Top 35 bank teller interview questions to hire skilled professionals

As with any other customer-facing role, hiring the right bank teller is essential for maintaining the trust and satisfaction of your customers. 

But here's the thing: Relying solely on resume screening won't cut it. Why? Because a resume tells you what they've done, not what skills they have. 

Instead, try a combination of skills tests and targeted bank teller interview questions. This skills-first approach to recruitment enables you to evaluate candidates’ true potential and fit for your team quickly and objectively and helps eliminate bias from the hiring process.

In this article, we’ll discuss the key skills to look for when hiring tellers and provide you with a list of insightful questions to help you evaluate these skills in action, along with our guidelines on what to look for and how to spot the best candidates. 

You’ll also learn how you can leverage skills tests to simplify and speed up the talent assessment process and make it as effective as possible.

How to assess a bank teller’s skills

When hiring a bank teller, you need to make sure they can handle the (often challenging) customer service demands of the job and manage transactions with speed and accuracy.

Writing an accurate job description and reviewing the resumes you receive may not be enough to evaluate a candidate’s true skills as a bank teller. That’s why we suggest using pre-employment skills testing at the top of your recruitment funnel to quickly identify the most promising candidates and decide whom to invite to an interview.

By integrating skills tests early in the recruitment process, you can concentrate only on the most qualified candidates who have the practical skills you need, instead of wasting hours interviewing applicants based on their resume writing skills (because, let’s be honest, that’s what resume screening evaluates).

With TestGorilla, you can combine up to five skills tests in a single assessment; most of them take 10 minutes to complete. For the role of a bank teller, consider the following tests: 

• Basic Triple-Digit Math: Assess candidates' proficiency in handling basic financial transactions to ensure accuracy in the operations they handle.

• Communication: Evaluate applicants’ ability to communicate clearly and effectively, a crucial trait for interacting with customers and team members.

• Attention to Detail: Determine candidates' capacity to notice errors and inconsistencies, which is key for maintaining accurate financial records.

• Customer Service: Make sure applicants can deliver excellent service to your customers, managing their inquiries and resolving issues quickly and efficiently.

• Understanding Instructions: Test candidates’ ability to follow procedures and execute tasks accurately.

• Computer Literacy (PC): Verify candidates’ computer literacy, which is critical for the bank teller role.

A targeted skills assessment enables you to identify top applicants quickly, ensuring a more efficient selection process. Then, you simply need to conduct interviews with your top talent to find the perfect match. 

Top 15 bank teller interview questions to hire the best talent

Below, you’ll find our selection of the best 15 interview questions for bank tellers, which will help you assess applicants’ skills and their preparedness for the role. To help you assess their answers, we’ve also included information on what you should look for.

1. What are the most important qualities of a bank teller, according to you?

Expect applicants to talk about qualities such as accuracy, customer service, integrity, and the ability to work under pressure. Some candidates might also mention adaptability and strong communication skills. 

Look for examples of these qualities in past roles, such as: 

• Personal anecdotes demonstrating their attention to detail and accuracy in transactions

• Examples of how they've provided excellent customer service

• Instances where integrity was tested and upheld

• Their ability to learn new banking software systems quickly

2. What do you believe is the most challenging aspect of working as a bank teller? How do you manage it?

Answers will vary based on each candidate’s own struggles – which is exactly what makes this question so important. 

They might mention challenges such as: 

• Dealing with difficult customers

• Maintaining accuracy under pressure

• Identifying and reporting potential fraudulent transactions

Expect answers that show an awareness of the potential stressors of the job and a proactive approach to managing them.

3. What's your experience with banking software?

Candidates should discuss their experience with specific banking software platforms, such as Temenos Core Banking, Finastra Fusion Essence, ACI Worldwide's money-laundering detection software, and internal bank systems. 

More importantly, however, you need to assess their ability and willingness to learn new technologies, so don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions as needed. The most skilled candidates might also mention additional training or certifications they have pursued or talk about the ways they ensure they’re using the software correctly.

4. How would you explain a new banking product to a customer who is not very financially savvy?

Look for candidates who are aware of the importance of empathy in customer-facing roles – and who know how to simplify complex information. They should be able to translate financial jargon into easily understandable terms and use relatable examples to explain benefits and features of the product in question. 

The best answers will include details on how they would: 

• Assess the customer's level of understanding and tailor the explanation accordingly

• Use analogies or simple terms to clarify the information they provide

• Make sure the customer understands them by using active listening 

5. Have you ever noticed a coworker making a mistake while working with a customer? What did you do?

This question tests integrity and teamwork. A great team player will know how to address mistakes constructively and strike a balance between maintaining the bank’s reputation and ensuring the mistake gets corrected to prevent potential issues.

6. What steps do you take to ensure confidentiality when handling customer information?

Candidates should mention specific policies and practices they follow to protect customer information, such as secure document handling, not sharing unnecessary information, using two-factor authentication, and following the bank’s security protocols. 

Knowledgeable candidates will also show an understanding of local and national banking regulations and laws related to data protection.

Bank tellers should also be mindful of discussing sensitive information in open areas and immediately report any suspicious activity or security breaches to their managers.

7. How would you handle a situation where a customer's request violates the bank's policy?

Look for bank tellers who understand the importance of adhering to bank policies while also showing empathy and offering alternatives to the customer. 

In this situation, they would need to explain the policy to the customer in a way that is clear and respectful and work together to find a solution, evidencing their communication and problem-solving skills. Experienced applicants will also be able to give you examples of how they’ve handled such instances in the past.

8. Describe your process for balancing your cash drawer at the end of the day. Have you ever encountered a discrepancy? How did you resolve it?

Attention to detail and a systematic approach are key here. Candidates should describe their method for counting and reconciling cash, as well as the steps they take if they discover a discrepancy. 

Expect answers to include:

• A step-by-step description of their end-of-day process

• Examples of specific instances where discrepancies occurred and the actions candidates took to resolve them

• An emphasis on the importance of accuracy and integrity in handling bank funds

9. How do you ensure you stay focused during repetitive tasks?

Candidates should share techniques that help them maintain their focus and efficiency, even when performing monotonous tasks. Look for answers that show self-awareness, a proactive approach to maintaining their attention to detail, and possibly the use of tools or methods to support their consistency, such as double-checking their work or using checklists to ensure nothing falls between the cracks.

10. What's your approach to cross-selling or recommending additional products to customers?

Strong answers will show applicants’ ability to listen to and understand customer needs and use their knowledge of the bank’s offerings to recommend the right bank products. They should use an approach that is helpful rather than salesy, focusing on building relationships and providing value to customers.

You can use our sales behavioral interview questions to further evaluate candidates’ sales skills.

11. Tell us about a time when you had to learn a new technology at work. How did you tackle this?

Adaptability and a willingness to learn are critical for most roles today – especially in a sector as dynamic as banking. Candidates should provide examples of new technologies that were introduced to their workflows, explain how they approached the learning process, discuss the challenges they faced, and tell you how they overcame them.

The best answers will also include mentions of the impact that the new technology had on candidates’ efficiency or the quality of their service.

12. Can you discuss a time when you identified a potential fraud or security risk? What actions did you take?

Bank tellers need to be vigilant to potential fraud and demonstrate a proactive approach to addressing potential security risks. This question enables you to gain insights into their ability to:

• Recognize unusual transactions or behavior

• Follow the bank's procedures for reporting and addressing the issue

• Get in touch with other departments as needed

13. How do you ensure you are up-to-date with all the bank's products and services?

A commitment to ongoing education and self-improvement is key. Candidates should mention specific strategies they use to stay informed, such as attending training sessions, reading the bank’s internal newsletters, participating in workshops, or using continuous learning resources offered by the bank.

14. How would you react if you made a mistake that negatively impacted a customer? What steps would you take to correct it?

This question tests a candidate's integrity, responsibility, and customer service skills. The ideal response would include an immediate acknowledgment of the mistake, clear communication with the customer and superiors, and prompt action to correct it. 

To go deeper, you can use some of our customer service interview questions to evaluate applicants’ skills. 

Make sure you also include our Customer Service test in your candidate assessment at the top of your hiring funnel. 

15. Can you explain the importance of the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering regulations in your role as a teller?

Bank tellers need to show a deep understanding of the significance of these regulations in maintaining the integrity of your institution. 

Candidates should explain how these laws affect their daily responsibilities, including monitoring transactions, reporting suspicious activity, and maintaining customer confidentiality.

Expect explanations to cover:

• The basics of the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering regulations

• How compliance impacts their role and the bank's operations

• Examples of how they apply these regulations in their daily tasks, such as identifying suspicious transaction patterns or completing necessary reports

20 additional interview questions you can ask bank tellers

Looking for more ideas? We’ve compiled a list of 20 additional questions for bank tellers that will help you assess your candidates’ attention to detail, communication, teamwork, and organizational skills. 

1. How do you manage your workload during busy periods at the bank?

2. How do you prioritize tasks if you're working on a few things simultaneously?

3. What methods do you use to build and maintain good relationships with regular customers?

4. Tell us about a time when you dealt with a difficult customer. How did you handle the situation?

5. A regular customer is unhappy with your service and threatens to take their business elsewhere. What do you do? 

6. Can you give an example of how you've dealt with a conflict with a coworker in the past?

7. How would you handle a situation where you are unable to immediately resolve a customer's issue?

8. Describe a situation where you successfully handled a technical issue with a bank system. What steps did you take and what was the result?

9. How do you approach explaining banking terms or procedures to customers who are unfamiliar with them?

10. How do you handle receiving negative feedback from a supervisor? 

11. Your manager asks you to do something in a specific way, but you know there’s a better way to accomplish the task. What do you do?

12. Tell us about an instance where you had to collaborate with another department to solve a customer's problem.

13. How do you handle situations where a customer's needs cannot be met with the bank's current offerings?

14. Tell me about a time when you contributed to improving a procedure within your branch.

15. What do you think sets you apart from other candidates for this bank teller position?

16. What’s the most important skill you’ve acquired in the past year?

17. Tell me about a challenge you overcame in a previous position. What did you do and what was the result?

18. What would you do if you notice a coworker do something that exposes customer data to potential security breaches? 

19. Give an example of a time when you discovered a discrepancy in a transaction. How did you resolve it?

20. Describe your experience with handling large amounts of cash. How do you ensure security and accuracy?

Hire the best bank tellers with a skills-first approach

With the right skills tests and interview questions, you can gain invaluable insights into how candidates handle real-world situations, from addressing customer concerns to learning new banking software.

Plus, skills-based hiring is not only more efficient, it’s also cheaper: 74% of the employers we surveyed reduced the cost-to-hire when using a skills-first approach to recruitment. 

To see whether TestGorilla is the right platform for you, sign up for a free 30-minute live demo with one of our team members – or create a free account to start evaluating your candidates’ skills today.