How To Become A Bank Teller In Australia: A Complete Guide

Do you have an interest in banking and finance and enjoy assisting people? If yes, consider pursuing a career as a bank teller.

Bank tellers are customer service professionals assisting customers in completing various financial transactions. They are the first point of contact for customers at a financial institution.

No formal qualifications are required to become a bank teller. However, training and certifications in Financial Services or Banking Services can improve your entry into this profession.

Applying for a bank teller job becomes easier when you know the professional attributes, duties, and qualifications needed for this role. This blog explores a bank teller job profile and guides you on how to get started in this profession.

1. What Is A Bank Teller?

Bank tellers are the customer's primary point of contact in banking and financial services institutions. In some banks, they are also called Customer Service Officers or Personal Banking Representatives.

Bank tellers provide customer service and administer the most basic banking and financial transactions at various bank branch locations.

They report to a branch supervisor or manager and coordinate with other bank staff and department managers.

2. What Does A Bank Teller Do?

The most common duties of a bank teller include the following:

• May greet customers and refer them to banking services and specialists based on their needs.

• Handle customer account inquiries and resolve issues

• Facilitate withdrawals and deposits 

• Provide change and encash cheques

• Ensuring the safety of customer accounts by preventing fraudulent transactions and losses 

• Cross- or upsell bank products and services across business customers 

• Evaluate the feasibility and credit risk of consumer loan and business proposals 

• Count the cash drawer before and end of their shift

• Handle cash, debit cards, credit cards, and cheques

• Execute foreign currency transactions for foreign travellers 

• Recording each transaction on their computers

• Assist customers in ordering new debit/credit cards, new chequebooks, and other products

• Promote new deals offered by the bank

• Process financial transactions, such as payments, withdrawals, deposits, fund transfers, and opening and closing accounts

• Maintain working ATMs and cash drawer 

• Assist customers with banking products and services (e.g., debit cards, credit cards, mortgages, prepaid cards, and insurance policies)

• Perform back-office admin and accounting tasks

• Cross-selling banking products, such as credit cards

• Investigate customer documents to resolve disputed transactions

• Answer customer's emails and phones to provide them with banking information

• Advise supervisors about cash discrepancies 

• Accept cheques or cash deposited by customers, and confirm their records and payment receipts.

• Maintain a clean workspace

3. Bank Teller Required Skills

A successful bank teller candidate needs a mix of hard and soft skills to perform his duties effectively and communicate with colleagues and customers.

You can cultivate most of these skills through on-the-job training or by undertaking external training programs.

Technical Skills

• Basic understanding of Mathematics

• Computer literacy for constant and consistent record keeping, monitoring emails, and execution of reports

• Knowledge of banking practices and accounting 

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and banking software 

• Fast typing skills

• Data entry skills

Soft Skills

• Passionate for customer service and interested in assisting people

• Clear and concise communication 

• Ethical mindset

• Good decision-making and judgment skills

• Strong time management skills 

• Enthusiasm to learn new skills

• Strong interpersonal skills to provide a positive customer service experience

• Attentive to detail when handling cash, recording financial transactions, and following security protocols

• High level of accuracy

• Able to work both autonomously and in a team

• Analytical skills

• Able to work with minimal or without supervision

• Honesty and Integrity

• Conflict resolution skills

• Excellent customer service skills

• Responsible

• Good Organisational skills to maintain a clean workspace as they work with large sums of money. 

• Cash-handling skills

• Able to make customers feel comfortable

• Willing to be transferred to other branches when needed

4. Qualifications To Become A Bank Teller in Australia

You don't need formal qualifications to become a bank teller, as some banking institutions provide informal training on the job. 

However, having a relevant qualification can improve your entry into this profession.

• Obtain your Secondary School Certificate in one or more prerequisite subjects, such as English and mathematics 

• Do a certification course in finance, financial services, banking services management, accounting, accounts administration, or bookkeeping, such as Certificate III in Financial Services (FNS30120) or Certificate IV in Financial Services (FNS41820). 

You can also consider completing a bachelor's degree in business, commerce, or economics, majoring in finance or banking to widen your career options.

• Consider completing a computer course to gain proficiency in working with computers, particularly MS Excel

• A prior experience in customer-oriented roles and handling cash is an added advantage 

• Pass a thorough background check

5. Steps To Become A Bank Teller In Australia?

How do you get a bank teller job in Australia? There is no formal qualification required to work in this role. However, some institutions prefer candidates with relevant qualifications to work in this role. 

Here are the steps to pursue a bank teller career:

Step 1: Pursue A Formal Qualification 

You can apply for a bank teller job after receiving your Senior Secondary Certificate. However, completing a formal qualification as it improves your chances of employment and develops job skills and knowledge is recommended.

You can consider a bachelor's degree in finance or a Certificate in Financial Services to gain basic knowledge to work in various finance jobs. University degrees or VET qualifications are favoured by employers when reviewing job applications.

Step 2: Develop Your Technical Competencies

Bank teller's proficiency in working with spreadsheet programs and finance software. If you are from a non-computer background, consider taking training courses to help you develop command of MS office and finance software.  

Also, as the job requires recording customers' financial data into Excel sheets, fast typing skills may be required. You can consider completing a typing course to improve your typing speed.

Bank tellers must be fast in counting money and doing calculations. Consider enrolling in a course to refine your mathematical skills.

Besides helping you develop basic job skills, mentioning these certification courses on your resume will cast a good impression on potential employers.

Step 3: Gain Relevant Experience

Most banks look for candidates who have previously worked in banking, accounting, administrative, or customer-facing roles. It convinces them that you can work in a fast-paced environment, handle money, and deal with customers effectively and efficiently. 

Step 4: Apply To Junior Bank Teller Positions

Since no formal education is required to apply for this position, you can directly apply to the bank/financial institution where you find a job opening. Read the job description carefully and customise your cover letter and resume accordingly. 

The selection process may involve several stages, such as a written test followed by a telephonic and in-person interview. 

6. Popular Bank Teller Courses

Do you want to know how to become a bank teller without experience? 

You can become a bank teller without experience, as various courses offer the skills and knowledge needed to work in this profession. 

Here are the top bank teller courses available to prepare for a Bank Teller career:

• Certificate II in Financial Services

• Certificate III in Financial Services

• Certificate IV in Banking Services

7. How Much Does A Bank Teller Earn In Australia?

The average bank teller's salary in Australia is $46,313, equivalent to AU $24.41 per hour. In addition to the pay, bank tellers also get a range of corporate benefits in private pension and health insurance plans.

The bank teller's salary differs based on their experience, work location, and the financial institution they work for. PayScale says a bank teller's salary in a Westpac banking corporation in Australia is AU $24.29 per hour.

Salary Based on Experience

• Entry-level Bank Tellers (< 1-year experience): AU$23.90 per hour

• Early career Bank Tellers (1-4 years of experience): AU$23.83 per hour 

• Mid-career Bank Tellers (5-9 years of experience): AU$24.98 per hour

• Experienced Bank Tellers (10-19 years of experience): AU$25.76 per hour

8. Work Conditions For Bank Tellers

Bank tellers perform clerical, administrative, and customer service activities in diverse settings such as commercial bank branches, insurance firms, credit management institutions, or retail financial services. They may work in smaller offices or buildings.

A typical day of a bank teller looks like the following:

• Sitting at a desk in front of a computer alongside other colleges

• Interacting with customers

• Sharing spaces with co-workers

• Standing for extended periods

• Working reasonable hours (usually the opening hours of the bank) in which they work in

• Wear formal office attire

Work-life balance is a good advantage of this profession. Bank tellers usually work daytime hours from Monday to Friday and half-day on Saturdays. Incidences of working overtime are minimal in this profession.

9. Where Do Bank Tellers Work?

Bank tellers can work in a broad range of careers in the financial and banking sector all over Australia. Opportunities are available for employees who showcase potential and a desire to succeed in a dynamic and stimulating environment.

Most banks, financial institutions (merchant banks, finance companies, stockbroking firms, and insurance companies), and credit institutions regularly recruit bank tellers.

Some bank tellers also work for building societies and credit unions to perform various financial transactions, such as counting money, processing paperwork, resolving customer inquiries and dealing with loans, investments, foreign currency exchanges, and funds transfers for their clients.

Most bank tellers are employed in a branch network to cater to the needs of individuals and local businesses. In some banks, particularly public sector banks, bank tellers may need to serve in various locations. Staff transfers are a part of the banking industry.

So, there could be possibilities of transfers in administrative departments and branch offices within a metropolitan area. It might seem like a negative of this profession, but accepting a transfer can help in career progression and promotion opportunities.

10. Bank Teller Career Path

School leavers and young graduates who complete the relevant qualification usually begin their careers as cashiers/ bank tellers.

After working in this entry-level position for a few years, they can progress to a supervisory or managerial position or move into a challenging role of a clerk at a bank's head office. 

Considering the varied career options in this profession, experienced bank tellers can even move into an advisory or consulting role as a corporate or private banker. 

After gaining experience in managerial roles, capable bank tellers can advance to become bank managers and, later, area coordinators.

11. Bank Teller Promotion Opportunities

After accumulating substantial experience, bank tellers can undertake further studies to improve their chances of promotion.

They may specialise in retail, banking, Export Financing, Business banking, Corporate, Commercial, and home loan lending. Further others are Financial advisory, Superannuation, and International banking services to get promoted to the following roles: 

• Credit Officer (Lending/Loans Officer)

• International/Overseas Officer

• Operations/Accounts Officer

• Telephone Consultant (Banking) 

12. Job Prospects Of A Bank Teller In Australia

Though most bank transactions are online, many customers still prefer interacting with personnel in a bank branch. 

Due to this reason, banks and credit management institutions continue hiring bank tellers to cater to their customer's needs. It projects a promising job outlook for bank tellers in the coming years in Australia.

With changing customers' requirements, the role of a bank teller has become more focused on consultancy and advertising banking products and services.

They are more involved in informing customers about personalised mortgages, credit cards, loan offers, insurance policies, and savings accounts and illustrating their features, costs, benefits, and potential risks. Thus, plenty of work opportunities and career paths are available.

Additionally, fixed work hours, competitive salaries and benefits make it an in-demand career leading to competition for entry-level vacancies. 

13. How To Be A Good Bank Teller?

Excellent skills, personal characteristics, and attributes can make you an efficient bank teller. Here is a list of skills needed for aspiring bank clerks to succeed in their bank teller jobs:

• Thorough knowledge of policies and processes, including banking and financial sector regulations

• Comprehensive banking product and service knowledge

• Able to liaise with clients from varying backgrounds 

• Strong understanding of confidentiality 

• Reliability

• Efficiency

• Client-focused mentality 

• Active communication with colleagues

• Responding to queries and doubts confidently, convincingly, and accurately 

• Able to work following the set procedures 

• Like maintaining an organised workspace

• Being precise and accurate concerning data and numbers

• Ability to work both in a team and autonomously 

• Strong Customer service skills

• Experience in spreadsheets and banking software 

• Numeracy skills

Don't fret if you don't have these attributes, as you can develop the knowledge and skills by undertaking bank teller courses in college. They are offered in certificates or diploma courses teaching banking ethics, regulations, teller duties, and bank operations.

These courses aim to develop bank teller competencies and improve math and customer service skills. You can also find advanced Bank Teller Training courses led by a veteran teller. These courses equip you with the knowledge of bank compliance, security, and audit procedures.

These experienced trainers demonstrate techniques to promote financial products and services and use the bank's software. They train new bank tellers on using cash-counting, check-processing, and communication skills to deal with customers.

So, if you plan to embark on a professional journey as a bank teller, completing these courses before applying for jobs will be helpful.

14. Conclusion

Bank tellers are the 'face' of banks and financial institutions being the first person a customer interacts with. Regular interaction with people from diverse backgrounds makes the job interesting.

Less demanding work hours, competitive salary packages, work off on public holidays, and ample career growth opportunities appeal to school leavers and young graduates.

If you are keen on becoming a bank teller, then a Certificate III or IV in Financial Services is the ideal qualification to help you get started in your profession.

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