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What should your next step be once you are done perfecting your bank teller resume and cover letter? You need to start getting ready for your interviews with potential employers. You will need to answer common questions with confidence and authority in order to really impress the hiring managers. Not only will you have to be able to answer inquiries, but you will need to think about what you wear and how you act. This first meeting is an important factor in whether you get a job offer. Before we get down to talking about common bank teller interview questions and answers, let’s cover some other ground that’s just as important.
What skills do you need to have to be a bank teller?
Typical skills that a bank teller should possess include:
- Experience handling cash and counting money
- Knowledge of accounting and document management software
- Dedication to excellent customer service
- Capabilities with selling bank services
- Ability to stand for long periods of time
- Proficiency with currency counters and check endorsing machines
What are the duties of a bank teller?
Typical duties that a bank teller performs include:
- Handle monetary transactions/exchanges with bank customers, such as cashing checks and receiving deposits
- Sell bank services and handle customer account services
- Assist customers with any banking-related questions or issues, or refer customers to other bank services or departments
How much do banks pay?
The salaries that banks pay their employees varies depending on job title and level of seniority. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for bank tellers (as of May 2017) was $28,110.
What should you wear to a bank teller interview?
Attire for a bank teller interview tends to be more on the business side of business casual. In most cases, a skirt or slacks, plus a blouse and pumps (or heels or flats), should work for women. For men, slacks and a pressed dress shirt, plus dress shoes, should work. No sneakers, no jeans, no tee-shirts, and finally—no shorts!
You can prepare for this meeting by looking at best practice tips and rehearsing your answers to common questions. If you really want to be able to wow the interviewer, you need to go beyond the basics. Consider looking at these specific bank teller interview questions and answers to give yourself an edge over the competition.
5 Bank Teller Interview Questions & Answers
Why do you think customer service is an important skill for bank tellers to have?
One of a bank teller’s primary responsibilities is to work with customers, so I can imagine customer service skills are very important. I have never worked in a bank setting before, but I have worked in retail. I am sure the customer service part is very similar. A customer will come to me looking for help with a transaction. I have to be able to give information about banking options in a friendly and patient way even if the customer is in a bad mood. Without good customer service, many clients would choose to move their business elsewhere, which is really the entire reason it is so important for tellers to have outstanding customer service skills.
How does this position fit into your overall career goals?
I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agriculture finance. I know this bank is well known for its ag loans. I would like to gain hands-on experience while I finish my degree and then work my way up to an agriculture loan officer right here at this bank. I want to be a teller first for a few reasons. First, it gives me work experience in a bank, which will be helpful for my career goals. Second, I can gain important knowledge about the workings of this bank, so should my plans succeed, I will be a prime candidate for the loan officer position.
Are you comfortable working with large sums of money?
For some people, the idea of working with a lot of money can be daunting. I have never understood this particular aversion. As a cashier at a gas station, I had to handle some money, but of course there will be more money coming through a bank. I never had an issue with the money-handling. I am good at math, so I was able to consistently give back accurate change. I think it is important to really take your time when you are handling large amounts of money so you can ensure you are doing everything accurately and not allow yourself to get flustered. Certain customers enjoy talking during the process, but I never found the conversations distracting from what I was supposed to be doing with the money when I worked at the gas station.
Do you know how to detect fraudulent checks and counterfeit cash?
I do have experience using a counterfeit pen for cash, and I am aware of a few of the discrepancies to look for visually on printed money, such as the holograph and the thin vertical strip with the bill’s denomination. I am not as familiar with spotting fraudulent checks, but I am a very quick learner. I know the bank has some hands-on training, which I am sure would be enough to prepare me to detect fake checks.
What qualities do you think are important in a bank teller and why?
In my opinion, the most important quality in a bank teller is honesty. I think honesty will help in the interactions with the customers, because sincerity can go a long way in making someone feel helped and heard. Honesty is also important because bank tellers are expected to handle a lot of money. If integrity was lacking, it could be very bad for the bank in question.
You can prepare industry-relevant answers to these common bank teller interview questions in order to really shine during the first meeting with your potential employer.
Kellie is the content strategist for My Perfect Resume. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She has a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
