Financial Institution Tellers, Clerks, and Related Workers

Most financial institution professionals work a 40-hour week. Tellers may need to work irregular hours or overtime, since many banks stay open until 6:00 P.M. on Fridays and are open Saturday mornings to accommodate their customers. Bank clerks and accounting department employees may have to work overtime at least once a week and often at the close of each month's banking operations to process important paperwork. Check-processing workers who are employed in large financial institutions may work late evening or night shifts. Pay for overtime work is usually straight compensation.

Banks and other depository institutions are usually air-conditioned, pleasantly decorated, and comfortably furnished. Financial institutions have excellent alarm systems and many built-in features that offer protection to workers and facilities. Although the work is not physically strenuous, tellers do have to spend much of their time on their feet. The work clerks and others perform is usually of a very repetitive nature, and the duties are very similar from day to day. Most of the work is paperwork, computer entry, data processing, and other repetitive processes. Clerks do not frequently have contact with customers or clients. Tellers, on the other hand, have extended contact with the public and must always remain polite, even under trying circumstances. Tellers, clerks, and others must be able to work closely with each other, sometimes on joint tasks, as well as under supervision.