Bank tellers are usually the first -- and sometimes only -- employees that customers have contact with in a bank. They represent their bank in a positive manner by smiling and being friendly with customers. If you're a teller, you may need to strain a few facial muscles on bad days to produce a winning smile. Tellers must also be detail oriented, and have the math and customer service skills to perform the job.

Wait on Customers

Bank tellers wait on customers depositing checks and cash into their savings and checking accounts. They also provide checking and savings account balances to customers and cash checks for them. In this role, you may provide customers with bank cards so they can access the ATM for cash withdrawals and deposits. You also order checks for those who need them. Another crucial service duty of bank tellers is checking the authenticity of checks being deposited, for both customer and bank protection. Similarly, you may ask people to provide identification or the last four digits of their Social Security number to identify themselves when drawing on a customer's account.

Count and Reconcile Cash Drawers

As a bank teller, you're responsible for counting the cash in your register at the start of the day. You must later balance and reconcile your drawer after recording all daily transactions. The reconciliation process includes comparing cash and checks with all transactions, and then subtracting the cash and change with which you started the day. Actual cash and check collections and withdrawals must equal the sum total of all transactions to have a balanced drawer.

Sell Products and Services

Bank tellers also cross-sell products and services, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. You may have computerized records of products and services customers use. From this data, you sell products and services that customers aren't currently using, including savings accounts, money markets and certificates of deposit. You may also refer customers to loan officers for long-term accounts such as mutual funds and securities.

Organize and Restock Work Station

At the end of the day, bank tellers organize and restock their work stations with deposit and savings account slips, ink for stamps, pens, envelopes and paper for copiers. You may also be responsible for counting cash in ATMs and restocking them. A comparison between cash withdrawals and cash on hand is necessary to account for any cash shortages. A bank teller may also organize the vault and lock her register drawer at the end of the day.

2020 Salary Information for Tellers

Tellers earned a median annual salary of $32,620 ($15.68/hour) in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, tellers earned a 10th percentile salary of $24,660, meaning 90 percent earned more than this amount. The 90th percentile salary is $41,220, meaning 10 percent earn more. In 2020, 432,500 people were employed in the U.S. as tellers.