Bank Worker
Kaimahi Whare Pūtea
Alternative titles for this job
Bank workers receive deposits and pay out money, keep records of transactions, issue receipts, and advise customers on banking services and products.
Pay
Bank workers in customer service roles usually earn
$55K-$80K per year
Bank workers in management can earn
$70K-$145K per year
Source: PERSOLKELLY, 2023
Job opportunities
Vocational PathwaysPay
Pay for bank workers varies depending on experience and the type of work they do.
- Bank workers in customer service roles usually earn $55,000 to $80,000 a year.
- Lending officers and personal bankers usually earn $60,000 to $90,000.
- Assistant managers and managers can earn $70,000 to $145,000.
Source: PERSOLKELLY, '2023- 2024 Salary Guide', 2023
- PAYE.net.nz website - use this calculator to convert pay and salary information
- Employment New Zealand website - information about minimum wage rates
(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)
What you will do
Bank workers may do some or all of the following:
- accept deposits and pay withdrawals
- open and close accounts for customers
- show customers how to do internet banking
- assess and approve loan applications
- refer customers to appropriate financial services
- provide information on savings plans, loans, mortgages and investments
- sell banking products such as loans, credit cards, mortgages and insurance.
Skills and knowledge
Bank workers need to have:
- knowledge of the products and services offered by their bank
- ability to use specialised banking computer software
- cash-handling skills
- mathematical ability.
Working conditions
Bank workers:
- usually work regular business hours, but may need to work evenings and weekends or be on call
- generally work in bank branch offices or contact centres, but may visit customers at home
- may travel nationally for training.
What's the job really like?
Danny Blackman
Bank Store Manager
BNZ store manager Danny Blackman worked in private banks in the United Kingdom before moving to New Zealand. He got his start here as a casual worker in a bank. Since then he’s worked as a teller, a customer service representative and a banking adviser before becoming a bank store manager.
Making an impact on people's lives
"The thing that I really like about banking is that it’s one role where simply by sitting and talking to people you can make an impact on their life."
Helping people at every stage of life
"In any one day I can face a variety of people and situations, from new parents opening a child’s first bank account to dealing with an estate after a customer’s death, or getting a young couple into their first home."
Confidence a key attribute
“You have to be able to talk to people from all walks of life. Banks need good talkers and good listeners, both are equally important. Whether you’re on the front desk talking to our customers or in an office organising peoples' finances, confident is what you've got to be.”
Entry requirements
There are no specific education requirements to become a bank worker. However, sales or customer service experience is essential.
New bank workers usually get intensive training from their bank when they start.
To become a bank manager you need to have experience as a bank worker or in a non-bank management role.
Industry training organisation Strategi oversees the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5), which may be useful.
Secondary education
No specific secondary education is required for this job, but English, maths, accounting and business studies to at least NCEA Level 2 are useful.
Personal requirements
Bank workers need to be:
- good at sales and customer service
- able to work independently
- friendly, polite, approachable and helpful
- honest and reliable
- quick and methodical
- accurate, with an eye for detail.
It really is just about listening to the customer. You have to treat everybody with the same amount of respect.
Danny Blackman
Bank Store Manager
Useful experience
Useful experience for bank workers includes:
- customer service
- retail and sales work
- work in a call centre
- cash handling.
What are the chances of getting a job?
Your chances of securing a job as a bank worker are best if you have experience in:
- sales or customer service
- handling cash
- digital technology.
Digital technology has changed banking industry
The rapid growth in people doing their banking online or with smartphone apps has resulted in more than 200 bank branches closing since 2012.
According to the Census, 9,195 bank workers worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Moderate turnover of bank staff
Turnover of bank workers is moderately high as they may:
- progress to management or specialist roles
- move on to other higher-paid jobs.
Growing number of bank workers located in contact centres
An increasing number of workers employed by banks are now based in contact centres due to more customers using online, mobile or phone banking services.
Most bank workers based at registered banks
Most bank workers are employed by registered commercial banks. A small number of bank workers are employed by:
- credit unions
- building societies
- mortgage-lending companies
- finance companies
- foreign exchange retailers.
Sources
- KPMG, 'Financial Institutions Performance Survey: Review of 2017', 9 February 2018.
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, '2006-2014 Occupation Data', (prepared for careers.govt.nz), 2015.
- Parker, T, 'Technology Spells End of Branch Banking', 6 October 2016, (www.nzherald.co.nz).
- PWC, 'The Future of Banking Through a Kiwi Lens', 2017, (www.pwc.co.nz).
- Robert Walters, 'Salary Survey 2018', accessed March 2018, (www.robert.walters.co.nz).
- Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.
- Trade Me, 'Trade Me Salary Guide', accessed March 2018, (www.trademe.co.nz).
(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)
Progression and specialisations
Bank workers may progress into bank management or financial adviser roles.
Bank workers may specialise in:
- small business, rural or industry banking
- insurance sales and claims.
Bank workers can specialise in a number of roles, including:
- Banking Adviser/Personal Banker/Lending Officer
- Banking advisers/Personal bankers/Lending officers provide customers with support for all their banking and financial service needs, including complex lending and financial requirements.
- Financial Crime Analyst
- Financial crime analysts investigate a range of financial crime activities by analysing and investigating datasets.
Bankers may work with clients in person or on the phone
Last updated 16 September 2024