Job descriptions

Bank Teller Job Description for Your Resume

Bank tellers work at the front line of bank and credit union branches, where they help customers move money and keep an accurate record of every transaction. They also answer account questions, check documents for signs of fraud, and suggest products or refer customers to a personal banker. Most tellers work full time during branch hours, and some schedules include evenings or weekends.

Quick answer

The job of a bank teller is to handle everyday transactions at a bank or credit union counter: cashing checks, taking deposits and loan payments, making withdrawals, verifying customer identity, and balancing a cash drawer at the start and end of each shift. On a resume, describe those duties with numbers, such as transactions per day, balancing accuracy and referrals to bankers.

Bank Teller duties and responsibilities for a resume

Pick the duties that match your real work, then turn the strongest ones into results with numbers.

  • Verify customer identity and account details before completing any transaction
  • Process deposits, withdrawals, transfers and loan, mortgage and utility payments
  • Cash checks after confirming signatures, endorsements, dates and available funds
  • Count, sort and verify currency, coins and checks by hand or with counting machines
  • Balance the cash drawer at the start and end of each shift and trace the cause of any difference
  • Enter transactions in the core banking system and print customer receipts
  • Prepare cashier's checks and money orders and order debit cards and checks for customers
  • Resolve account discrepancies and answer customer questions in person and by phone
  • Identify customer needs and refer customers to personal bankers, loan officers or other specialists
  • Promote bank products such as savings accounts, certificates of deposit and online banking
  • Process night drop, mail and ATM deposits and count and post armored car deliveries
  • Exchange foreign currency and calculate exchange fees from daily rate sheets
  • Calculate fees, interest and service charges on customer transactions
  • Help monitor vault cash, order currency supplies and follow security and dual control procedures
  • Collect customer information to open accounts and keep all records confidential

Bank Teller resume bullet examples

Entry level

  • Processed an average of 110 transactions per day, including deposits, withdrawals, check cashing and loan payments.
  • Balanced the cash drawer to the penny on 98% of shifts during the first year.
  • Referred 35 customers to personal bankers in 6 months, leading to 12 new savings accounts and 4 auto loans.
  • Flagged 3 suspicious checks by verifying signatures and endorsements, preventing about $6,800 in losses.

Experienced (head teller)

  • Supervised a 5-teller line at a branch handling about 1,400 customer visits a week.
  • Managed a vault averaging $250,000 in cash with zero findings across 4 quarterly audits.
  • Cut average lobby wait time from 9 to 5 minutes by adjusting lunch coverage and opening a second window at peak hours.
  • Trained 7 new tellers on cash handling, fraud warning signs and the core banking system, and all 7 passed their 90-day reviews.

Bank Teller skills to list

Hard skillsSoft skills
Cash handling and drawer balancingCustomer service
Check verification and fraud detectionAttention to detail
Core banking softwareIntegrity and discretion
Currency counting machinesClear communication
Deposit, withdrawal and loan payment processingInterpersonal skills
Cashier's checks and money ordersPatience
10-key data entryCalm under pressure
Cross-selling bank products
Vault and cash supply procedures
Microsoft Office

Check which of these a specific posting uses with the ATS keyword checker.

Sample bank teller job posting

Employers write postings like this one. Mirror its language where it is true for you.

Bank Teller, Contoso Community Bank

Contoso Community Bank is hiring a full-time teller for our Main Street branch. You will be the first person many customers see, so we look for accuracy, friendliness and good judgment.

Pay: $18.00 to $22.00 per hour (example range only; actual pay varies by location and experience)

Schedule: Monday to Friday during branch hours, plus 2 Saturday mornings a month

Responsibilities

  • Process deposits, withdrawals, check cashing, transfers and loan payments accurately
  • Verify customer identity, signatures and endorsements before completing transactions
  • Balance your cash drawer daily and follow all cash limits and security procedures
  • Prepare cashier's checks and money orders
  • Answer account questions by phone and in person
  • Listen for customer needs and refer customers to personal bankers or loan officers
  • Report unusual activity to the head teller or branch manager

Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • 6 months of cash handling or customer service experience preferred
  • Strong math skills and attention to detail
  • Comfort learning banking software and using a 10-key keypad
  • Ability to pass a background check

How to apply

Apply online with your resume. Contoso Community Bank is an equal opportunity employer.

Tips for describing bank teller work

Lead with balancing accuracy

Balancing is the core measure of a teller. State how often your drawer balanced, such as 'to the penny on 98% of shifts,' and mention any audits you passed. Use your real numbers or a careful estimate.

Show volume and speed

Transactions per day, customers per shift and lobby wait times show you can handle a busy branch. Mention peak periods like paydays or the first of the month if your branch had them.

Include referrals and product sales

Many banks track teller referrals to bankers and product sign-ups. Add the number and what it led to, such as accounts opened or loans booked, because it shows you help the branch grow.

Highlight trust and fraud awareness

Tellers handle confidential information and large amounts of cash. Mention fraud you caught, vault or dual control duties, and compliance training you completed, without sharing any customer details.

Translate cashier and retail experience

If you come from retail or food service, list cash handling, drawer balancing, customer volume and upselling. Those skills line up closely with a teller's core duties, so put them near the top of your resume.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the job of a bank teller?

A bank teller handles routine transactions for bank and credit union customers, such as cashing checks, taking deposits and loan payments, and making withdrawals. Tellers verify identity, balance a cash drawer, answer account questions and refer customers to other staff for loans or new accounts. Head tellers also supervise tellers and manage the vault.

What qualifications do you need to be a bank teller?

The BLS says tellers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn through short-term on-the-job training. Some employers also require a background check. Cash handling or customer service experience, good math skills and attention to detail make an application stronger.

How much do bank tellers make?

The BLS reports a median annual wage of $43,030 for tellers in May 2025, or $20.69 per hour. Pay varies by state, employer and experience, so compare postings in your area.

Is bank teller a good first step into banking?

It can be. The BLS notes that tellers can advance to head teller or supervisory roles, or move into jobs such as loan officer or sales. It also projects teller jobs to decline 13 percent from 2025 to 2035 as online and mobile banking grow, so building product and relationship skills helps you move up.

Sources

  1. Summary Report for 43-3071.00, Tellers, O*NET OnLine
  2. Tellers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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