How to Become a Bank Teller
Bank tellers aid customers in making deposits, withdrawals, and other transactions. Most bank tellers hold a high school diploma or the equivalent and receive on-the-job training after they're hired. They need to be familiar with basic computer use and might be tested on general math aptitude. A background check is also required. During their on-the-job training, they learn to perform various teller duties and get information on the bank's policies and practices.
Are you wondering how to work at a bank or how to be a bank teller? Here are the steps you'll need to take to satisfy the bank teller requirements:
- Earn a GED or high school diploma
- Become familiar with basic computer use
- Pass a background check
- Apply for a job
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or BLS reported in May 2019 that the median salary for bank tellers was $31,230. The BLS also projects a decline in bank teller employment of 15%, from 2019-2029.
Bank Teller Education Requirements
Do you need a degree to work at a bank? Bank teller positions require a high school diploma or GED. A college degree isn't necessary to find work, but a two-year associate or four-year bachelor's degree in math, finance, or business might help one get hired or promoted. Education in a second language can also help in finding work with banks looking for applicants fluent in foreign languages.
Though not required, some schools offer short bank teller education programs resulting in a certificate. Classes in these programs explain bank operations, banking regulations, ethics, and teller duties. The curriculum is designed to strengthen the students' math and customer service skills. Prospective tellers are tested on their aptitude with figures; they generally need to be able to work on computer terminals. Since they handle cash and personal information, applicants must pass a thorough background check.
On-the-Job Training
During on-the-job training, tellers are introduced to the bank's computer applications, trained on cash-counting and check-processing machines, and taught how to interact with customers. They must also learn the bank's security, audit, and compliance procedures.
Bank teller training also covers special services, such as redeeming U.S. Savings Bonds, taking coin orders, and issuing bank-certified checks or traveler's checks. Tellers learn to make out money orders, take utility and loan payments, issue license plate stickers, and provide customer access to safe deposit boxes. They might be trained to assist in sales initiatives geared toward finding customers interested in investments, loans, and credit cards.
Career Duties
A teller's daily tasks include setting up a cash drawer, counting cash, taking deposits, and making withdrawals. They file deposit slips and other paperwork, sort checks, handle correspondence, and balance accounts. They might need to be proficient with spreadsheets and online teller systems.
Most full-time bank tellers spend 35-40 hours a week at terminals, working face-to-face with clients. Since they provide a direct interface between a bank and its customers, they must know how to handle complaints in a courteous and professional manner. Some might work at drive-up windows or as ATM attendants. Those who have seniority, superior performance records, and, in some cases, college degrees, might advance to positions such as head teller, supervisor, loan officer, or branch manager.
Required Skills for Bank Tellers
What do you need to work at a bank? There are several skills and personal attributes that an individual should have in order to meet the requirements to work at a bank and be successful in becoming a bank teller:
- Mathematics: Bank tellers often carry out transactions where they must compute monetary amounts in order to determine the balance of an account after a deposit or withdrawal. There is computer software to help with this, but bank tellers should be comfortable with basic mathematical operations.
- Professionalism: Bank tellers interact with customers of the bank, and therefore, they must carry out transactions in a courteous and professional manner.
- Attention to detail: Bank tellers carry out transactions where a small mistake could have a big impact on a person's finances. As a result, attention to detail is crucial to minimize or entirely prevent these errors.
Bank Teller Salary and Job Outlook
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for bank tellers in the United States as of May 2019 was $31,230. Additionally, the BLS projects that bank teller jobs will experience a decline of 15% in the ten year period from 2019 to 2029. The bank teller salary also varies by geographical location to account for differences in living costs in different cities and states. The table below displays the average bank teller salary in the five states where bank tellers make the most money.
| State | Mean Annual Salary |
| Washington | $35,770 |
| Rhode Island | $35,610 |
| District of Columbia | $35,470 |
| Hawaii | $34,750 |
| California | $34,710 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions
- What education is needed to be a bank teller? Do you need a degree to be a bank teller? Most bank teller jobs only require a high school diploma or GED. However, a bachelor's or master's degree can help you get promoted more quickly or find a job more easily.
- Why is there a decline in bank teller jobs? Recently, advances in computerized banking technology have allowed many transactions to take place online. As a result, fewer customers visit banks and the banks hire fewer tellers.
- What careers are related to a bank teller? Some careers similar to bank teller include accountant, account/bank collector, and cashier.
