How to Write a Resume for a Bank Teller

Introduction

A bank teller is often the first point of contact for customers at a financial institution. The role combines cash handling, customer service, and basic banking operations such as deposits, withdrawals, check cashing, and account inquiries. Because tellers directly represent the bank’s brand and handle sensitive financial transactions, hiring managers look for candidates who are accurate, trustworthy, and customer-focused.

A tailored bank teller resume is essential to stand out in a competitive job market. Generic resumes often get filtered out by applicant tracking systems (ATS) or overlooked by recruiters who are scanning for specific banking and customer service experience. By emphasizing your cash handling skills, attention to detail, and customer service strengths, you can show that you are a low-risk, high-value hire for the bank.

Key Skills for a Bank Teller Resume

Core Hard Skills

• Cash handling and balancing drawers
• Processing deposits, withdrawals, and loan payments
• Check cashing and verification
• Knowledge of banking products (checking, savings, CDs, loans, credit cards)
• Basic accounting and numerical accuracy
• Use of teller systems and banking software
• Compliance with bank policies and procedures
• Fraud detection and security awareness
• Currency verification and counterfeit detection
• Data entry and record-keeping

Key Soft Skills

• Customer service and client relations
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Integrity and trustworthiness
• Communication and active listening
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Time management and organization
• Adaptability to new systems and procedures
• Professional demeanor and appearance

Formatting Tips for a Bank Teller Resume

Overall Layout

Use a clean, professional layout that is easy to scan quickly. Recruiters often spend less than 10 seconds on an initial review, so clarity and structure are critical.

• Length: One page is ideal, especially for entry-level or early-career candidates.
• Margins: Use standard 0.5–1 inch margins for readability.
• Alignment: Left-align text; use consistent spacing between sections.
• File type: Submit as a PDF unless the job posting specifies another format.

Fonts and Styling

• Font type: Choose professional fonts like Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, or Times New Roman.
• Font size: 10–12 pt for body text, 12–14 pt for headings.
• Styling: Use bold for section headings and job titles; avoid excessive italics, underlining, or colors.
• Bullet points: Use simple bullet points to list responsibilities and achievements.

Essential Resume Sections

Header

Include your full name, phone number, professional email, city and state, and optional LinkedIn profile.

• Example: Jane Doe | (555) 555-5555 | jane.doe@email.com | Phoenix, AZ | linkedin.com/in/janedoe

Professional Summary

Write a 2–4 sentence summary tailored to bank teller roles. Focus on your experience level, core strengths, and relevant achievements.

• Example: “Customer-focused banking professional with 3+ years of experience handling high-volume cash transactions and delivering exceptional service in fast-paced branch environments. Proven track record of balancing cash drawers with 100% accuracy and consistently exceeding cross-sell goals. Adept at resolving customer issues while maintaining strict compliance with bank policies and security procedures.”

Professional Experience

List your work experience in reverse chronological order. For each role, include your job title, employer, location, and dates, followed by 3–6 bullet points. Emphasize measurable results and banking-related responsibilities.

• Use action verbs such as “processed,” “balanced,” “assisted,” “identified,” “reconciled,” and “resolved.”
• Quantify whenever possible: number of transactions, cash drawer limits, error rates, customer satisfaction scores, or sales goals.

Education

Include your highest level of education, school name, location, and graduation date (or expected date). Bank teller roles typically require at least a high school diploma or GED; some employers prefer or require some college or an associate degree, especially in business or finance.

• Optional: Add relevant coursework (e.g., Accounting, Business Math, Finance) if you have limited work experience.

Skills Section

Create a concise skills section that highlights your most relevant banking and customer service skills. Group similar skills together and prioritize those mentioned in the job description.

Highlighting Cash Handling and Accuracy

Emphasize Transaction Volume and Accuracy

Handling money accurately is at the core of a bank teller’s responsibilities. Hiring managers want proof that you can manage high transaction volumes with minimal errors.

• Include specific numbers: average transactions per shift, daily cash drawer amounts, or percentage of error-free days.
• Mention balancing your drawer and resolving discrepancies before end-of-day close.
• Show consistency over time, such as months or years without significant cash variances.

Example bullet points:

• Processed an average of 120+ customer transactions per day, including deposits, withdrawals, and loan payments, while maintaining 100% balancing accuracy for 12 consecutive months.
• Managed a cash drawer averaging $15,000 daily, identifying and resolving discrepancies before end-of-day close in accordance with bank policies.

Showcase Compliance and Security Awareness

Banks must follow strict regulations and security protocols. Demonstrating your understanding of compliance and risk reduction is a major advantage.

• Reference adherence to bank policies, federal regulations, and anti-money laundering (AML) procedures.
• Mention following ID verification, KYC (Know Your Customer), and fraud prevention steps.
• Highlight any involvement in reporting suspicious activity or preventing fraud losses.

Example bullet points:

• Verified customer identification and documentation to comply with KYC and AML guidelines, reducing potential fraud and risk exposure.
• Recognized and escalated suspicious check activities, helping prevent an estimated $5,000 in potential fraud losses.

Showcasing Customer Service and Sales in a Bank Teller Resume

Demonstrate Customer Service Excellence

Bank tellers are customer-facing professionals, so your ability to build rapport and resolve issues is crucial. Use your resume to show that you can handle a variety of customer needs with professionalism.

• Highlight examples of resolving customer complaints or complicated transactions.
• Mention customer satisfaction scores, positive feedback, or recognition from supervisors.
• Include experience from retail, hospitality, or call centers if you are new to banking.

Example bullet points:

• Assisted an average of 80+ customers per day with deposits, withdrawals, and account inquiries, consistently earning positive feedback for friendly and efficient service.
• Resolved customer transaction discrepancies by thoroughly reviewing records and communicating clearly, resulting in a 20% reduction in repeat branch visits for the same issue.

Incorporate Cross-Selling and Referrals

Many banks expect tellers to identify opportunities to promote banking products and refer customers to personal bankers or loan officers. Even if you are not in a sales role, showing that you can support revenue generation is valuable.

• Mention specific products you promoted: credit cards, savings accounts, CDs, overdraft protection, or personal loans.
• Quantify your impact: number of referrals, percentage of goals achieved, or ranking compared to peers.

Example bullet points:

• Identified customer needs and referred clients to bankers for credit cards, savings accounts, and personal loans, contributing to 25+ new product openings per month.
• Consistently achieved 110% of monthly referral goals by actively engaging customers in conversations about financial products and services.

Tailoring Strategies for Bank Teller Job Descriptions

Analyze the Job Posting

Before submitting your resume, carefully review the specific bank teller job description. Identify the keywords, skills, and responsibilities that appear repeatedly.

• Look for phrases like “cash handling,” “customer service,” “cross-selling,” “teller systems,” “compliance,” and “bilingual.”
• Note any preferred experience (e.g., “retail banking,” “retail cash handling,” “call center”).

Match Keywords and Phrases

Integrate the bank’s language into your resume, especially in your summary, skills, and experience sections. This helps your resume pass ATS filters and signals a strong fit to the recruiter.

• If the posting emphasizes “accuracy and attention to detail,” include phrases like “maintained 100% balancing accuracy” or “detail-oriented cash handling.”
• If it highlights “bilingual Spanish/English,” clearly list your language skills and any customer-facing bilingual experience.

Prioritize Relevant Experience

Adjust your bullet points to mirror the priorities of each job posting.

• For roles focused on sales: emphasize referrals, cross-selling, and meeting goals.
• For roles emphasizing operations: highlight compliance, risk management, and transaction accuracy.
• For entry-level postings: bring forward customer service and cash handling from retail or hospitality.

Customize Your Summary for Each Application

Rewrite your professional summary for each job to reflect the bank’s focus. Mention the bank’s name when appropriate and align your strengths with their needs.

• Example: “Detail-oriented bank teller with 2+ years of experience in high-volume retail banking environments, seeking to contribute strong cash handling accuracy and customer service skills to ABC Bank’s downtown branch.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid on a Bank Teller Resume

Being Too Generic

Using the same resume for every application or relying on vague phrases such as “hard worker” or “team player” without examples can hurt your chances. Always provide specific, measurable evidence of your skills.

Not Quantifying Achievements

Leaving out numbers makes it harder for hiring managers to gauge your impact. Whenever possible, include metrics like transaction counts, accuracy rates, referral numbers, or customer satisfaction scores.

Overloading with Irrelevant Information

Including unrelated work experience or long lists of duties that don’t connect to banking can distract from your strengths. Focus on experiences that demonstrate cash handling, customer service, reliability, and attention to detail.

Typos and Formatting Errors

Since accuracy is critical for bank tellers, spelling mistakes, inconsistent formatting, or misaligned sections can raise red flags. Proofread carefully and ensure your layout is clean and consistent.

Omitting Soft Skills

Technical skills alone are not enough. Banks want tellers who can communicate clearly and handle customers professionally. Don’t forget to demonstrate your soft skills through your bullet points and summary.

Leaving Out Relevant Training or Certifications

If you have completed courses in banking, finance, customer service, or cash handling, include them. Certifications such as customer service training, money handling workshops, or even basic financial literacy courses can strengthen your candidacy, especially if you lack direct banking experience.

Including Unprofessional Contact Information

Using an unprofessional email address or outdated contact details can undermine your credibility. Always use a simple, professional email and ensure your phone number and city are current.

Final Thoughts

A strong bank teller resume clearly communicates that you are accurate, trustworthy, and customer-oriented. By focusing on cash handling, compliance, customer service, and measurable achievements, and by tailoring your resume to each job posting, you can significantly increase your chances of landing interviews and starting or advancing your career in banking.