What does a Bank Teller do?
Bank tellers are usually considered the face of the bank's branches. They assist clients in their over-the-counter transactions. They process client requests such as updates or changes in the account, cash or check deposits, withdrawals, and any other request related to the client's bank account. They provide customer service to clients and ensure that they are happy with the bank's services. Tellers should also be able to validate requests and transactions. They should have administrative and clerical skills since they handle the filing of documents for some transactions. They should also have organizational and basic accounting skills and should be trustworthy.
Bank teller responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real bank teller resumes:
- Obtain many skills including balancing drawer every day, balancing the coin machine, the coin vault, and ATM vaults.
- Front end assistant to manager, door greeter, phone greeter, ATM custodian, TCD custodian, open and close bank
- Receive TD acknowledgement of accomplishments, quarterly recognition and position increases.
- Provide guidance to customer's and non-customers using a consultative sales approach in uncovering additional needs for cross-sell opportunities.
- Analyze customer's needs, determine appropriate products and services and uncover additional cross-selling opportunities with existing and prospective clients.
- Notify members of financial opportunities base on banking history resulting in increase upselling
- Identify customer needs and opportunities for upselling and convert service opportunities into sales and met/exceed sales goals.
- Obtain sole responsibility of TCD as custodian at commercial branch.
- Recommend methods and provide leadership that contribute to stabilizing chaotic environment.
- Mentore emerging school leaders in leadership programs to develop leadership pipeline.
- Interpret and accurately process customer requests and transactions according to TCF guidelines.
Bank teller skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Bank Tellers are proficient in Customer Service, Savings Withdrawals, and Bank Products. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Bank Tellers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 19%
Operate and balance cash drawer Conflict resolution Maintain and balance General Ledger Compile supply order Provide extraordinary customer service
- Savings Withdrawals, 8%
Referred customers to designated department to resolve concerns while processing checking and savings withdrawals.
- Bank Products, 6%
Processed financial transactions, referrals to financial representatives for loans and new bank products
- Cash Handling, 6%
Facilitated employee learning and development on transaction accuracy and cash handling while mitigating risk.
- Cross-Sell, 5%
Provided guidance to customer's and non-customers using a consultative sales approach in uncovering additional needs for cross-sell opportunities.
- Customer Relationships, 4%
Focus on customer satisfaction, actively work to understand and anticipate customer needs, sustain and increase customer relationships.
Most bank tellers use their skills in "customer service," "savings withdrawals," and "bank products" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential bank teller responsibilities here:
Customer-service skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a bank teller to have is customer-service skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "tellers spend their day interacting with bank customers." Bank tellers often use customer-service skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "partnered with branch management when needed to resolve customer issues in the proper manner and with customer satisfaction. "
Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform bank teller duties is detail oriented. Bank tellers responsibilities require that "tellers must be sure not to make errors when dealing with customers’ money." Bank tellers also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "prepared and maintained good customer relationships, very detailed with cash handling, accurate and precise with all transactions. "
Math skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of bank tellers is math skills. This skill is critical to many everyday bank teller duties, as "because they count and handle large amounts of money, tellers must be good at arithmetic." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "maintained customer accounts, maintained proper customer relations, used computer programs, and did mathematical equation with lack of calculator. "
The three companies that hire the most bank tellers are:
- UUmpqua Bank34 bank tellers jobs
- SSecurity Service Federal Credit Union31 bank tellers jobs
- HHeritage Financial Group24 bank tellers jobs
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Compare different bank tellers
Bank teller vs. New accounts representative
New accounts representatives are banking professionals who are responsible for the explanation of the available accounts. The accounts representatives explain different options for new accounts and interconnected services. They discuss any requirements, fees, or limits related to an account. It is their job to describe new account services to clients and assist them in the paperwork. They perform wire or electronic transfers for the funds coming from the other accounts. Also, they direct their clients to banking specialists for additional services.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a bank teller are more likely to require skills like "savings withdrawals," "cash handling," "customer relationships," and "credit card payments." On the other hand, a job as a new accounts representative requires skills like "credit card," "loan payments," "product knowledge," and "check orders." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
New accounts representatives earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $37,062. On the other hand, bank tellers are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $32,373.new accounts representatives tend to reach similar levels of education than bank tellers. In fact, new accounts representatives are 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Bank teller vs. Teller and a sales associate
Personal banking representatives typically earn $39K per year. This position requires a high school diploma or GED at a minimum, but employers prefer a bachelor's degree in finance, business, or a related field. They may also ask for experience in customer service, cash-handling, or banking. Personal banking representatives are required to provide bank client support, assist with account management, process checks, and find products and services that will be the best fit for their clients.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, bank teller responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer relationships," "credit card payments," "processing loan payments," and "branch management." Meanwhile, a teller and a sales associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer satisfaction," "product knowledge," "loan payments," and "cross-selling." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Teller and a sales associates earn similar levels of education than bank tellers in general. They're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bank teller vs. Personal banking representative
A teller supervisor oversees tellers' performance in banks, ensuring that they provide quality service to clients. They are also responsible for assessing workforce performances, handling issues and concerns, delegating tasks, and even managing teller schedules. Aside from supervising employees, a teller supervisor may also assist clients in depositing and withdrawing funds, opening and closing accounts, and even offering products and services. As a supervisor, it is essential to lead and encourage tellers to reach goals while implementing the bank's policies and regulations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a bank teller is likely to be skilled in "savings withdrawals," "customer relationships," "credit card payments," and "cash drawers," while a typical personal banking representative is skilled in "profiling," "marketing campaigns," "strong analytical," and "cross-selling."
When it comes to education, personal banking representatives tend to earn similar degree levels compared to bank tellers. In fact, they're 2.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Bank teller vs. Teller supervisor
Types of bank teller
Updated January 8, 2025
