Anyone work / worked in a bank branch?

[BellyBelly]

My partner is looking at a career sea change and there are jobs available at the local banks. He's awesome with people and a real thinker - great with finding solutions. Can you tell me about what its like working in a branch (starting at the bottom, working up), what sort of salary to expect, jobs likely to be given etc? Thanks!

[~TT40~]

my brother recently did a career change, he has spent the last 10years in bar and club work and just started (as in a week ago) a job as a teller. I think he is doing a sort of on the job trainibg program thing so he will work his way up/to the areas he wants.
I can ask him about startup things if you want

[Jaycee]

I think tellers only earn between the 35-45k annual salary, I may be wrong though!

Teeki works in a bank I think, hopefully she'll pop in

[BellyBelly]

Thanks lovelies, salary is important as it will be a step back, just how much is the cruncher! TT40 if you could ask him how much he's on if he's happy to share?

He probably has a couple of options open to him with a strong sales/management background, just needs the industry experience from retail to banking.

[sepata]

Tellers are normally in about 35-40, customer service (sales) 45-50 generally. Depending on the financial institution there may be a lot of pressure to get sales/referrals to other business units. Depending on the location the targets may be easy to achieve or very very difficult. Unfortunately management don't tend to take location into huge consideration when setting targets, or they think that because of the location they should be getting big $ customers but that's not always the case. Banking can be a very good industry to work in (I've been in banking for 7 years, starting in branch network and was there for 3 years) but some people don't like the sales pressure. Just one thing to keep in mind

[BellyBelly]

Thanks heaps for that My partner fully understands sales pressure, he is a sales territory manager for a well known cigarette manufacturer which I hate to bits. There is massive pressure, and especially with all the regulations, laws and changes, plain packaging etc, its as difficult as buggery. So I think anything will be a break for him - and me. Its my birthday next week, and he's away for it yet again, and will be next year too if the dates fall the same again, not to mention all the other regular events away. So tired of him working long hours, working away etc.

[peanutter]

A friend had been doing teller work in a bank for about 15 minutes, when one branch earmarked him to become permanent with them, and about 15 minutes after they got him, they earmarked him for management training.

Still not big bucks (maybe $50K to start?) and a lengthy training season I gather, but a good option.

There were other options internally to do stuff to do with his core skills and training (IT and forensics) but that would be a lot more travel, and now such awesome set hours.

The sales side is pretty demanding but he doesn't mind that at all.

He was reasonably selective when it came time to accept a permanent placement, because some of the cushier placements were cushy because they were little suburban branches, and he was bored silly and found it to be a negative culture. He found the staff to be complacent and in a real rut, and he's ambitious. He wanted somewhere to grow with fast, or somewhere he could pull up and strengthen.

[Teeki]

I think tellers only earn between the 35-45k annual salary, I may be wrong though!

Teeki works in a bank I think, hopefully she'll pop in

Yep, I do!

Kelly, from what you've said I wouldn't recommend your DP applies for branch positions (eg tellers, sales consultants etc). I'd be recommending he looks into the business side of things. The training is done on the job, the pay is higher, and it sounds like he has the skills he's after. At the bank where I work, he could apply to be an assistant manager, small business specialist or business banking manager. All pretty similar roles with slightly different responsibilities and pay levels. They can be positioned in a business centre (like in Melbourne he might work at the Docklands) or in a branch.

As an example, I started as a graduate assistant manager straight out of united in 2006. I think my pay was around $46k. Three years later (which included pay raises based on performance) I took on a business banking manager role. I'm now on $84k I think, including super and leave loading.

I hope any of that helps, feel free to pm/email if you'd like more info

ETA: With your DPs skills, because he won't be a grad and things have changed since 06, I don't believe his starting salary would be as low as mine was. Especially if he aims for small business specialist - that's what I'd be applying for in his position.

ETA2: Just re-read your post again. If he's already an area manager and has a proven sales record, I'd recommend he apply for business banking manager as a minimum, or relationship manager (the role above the assistant manager, definitely nice pay level there!).

[BellyBelly]

This has been really helpful, thank you so much! Thanks for such an open and honest reply. Can I ask which bank you work for? If you prefer, email me kelly@bellybelly.com.au.

[Teeki]

I don't mind saying I work for ANZ, I think I've mentioned it somewhere before and I've not said anything I shouldn't Let me know if he'd like any info about the different types of jobs to see what he might be interested in, I can send it in an email.

[BellyBelly]

Ah thanks! Going back to my recruitment days, ANZ were only accepting IT staff who had tertiary qualifications. He's not been to uni, but before this role years ago, been part of a store management training program for a large supermarket.

Maybe best I just email you