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What does a lead teller do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a lead teller do

A lead teller is an exceptional bank teller who performs various tasks in the bank. Lead tellers handle and supervise the team of tellers in the organization. They oversee the other tellers and see to it that jobs are correctly executed. Their duties include cash drawer maintenance, new teller training, and information communicator to bank officials. Also, they are the ones who interact with customers and resolve any bank-related problems that may arise.

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Lead teller responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real lead teller resumes:

  • Achieve quarterly sale goals through upselling and referrals to financial specialist.
  • Assist tellers with completion of CRT and BSA forms.
  • Prepare and review currency transaction, secrecy act, and monetary instrument reports.
  • Ensure tellers are aware of BSA requirements and the branch are compliant in transactions.
  • Separate currency, coins and check deposits receive from banks, ATM, and commercial customers providing accurate count by denomination.
  • Perform customer transactions, balance vault and ATM, assemble mailers, update mailing lists, order supplies for branch etc.
  • Assist customers in redeeming and processing government treasury bonds.
  • Process basic teller transactions while promoting consumer services and financial products via customer education and cross-sell referrals.
  • Position require a high alert to cross-sell opportunities identify by assessing customer needs and referring to the appropriate specialist.
  • Analyze customer's needs, determine appropriate products and services and uncover additional cross-selling opportunities with existing and prospective clients.
  • Assist customers with account inquiries and process other requests such as stop payments, debit card purchases and savings bond orders.
  • File loan documents, notary.
  • Follow FDIC and Wachovia policies, procedures, and security guidelines as well as federal, state, and local regulations.
  • Provide notary services for customers and non-customers according to Oklahoma laws.
  • Mentore emerging school leaders in leadership programs to develop leadership pipeline.

Lead teller skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Lead Tellers are proficient in Customer Service, Financial Transactions, and Cash Handling. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Math skills.

We break down the percentage of Lead Tellers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 15%

    Retain and expand client base by generating referrals and providing excellent customer service to increase overall productions and profitability.

  • Financial Transactions, 8%

    Support Branch Manager & tellers, efficiently processing financial transactions and assisting customers; refer customers to banker when opportunity arises.

  • Cash Handling, 8%

    Provided customer services and check verification; performed routine teller duties while maintaining customer confidentiality and following strict cash handling procedures.

  • Customer Interaction, 7%

    Promoted banking referrals through excellent customer interaction in order to promote banking products and services.

  • Product Knowledge, 7%

    Demonstrated excellent customer service while providing customers with product knowledge, service offerings and brand benefits.

  • Security Procedures, 5%

    Delegated to approve transactions within appropriate assigned limits with use of knowledge of financial institution's regulations and security procedures.

"customer service," "financial transactions," and "cash handling" are among the most common skills that lead tellers use at work. You can find even more lead teller responsibilities below, including:

Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a lead teller to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what lead tellers do because "tellers spend their day interacting with bank customers." Additionally, a lead teller resume shows how lead tellers use customer-service skills: "work directly with branch management on extenuating customer service issues. "

Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform lead teller duties is detail oriented. Lead tellers responsibilities require that "tellers must be sure not to make errors when dealing with customers’ money." Lead tellers also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "audited new account contract and outgoing wire transfers to assure detailed information was entered according to banks protocols. "

Math skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of lead tellers is math skills. This skill is critical to many everyday lead teller duties, as "because they count and handle large amounts of money, tellers must be good at arithmetic." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "possess strong cognitive skills in: communications, mathematics, record keeping, chase computer systems, and accurate cash handling. "

All lead teller skills

The three companies that hire the most lead tellers are:

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Compare different lead tellers

Lead teller vs. Banking associate

A banking associate's role is to build positive relationships with clients by performing support tasks. Their responsibilities revolve around greeting clients, processing requests and documentation, gathering and verifying requirements, responding to inquiries and concerns, and offering other services and products to clients. They may also produce progress reports, financial statements, coordinate with team members, and liaise with external agencies. Furthermore, as a banking associate, it is essential to handle issues and complaints, all while adhering to the bank's policies and regulations.

If we compare the average lead teller annual salary with that of a banking associate, we find that banking associates typically earn a $39,336 higher salary than lead tellers make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between lead tellers and banking associates are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like customer service, financial transactions, and cash handling.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between lead tellers and banking associate. For instance, lead teller responsibilities require skills such as "customer interaction," "product knowledge," "security procedures," and "good communication." Whereas a banking associate is skilled in "excellent interpersonal," "strong customer service," "powerpoint," and "financial solutions." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Banking associates earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $74,654. On the other hand, lead tellers are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $36,660.On average, banking associates reach higher levels of education than lead tellers. Banking associates are 5.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Lead teller vs. Customer care agent

A customer care agent is responsible for assisting the customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the goods and services of the company, as well as resolving and escalating complaints, ensuring that the needs of customers are addressed timely and accurately. Customer care agents also take customers' orders, process their payments, and set delivery or shipment schedules. They assist with the development of strategic procedures, as well as operational techniques, to increase productivity and generate more revenues and profits for the business.

A career as a customer care agent brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a lead teller. In fact, customer care agents salary is $10,780 lower than the salary of lead tellers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both lead tellers and customer care agents have skills such as "customer service," "customer interaction," and "product knowledge. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, lead teller responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "financial transactions," "cash handling," "security procedures," and "branch management." Meanwhile, a customer care agent has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer care," "work ethic," "excellent interpersonal," and "excellent organizational." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Customer care agents earn a lower average salary than lead tellers. But customer care agents earn the highest pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $32,034. Additionally, lead tellers earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $36,660 annually.In general, customer care agents achieve similar levels of education than lead tellers. They're 0.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Lead teller vs. Bank representative

A bank representative works to assist clients, aiming to provide optimal banking services and build positive client relationships. Their duties include greeting and identifying the clients' needs, answering inquiries, giving clear instructions, and discussing banking terms. They also process client requests such as withdrawals, deposits, payments, and even handling applications. Moreover, a bank representative may also conduct market research and analyses, generate leads, and reach out to potential clients through calls and correspondence to offer products and services.

On average, bank representatives earn lower salaries than lead tellers, with a $8,137 difference per year.lead tellers and bank representatives both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "customer service," "financial transactions," and "cash handling," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a lead teller is likely to be skilled in "customer interaction," "security procedures," "good communication," and "excellent client," while a typical bank representative is skilled in "excellent interpersonal," "ach," "origination," and "telephone inquiries."

Bank representatives make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $34,448. On the other hand, lead tellers are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $36,660.Most bank representatives achieve a similar degree level compared to lead tellers. For example, they're 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Lead teller vs. Teller and a sales associate

Teller and a sales associates tend to earn a lower pay than lead tellers by an average of $9,443 per year.According to resumes from lead tellers and teller and a sales associates, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "customer service," "financial transactions," and "cash handling. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A lead teller uses "customer interaction," "branch management," "good communication," and "excellent client." Teller and a sales associates are more likely to have duties that require skills in "customer satisfaction," "cross-selling," "process transactions," and "securities. "teller and a sales associates reach similar levels of education compared to lead tellers, in general. The difference is that they're 0.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of lead teller

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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