Bank tellers communicate with customers and handle money, which requires them to have strong communication and math skills. Other requirements include a high school diploma and supervised training on the job. This article explains the jobs that tellers do at banks, as well as the requirements and career options available.
Essential Information
Bank tellers handle a customer's currency-related transactions at a bank. They follow strict rules and regulations to ensure that money is handled properly, safely and confidentially. All that is needed to enter this career is a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Bank teller positions typically require one to be able to provide good customer service, communicate well and have excellent math skills that enable them to perform transactions accurately.
| Required Education | High school diploma with on-the-job training |
| Projected Job Growth | -15% for all tellers from 2019-2029* |
| Median Salary (2019) | $31,230 annually for all tellers* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Bank Teller Career Information
Bank tellers generally possess a high school education and must demonstrate excellent communication and mathematics skills. They communicate regularly with coworkers and customers, oftentimes while working with large sums of currency. Before starting work, bank tellers receive on-the-job training from their employers. Strict rules and regulations must be followed by bank tellers. Training consists of learning how to properly handle money, work with customers and use computers. Additionally, bank tellers often work under the guidance of an experienced bank teller or supervisor when first starting out.
Job Duties
Bank tellers greet customers upon their arrival and then assist them with their banking needs and transactions. Records are kept of all transactions, ensuring that all deposits and withdrawals are handled correctly. Bank tellers count all incoming and outgoing currency to verify the amount of funds available at all times. Bank tellers need to verify a customer's identity in order to avoid fraud and enter all transactions into a computer.
Non-customer related activities include processing and maintaining records of various transactions and loans. Many clerical duties are performed by bank tellers, like maintaining supplies, cleaning work areas and filing various reports. Bank tellers in the morning handle deposits done by mail, night deposits and automated tellers.
Employment Outlook
According to the BLS, the employment of tellers is expected to decrease, by 15%, between 2019 and 2029. Jobs may become available, due to the need to replace retired tellers and those who quit to work in other fields. Job growth in this field may result from more banks opening branch offices. However, increasing technology may automate some of the tasks of bank tellers, which may reduce the need for new bank tellers.
Using mathematics skills, bank tellers calculate and record incoming and outgoing currency for banks. They must also follow rules and regulations, verify customer identification to prevent fraud, and perform clerical work. Becoming a bank teller only requires a high school diploma and training, however, the demand for bank tellers is shrinking, with new tellers needed as tellers retire or move on to other work.
