Top Bank Teller Skills: Definition and Examples | Indeed.com
Top Bank Teller Skills: Definition and Examples
February 23, 2021
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By: Indeed Editorial Team
Bank tellers use good financial and customer service skills to assist customers with banking transactions. By determining which bank teller skills you have and which ones you need to develop, you can begin your path toward becoming a bank teller. In this article, you will find a list of the most important bank teller skills, as well as how to list them in your resume and highlight what is important.
What are bank teller skills?
Bank teller skills are specific abilities that assist bank tellers in their roles, such as: handling cash, working with customers or maintaining an organized work area. The job duties of a bank teller include assisting customers with client transactions and depositing and withdrawing funds from an account. Specific skills like organizational and basic computer skills will assist the bank teller in completing these tasks effectively and accurately.
Related: Learn About Being a Bank Teller
Examples of bank teller skills
Bank tellers will use specific skills in different aspects of their position. For example, they might use customer service skills when communicating with customers when opening a new bank account. Then, they might use different bank teller skills, like mathematics, when withdrawing money from an account. Bank tellers should have the following skills:
- Cash handling and mathematics
- Customer service
- Computer knowledge
- Organization
- Problem-solving
- Written and verbal communication
- Processing transactions
- Attention to detail
- Maintaining cash drawer allocation
- Processing loans
- Teamwork
- Basic accounting
- Honesty and integrity
- Project management
- Technical
- Data entry
- Typing
- Phone support
- Discretion
- Conflict resolution
Cash handling and mathematics
One of the main job duties of a bank teller is to handle cash. Good and accurate cash handling skills will assist bank tellers with this task. The ability to effectively handle cash requires good mathematical skills, the ability to pay close attention to detail and the knowledge of how to maintain and balance a cash drawer.
Customer service
Good interpersonal and communication skills are necessary to ensure good customer service as a bank teller. The bank teller is often the first point of contact when a customer works with a bank. In some cases, they may be the only banking representative that they work with.
Related: Nonverbal Communication Skills: Definition and Examples
Computer knowledge
Bank tellers will often use computers to access customer accounts and to complete teller responsibilities like transferring, depositing and withdrawing cash. Good computer skills will assist the bank teller in managing these responsibilities in a timely and accurate manner.
Organization
Organization is a requirement when working as a bank teller. Bank tellers will need to balance their cash drawers at the end of each shift. This requires the collection of bank documents and statements that allow the bank to track transactions.
Related: How to Balance a Fast-Paced Work Environment?
Problem-solving
Bank tellers will also need good problem-solving skills. Customers will often come to the bank with a problem, whether it is the need for funds or concern with their bank account. It is the duty of the bank teller to understand the problem and then identify the necessary steps to take to overcome it.
Written and verbal communication
Written and verbal communication skills are necessary when working as a bank teller to effectively communicate each customer's financial needs.
Processing transactions
One of the main job duties of a bank teller is to process transactions. The ability to make transactions accurately and efficiently is important.
Attention to detail
The ability to pay close attention to detail will assist the bank teller in meeting customer needs with accurate cash transactions.
Maintaining cash drawer allocation
Bank tellers are expected to maintain an accurate and balanced cash drawer at all times. Skills in organization and mathematics will assist with managing cash drawer allocation.
Processing loans
Some bank tellers may need to process loans. The ability to understand a customer's needs and collect the necessary documents will assist with a timely process.
Teamwork
Bank tellers will often work with other banking employees, including lenders and other bank tellers, and strong teamwork skills are necessary.
Basic accounting
Basic accounting skills will assist the bank teller in balancing their drawer and completing customer transactions.
Honesty and integrity
Because bank tellers are responsible for handling cash, honest and integrity are a requirement.
Project management
Bank tellers are often involved in multiple projects at one time. The ability to assist multiple customers at one time, while still being accurate and efficient is a requirement when working as a bank teller.
Technical
Good technical skills will assist the bank teller in operating banking equipment and completing computer transactions.
Data entry
Bank tellers will often update customer accounts and good data entry skills will assist with this task.
Typing
Clear and accurate typing skills are important when communicating with other tellers and inputting numerical values into the computer system.
Phone support
Bank tellers will often assist customers over the phone. Clear and effective phone skills will assist with this task.
Discretion
A good amount of discretion is a requirement when working as a bank teller. Bank tellers will need to remain confidential about customer information and balances.
Conflict resolution
The ability to effectively handle conflict can be useful when working as a bank teller. Bank tellers may often come across distraught or angry customers.
How to improve bank teller skills
Fortunately, many of the required bank teller skills can be developed. For example, you can work on improving your organizational and communication skills in your everyday life when communicating with friends or service professionals. You can also develop your computer skills by taking a class or practicing using common computer programs.
Here are a few ways that you can improve your bank teller skills:
1. Ask a trusted friend or coworker for feedback
By asking a trusted friend or coworker for feedback, you can understand specific skills and areas where you can improve. With all feedback, consider specific steps that you can take to improve each skill. For example, if you learn that your coworkers do not turn to you for assistance because they assume you are busy, you can make it a point to offer your assistance more frequently.
2. Create a list and determine where improvements are possible
It can also be useful to consider your own feedback. Make a list of the most important bank teller skills and then consider how well you match up. Then, you will have a list of a few key skills to begin working on immediately.
3. Volunteer for more responsibility
More responsibility, whether it is in your current position or at school, is a great way to develop additional bank teller skills. By accepting more shifts or assisting customers with tasks, you can develop important skills like customer service and communication.
4. Sign up for developmental courses
Organized courses can help you develop your computer and mathematics skills. You can also list these courses on your resume which could make you a more competitive candidate when applying for jobs.
Improving your bank teller skills can help you land the bank teller position you want. By becoming more aware of the necessary skills and making an effort to improve on them, you will find that you can better handle the responsibilities that come with a bank teller role.
How to highlight bank teller skills
By highlighting your bank teller skills on your resume and in the job interview, you can demonstrate why you are a good fit for the open position. You can highlight your bank teller skills on your resume, cover letter, in the job interview and even in the workplace.
Bank teller skills for resume
A resume that highlights the most important bank teller skills will likely assist you in landing an interview for an open teller position. You can list your bank teller skills in your resume by including specific skills with each job description or by creating an individual skills section. Be sure to include specific details about skills, when possible. For example, you might list your bank teller skills like this:
*Cash handling/mathematics skills: Proficiency in balancing drawers and collecting payment I Accurate cash handling skills*
*Computer skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access*
*Customer service skills: Clear and active communication skills I Problem-solving skills*
*Organizational skills: Timely and accurate organizational skills I Effective at delegation and decision-making*
Each of these skills demonstrates the important characteristics of a bank teller, describing why you are a good fit. Be sure to evaluate the job description and ensure that you are demonstrating each of the required bank teller skills.
Bank teller skills for cover letter
Your cover letter is your chance to stand out immediately from other bank teller candidates. You can include one or two of the most relevant skills to the bank teller position. You might include skills in your bank teller cover letter in the following method:
Example: "During employment in my previous position as a customer service representative with Daniels Goods, I worked diligently to ensure customers had a positive experience each visit. I used active listening skills to understand what product they were looking for while using my knowledge of the store to quickly provide them with that item. Then, I used mathematical skills to efficiently and accurately charge them for the item. I also developed problem-solving skills which allowed me to handle customer complaints."
Related: How to Write a Cover Letter (With Tips and Examples)
Bank teller skills for the job interview
Discussing your bank teller skills during your job interview will help to prove why you are the right fit for the open position. You can highlight your bank teller skills during the job interview by responding to interview questions with examples that include specific times in which you used the skills. You might answer an interview question and highlight one or two important bank teller skills in the following method:
Example interview question: Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond to provide good customer service in a previous position.
Example answer: "While working as a customer representative with Daniels Goods, a customer came in looking for a dining table that we had not carried in years. Instead of turning them away, I helped them look up the item and determine the characteristics they enjoyed most about it. Then, I researched in our database for other dining tables that were similar and within the same price range.
I spent the morning showing the customer each of the items, taking note of what they liked and did not like with each one. After a few options, I had a better understanding of what they were looking for and suggested an item that was not in the store. I ordered it from the store and scheduled an appointment with the customer. They immediately bought it and I scheduled delivery and set up in their home the next morning."
This example answer not only tells a story of a time when the candidate went above and beyond but also includes skills like customer service and problem-solving, both of which are important as a bank teller. You don't necessarily have to list the skills during the interview. In fact, including a situation that describes a scenario instead will not only demonstrate your understanding of the skills but that you are also able to apply them in a working environment. Considering which bank teller skills are the most important ahead of time can assist you in preparing your answers and having a few examples ready that explain these skills in detail.