Does anyone work as a Bank Teller?

[ameraumi]

Wow, some of you earn a lot more as a teller then the ones here do!

When I left the Bank in 1998, I was making $6.25 an hour. Tellers are now making $7. And this is with a large national bank. My hours were great, but I totally hated the sales calls. That is one big turn off to me. I was hired as a teller not to be a telemarketer.

I have worked in many positions at different banks: teller, floating teller, proof operator, personal lending and mortgage lending. By far mortgage lending paid the best.

 

[Jsme]

I worked in banking for 9 years. Half of that time was as a teller.

I hated those years of my banking career.

The company I worked for is a major company in the US. They were all about scaling the working force down, paying very little, working good tellers they had to death and bascially treating you like crap.

I guess my issue was I was great at my job. Therefore my company treated me like crap. I was wonderful to all the customers but I was very fast without forgetting customer feelings. Since I was fast they made me work the drive thru a lot which I hated. Plus they expected me to fill in on front if I had even a second of down time. However, the front end tellers could just lazy around and never help me. I worked 4 lanes by myself and helped the front, I also had to come in at 5 am every Monday to do the bank drops and was in charge of the ATM's.. I finally got fed up with I got pregnant and told them either they move me or I quit. Well they moved me to the front line and then expected me to back up the drive thru teller. Needless to say this built resentment on my behalf.

I loved my customers and the followed me when I tranferred after having my first child. But I was much happier when I was finally made a loan officer and was out of the teller line.

 

[juligrl]

What do Tellers sell?

(My mom was a bank teller years and years ago, and later was a bookkeeper at JC Penneey).

Tellers sell other bank services! Can't discuss them but must refer you to those who can. Seriously, we were strongly encouraged to "tag" every customer and find out how we could get them to use more of our services (loans, investments, CDs, etc.). Aside from that aspect, it was a really fun job. I especially liked working the drive-thru since I was kind of exempt from the whole selling other bank services thing. My goal was just to keep the line moving.

 

[BrerRabbit_fan]

At my bank, the tellers wear a uniform shirt.

 

[battricia]

I cannot believe some of you are making so little as tellers! I was a teller for a year and a half before we moved and I had to quit. I was making I think 11$/hour and starting tellers at that point were making 10 dollars. I worked at a pretty local bank. The hours were rough sometimes. 8 - 6 some thursdays, usually 8:30 - 6, 5, or 4. Also saturday work but our bank wasn't nearly as bad as some national chains.

The hardest thing for me was the sales. We sold products that would make us money, like checking accounts, personal loans, home equity loans, mortgages, credit cards, and financial services (our financial advisors). The nice thing about the sales was that we would get a 'bonus' if we met our goals for the quarter. We also got special bonuses for sales of financial services mortgages and corporate banking (when companies opened up accounts or bought services). Since our bank was local and some what small the sales goals were not as daunting IMO. Both of my bosses came from a much bigger national bank and both of them hated it so much at the bigger bank.

tricia.

 

[SWVA BGSU Fan]

My banking job during college summer months was teller work. I've been in banking full time for over 20 years and that was one of my favorite times.

Admittedly, the pay wasn't/still isn't great and you are expected to promote the bank's products and services. Realistically, almost every job has an element of sales...if nothing else, you are selling your abilities and attributes to those who employ you.

Benefits will typically be pretty good for a private sector job and it's a great position if you like dealing with people. Depending on your flexibility, you might be able to find a bank where you can work a 12 hour drive through shift. They typically consist of 6 work days followed by another week off. Not all banks offer this option but some do. Those who work this type arrangement really enjoy it....just something to consider.

 

[grlpwrd]

My mom has been in banking since I was in the 7th grade.... and that's about 29 years ago.

At one time she worked for a bank, but they treated her poorly. She has been with the same credit union since then.

She is a teller, but she is also a supervisor that deals with credit card transactions. She loves her job.

In my city the jobs at the credit union require an inquiry into your credit history. Wowsa. GL to you!

 

[disalways]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and experiences with being a teller and banking. Years ago, before I became a SAHM, I worked in retail for The Limited, Express, Liz Claiborne, Macys... and well, you get the drift. Selling is something that I was pretty good at, so I hope that I haven't lost it...

Well, I had a telephone interview with Wachovia, and found out that the position for the 20 hour a week teller was already taken... but that they are opening a position for a Roving teller with the home base being the one in my town. It is full time, which I think is good... I was just looking at the part time thing because that was what they were offering. The woman I spoke with was wonderful... she told me all about the Wachovia benefits and they sound fabulous. She said she is going to set up an interview with the bank manager for me. Of course I am going to Disney in two days, so I guess it will have to be when I return... I hope the spot isn't taken by then. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed until then.

Thank again... I really appreciated hearing all of your stories.

 

[Laxmom]

The theory is that the more accounts a client has with your bank, the less likely they will be to change banks. To much of a hassle.

I was a teller for 2 1/2 years until the branch I was at was robbed. Stayed 6 months after that and then just didn't love it any more. The guy got 3 years but I just didn't feel the same about the job any more.

 

[disalways]

Yikes!!!! Robbed?!? That is aweful. I am surprised you lasted 6 months after. That would totally freak me out. What are you doing now, Laxmom?

 

[Laxmom]

That incident took a lot from me; my sense of security. I couldn't stand to be in my own home at night with the blinds open. When someone approached my teller window, I would hold my breath and examine them from head to toe (for description) until I new they were legit. This guy stole more than money from me and I wasn't going to let him steal my job too. I didn't want to make a knee jerk reaction to the robbery. After six months, I asked my family what they thought and they unanimously wanted me out of that bank. Part of my resonsibility was the ATM which was a kiosk type that stood in the parking lot. I went out there on a schedule every day without escort. The door was oposite the drive thru window. Yea, enough of that!

I worked as a book keeper for a real estate agency for 1 1/2 years - a customer at the bank was my boss. Now I have been working in a chiropractors office for 3 1/2 years. The bank did help me get out of retail and the hours were much better. Just remember that this is always a possibility in banking and be prepared, as much as you can. All the prep in the world did not help with the mental stuff; post tramatic stress. BTW, we were able to give him a die pack which exploded in the parking lot which directly led to his capture.