Bank Officer

Also known as:

Cashier - Bank

Introduction

Banking work is now much more involved in marketing financial products and meeting sales targets than it used to be.

Bank officers, sometimes known as customer services advisers, deal with customers face-to-face, sell the bank's financial products and maintain computerised records. Exact responsibilities depend on how senior a post the officer holds.

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Work Activities

Bank officers, or customer services advisers, deal with telephone enquiries and maintain computerised records of credit, cash and cheque transactions in the bank.

More experienced officers deal with customers face-to-face. They arrange standing orders and direct debits - to move money automatically from one account to another, perhaps to pay bills. They may open and close customers' accounts, or deal with regular customer transactions at the counter. The work is very sales orientated, selling new and existing products and services to customers.

They balance the money at the end of the day (including money which has been withdrawn from the automated cash machines). They investigate any discrepancies.

With experience, a bank officer may become head cashier. Some may work in the foreign section of larger banks supplying currency and travellers' cheques. They may make payments abroad for customers and provide information on trading conditions in overseas markets.

In some banks, officers may buy and sell stocks and shares on behalf of customers, arrange the safe-keeping of valuables, or make sure that securities given by a customer in return for a loan are in order.

Experienced officers work with managers to produce reports, analyse balance sheets (which keep a record of money going into and out of accounts), and interview customers. They are expected to identify sales and marketing opportunities.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

To be a bank officer you need initiative, motivation, enthusiasm and adaptability. You should be of smart appearance and have a polite and friendly manner. You must be a good team worker.

You should be comfortable working with figures and with computers. You must be accurate and methodical and able to pay close attention to detail.

You must be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. You should get on well with members of the public and be comfortable in a sales job where you must be persuasive.

You must be honest, reliable, trustworthy and able to respect confidentiality.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Bank officers earn in the range of £12,500 - £15,000 a year, rising to £18,000 - £21,500. Higher earners can make around £27,000 a year.

Staff may also benefit from performance-related pay and bonuses. Other benefits may include low-rate loans and mortgages.

Bank officers usually work 35-40 hours per week, and Saturdays on a rota basis. Flexible working is common and overtime may be available at busy times. Those who work in telephone banking may be required to work shifts. There are opportunities for job sharing, part-time work and temporary work.

Employment is with the retail banks in branches in over 10,000 branches throughout the UK, in regional centres, and in telephone banking centres (where opportunities are increasing).

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

There are good opportunities in the banking industry for entrants with customer service skills. This is particularly important in customer contact and sales areas.

Some new entrants have developed skills by working with the public, or through cashier or accounts clerk work. Some entrants to centralised bank processing centres have skills gained through telesales or call centre operator work.

Modern Apprenticeships may be available in some areas.

The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland (CIOBS) offers professional qualifications by distance learning. The ifs School of Finance offers a range of qualifications at certificate and diploma level by distance learning.

• 46% of people in occupations such as bank officer work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 3% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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Further Information

Contact the headquarters of individual banks.

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