2024‘s 17 Best Bank Teller Interview Questions And Answers [Free Guide]
If you are seeking out some of the most common bank teller interview questions, you’re in the right place!
Below, you will find a wide range of questions (with answers!) that you are likely to be asked when attending an interview for a cashier or teller position at a bank.
Whether you are interviewing with JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, TD Bank, Barclays, or Bank of America, these are relevant questions and example answers. Some of these bank teller interview questions might be surprising to you, which means that it’s better to come across them now than be stuck on the spot during your important interview.
I encourage you to read through them all. This way, you’ll be as prepared as you possibly can in order to ace your next bank teller interview.
17 Bank Teller Interview Questions + Answers
1. Why do you want to work for us?
The interviewer will most likely ask why you are interested in being a bank teller at their institution, so being ready beforehand is essential.
Tips for answering this question:
- Research the company and memorize interesting facts like when they opened, how many customers they have, how many branches, company ethos, etc.
- Reference any unique attributes of their services to show that you understand the unique culture of this bank.
- Share any good experiences you have had with that bank brand and why you would want to be part of that team.
2. What duties did you hold in your past experience?
If you have worked as a bank teller in the past, state some of the main responsibilities you held.
Example Answers:
- In my previous role/s, I handled transactions and exchanges with clients, like receiving deposits and cashing checks.
- I handled client accounts and sold bank services, as well as assisting customers with banking issues and questions, referring to other departments where needed.
3. What’s the most important quality that you feel a bank teller should have?
There are many ways to answer this question. Highlight a skill that you have, so you can tie it into your own capacities in your answer.
Example Answer:
- I believe that honesty is one of the most important qualities a bank teller needs. This enhances customer interactions, as sincerity is crucial for people to feel understood and heard.
- Honesty and integrity are also important for employees to feel from bank tellers, as they are handling a lot of money every day.
4. How do you describe great customer service?
A bank teller needs to excel in customer service to be seen as a valuable employee.
Example Answers:
- Customer service goes beyond providing people with what they want and offering them more than they ask for, in anticipating their needs.
- It’s about having the attention to detail needed to recognize visual cues and have the customer walking away happy with their interaction.
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5. How would you go about signing a customer up for bank services?
Converting a customer to be a client, especially transitioning from another bank, is ideal for bank tellers to be skilled in.
Example Answer:
I would allow our conversation to naturally progress to ask about their needs and what they ideally are working towards with their banking goals.
Then I would suggest our services in a way that still feels conversational and friendly, so as to sound simply like a friend giving advice, rather than making a sale.
I would make sure I was up to date with our products and services to be prepared to share this with any customer.
6. Do you have experience dealing with large sums of money?
If you’ve worked at a bank before, or at a register in a busy grocery store, for example, then you can reference this experience in your answer.
Example Answers:
- As a cashier in hospitality before working at my last job as a bank teller, I worked with medium amounts of cash (up to $3,000 in my drawer). This prepared me well for handling large amounts of money with transitioning to a bank, and I don’t feel overwhelmed by working with large sums.
- Taking my time to count the sums and using the machines available is important for bank tellers, and I’ve learned to be focused to ensure accuracy and follow procedures in order to successfully manage large sums.
7. What are your strongest bank teller skills?
There are a number of skills bank tellers need. From the following list, choose a few to focus on in your answer.
Key skills:
- Counting cash and handling large sums of money
- Exceptional customer service
- Selling bank services
- Standing for long periods of time and working at a fast pace with accuracy
- Proficiency with currency counters
- Using currency counters and check machines
- Accounting and data management
8. What are some of your weaknesses?
Being able to express the areas where you are learning is beneficial in your interview. Surprisingly, many banks like training staff with their processes, so being honest can allow you to learn, and maybe even train in the future.
Example Answer:
I tend to be so sensitive to people’s energy that one of my weaknesses is feeling bad when people are waiting in line for a long time.
I’m working on not taking responsibility for that and accepting that sometimes things will take time and all I can do is just wait and work as best I can, knowing that people are responsible for their own emotions.
9. What is one of your most fulfilling experiences as a bank teller?
If you are experienced, then this question could come up at some point in the interview.
Tips for answering this question:
- Focus on a situation where the customer was very happy and fulfilled, as well as the bank benefiting from the exchange.
- Explain how you made this happen, and the skills and your expertise that created this experience, so the interviewer knows that you are aware of how to recreate this experience again.
10. How would you deal with a customer complaining about slow service?
This will undoubtedly happen at some point since banks are known for long lines. Even if the service is fast on the bank teller’s part, customers may simply be impatient.
Example Answers:
- I would listen to the customer, and state that I understand what they are saying, while also reassuring them that we are doing the best we can to fulfill their needs.
- If they are looking for a service that our smart ATMs can handle, I would point them in that direction, so they don’t need to continue to wait.
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11. How do you check for counterfeit cash and fraudulent checks?
If you have expertise in this from past experience, be sure to share this, as you will need to know how to do this as a bank teller.
Example Answer:
I have used a counterfeit pen for checking cash, and I also know how to look for the holograph and the vertical strip with the denomination of the bill.
Spotting fraudulent checks is more complex, but I am inspired to learn with some hands-on training so I can detect fake checks in this role.
12. What would you do if you saw an employee take cash, even if it were $1, from the bank?
Although the answer to most will be obvious, you’ll likely get asked this to assess how trustworthy and honest you are.
Example Answer:
- No amount of money is ok being stolen. I would align with the policies of our company and notify the supervisor straight away.
- Turning a blind eye to these actions would be doing a disservice to the company and our clients who entrust their money with us, and my own personal moral code wouldn’t let me go without saying anything.
13. How do you feel about up-selling products to customers who are depositing money?
You are not only there to assist with transactions, but to also encourage more sales for the bank, so the interviewer will like to see how you answer this question.
Example Answers:
- I feel that it’s important to express to customers what is available to them, as I legitimately believe in the value of banking products to support their financial goals.
- I would connect with them on a human and personal level, sharing my own experience and chatting in a way that does not feel like I am trying to ‘sell’ them anything, but rather to share information.
14. What is the biggest challenge working as a bank teller?
Employers like to see that you have a deep understanding of the role of bank tellers and what they will likely face day-to-day.
Example Answers:
- I would say that for me, the biggest challenge has been balancing being accurate and focused on transactions while keeping customers happy through efficient service.
- I’ll remind myself that some customers may just be impatient and that there is nothing I can do about that beyond letting them know I’ll be with them shortly.
- Ideally, I’d be able to serve everything fast and no one would wait, but that’s not the reality of working for a busy bank.
15. What is your availability?
This practical question comes up towards the end of the interview, especially if you are being seriously considered for the role.
Tips for answering this question:
- Are you flexible to work whenever required? If so, share that you can do as many hours as needed, as well as over-time.
- Do you have certain time/day restrictions? Try to shuffle these around to suit the bank’s working hours, or if that’s not possible, clearly explain when and why you can’t work those times.
16. What is your ideal work schedule?
This question is about preferences in terms of how you would like your schedule to be – some employers might have the flexibility to cater to needs.
Tips for answering this question:
- Share any preferences for workdays/times openly. Focus on communicating that you’re most concerned with getting consistent work.
- Ideally, employers want you to have no preference. If that’s the case for you, share this.
17. Do you have any questions for me?
Ask questions in the interview to show that you are enthusiastic about this role.
Example Answers:
- What defines a successful bank teller, in your eyes?
- What does a typical day in this bank look like?
- How do you describe the company culture of this bank?
For more information, you can also see my other posts on interview questions and also some related posts on Microsoft Excel, Google Docs, and bookkeeping.
