How To Become A Bank Teller

Becoming a bank teller may be easier to do if an applicant has the relevant education and skill set that is required. The position is quite important because the teller is the point of contact between the bank and the customers. As a result, they must possess good customer-service skills and have an organized work ethic. If you are interested in learning how to become a bank teller, read our guide to find out the process.

Bank Teller Responsibilities
Tellers are responsible for multiple duties, mostly pertaining to handling cash and maintaining financial records. Overall, a bank teller is responsible for handling all transactions which occur at their counter, and maintaining an accurate record of them electronically throughout their shift. In addition to this, they will be tasked with preparing special types of funds such as traveler's checks and money orders. Furthermore, they may exchange dollars for foreign currency and vice-versa. Finally, they will be responsible for answering all customer questions, and guiding them through basic issues with understanding financial statements or bank procedures.

Bank Teller Training
A bank teller is a job which may be applied for if you possess a high school diploma. Having some background in accounting or accounting-related subjects may give you an advantage, but it is not a requirement. Most banks conduct month-long training programs for all new hirers, during which they are familiarized with their duties and their relevant skill areas are further developed. Having a college degree is also advantageous, but is also considered only rarely when banks are screening applicants. There are online education classes that individuals could take to help them acquire the basic skills needed for these positions. Online education allows students to take classes while maintaining a full-time job.

Relevant Skills
These professionals must be good with basic math and have excellent attention to detail. Often, tellers are dealing with large amounts of money and must maintain accurate counts so that there is no lapse in the records. Furthermore, tellers must be polite and courteous to all customers while assisting them. If you feel you have these skills, you might want to consider applying for this position.

Career Outlook
Individuals in this field could advance to more senior teller positions within the same or another bank. They could also move on to positions as loan officers, provided they complete basic training to help bridge any gap in the skills. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the median wage for bank tellers to be $24,100 for the year in 2010. The top ten percent of employees in this field were earning around $32,650. The job growth in this field, however, is not very high. This is because the global economy is slowing down after booming growth and a recession, which forced demands for tellers to be high and then low, respectively. With time, as consumers increasingly use electronic media to carry out their transactions, the need for tellers is expected to decline. As an alternative, careers in accounting or bookkeeping are more likely to be stable and in higher demand with time.