those fields of study on our Accounting Scholarships and Business Administration Scholarships pages.
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Relevant Fields of Study
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point for becoming a bank teller. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
