Bank teller interview questions: 23 questions and a scorecard for interviewers
The short answer
Good bank teller interview questions test cash handling and balancing, accuracy under pressure, customer service and referrals, alertness to fraud and scams, including the financial exploitation of older customers, and discipline with identification, reporting and confidentiality procedures. Ask for real transactions and shifts, such as a drawer that didn’t balance or an older customer who wanted an unusually large withdrawal, and listen for each check the candidate made and who they told. Leave criminal history to the bank’s formal background check: under Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, an FDIC-insured bank must make a reasonable, documented inquiry into an applicant’s history before the person starts work. Score every candidate against the same five criteria so the decision rests on evidence.
All 23 questions with why you ask each one, what a strong answer shows and follow-ups, plus the bank teller scorecard and rating guide. Free to download and adapt; no sign-up needed.
When to use these questions
Bank tellers handle cash, checks and customer accounts all day, often with a line waiting, and they are usually the first to see a counterfeit bill, an altered check or a customer being pressured into a scam. An interview needs to show how someone keeps their drawer accurate, follows identification and reporting procedures every time and escalates concerns, not only that they are friendly. The strongest evidence comes from specific transactions and shifts, described step by step.
For agency and temporary placements, check the practical must-haves first: cash-handling experience, the branch’s hours, including early opens and Saturdays, and the start date. Explain that any offer depends on the bank’s background checks: under Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, a person convicted of certain criminal offenses involving dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering may not work for an FDIC-insured bank without the FDIC’s prior written consent, unless an exception applies, and FDIC-supervised banks may make a conditional offer that depends on a satisfactory background check. Leave that check to the bank’s formal process rather than asking about convictions in the interview.
23 bank teller interview questions
Grouped by what they test. Pick the questions that match the role, ask every candidate the same ones in the same order, and score each answer against the scorecard below.
Cash handling and balancing
Ask for real drawers and shifts. Accurate tellers describe the same careful routine every day and report differences straight away.
Question 1: Walk me through how you open your cash drawer at the start of the day and prove it at the end.
- Why ask it:
- Balancing a drawer is the core routine of the job, and the steps show how careful the candidate is with cash.
- A strong answer shows:
- Verifying the opening cash against the record, counting by denomination, locking the drawer whenever they step away, and balancing to the system before returning cash to the vault under the bank’s procedures.
- Follow-up:
- What happens if you are over or short when you close?
Question 2: Tell me about a time your drawer didn’t balance. How did you find the difference?
- Why ask it:
- Tests method and honesty when the numbers are wrong.
- A strong answer shows:
- Recounting, reviewing the day’s transactions for common causes such as a miskeyed amount or two bills stuck together, telling the supervisor under the bank’s procedure, and never making up a shortage from their own money or hiding an overage.
Question 3: How do you count cash out to a customer so that both of you can see the amount is right?
- Why ask it:
- Clear counting prevents disputes and catches mistakes before the customer leaves.
- A strong answer shows:
- Counting in the customer’s view by denomination, counting larger amounts a second time, and using a currency counter where the branch has one, with a hand count as a check.
Question 4: A bill in a customer’s deposit looks or feels wrong to you. What do you do?
- Why ask it:
- Tellers are often the first people to handle counterfeit currency.
- A strong answer shows:
- Checking it against the bank’s guidance on security features, such as the watermark and security thread, calling a supervisor, following the bank’s procedure for suspect bills, and staying calm and polite with the customer.
Question 5: How do you stay within your drawer limit during a busy day?
- Why ask it:
- Excess cash at the window increases what can be lost to an error or a robbery.
- A strong answer shows:
- Watching the drawer total, selling excess cash to the vault promptly under the branch’s procedure, and keeping reserve cash locked away rather than in the working drawer.
Accuracy, service and referrals
Tellers work quickly in front of customers. Look for accuracy that holds up when the line is long, and friendly service that includes knowing when to bring in a banker.
Question 6: The line is out the door, and the next customer has a deposit with several checks, some cash and a request for cash back. How do you keep it accurate without holding everyone up?
- Why ask it:
- Tests whether accuracy holds up under pressure.
- A strong answer shows:
- Taking the time each item needs, checking endorsements and totals against the deposit slip, acknowledging the waiting customers and calling for another teller if one is available, rather than rushing the count.
Question 7: What do you check before you cash a check for someone who doesn’t bank with you?
- Why ask it:
- Cashing checks for non-customers carries a high risk of fraud and loss.
- A strong answer shows:
- Acceptable ID under the bank’s policy, the check itself for alterations, the date, the endorsement and the amount in words and figures, verification under the bank’s procedure that it is drawn on the bank and the funds are there, and supervisor approval above their limit.
Question 8: From a customer’s everyday transactions or questions, how do you spot that they might benefit from another product, and how do you bring it up?
- Why ask it:
- Many banks expect tellers to refer customers to bankers, and the way they do it affects trust.
- A strong answer shows:
- Noticing real cues, such as regular overdraft fees, a large balance sitting in checking or a mention of buying a home, a short, natural suggestion to speak with a banker, and accepting a no without pressing.
Question 9: A customer is upset that a deposit is on hold and says they need the money today. How do you handle it?
- Why ask it:
- Tests service when the answer isn’t what the customer wants.
- A strong answer shows:
- Listening, explaining the reason for the hold in plain language within policy, offering what the bank genuinely can, involving a supervisor where needed, and not promising anything outside their authority.
Question 10: What do you do if you realize, after a customer has left, that you made an error on their transaction?
- Why ask it:
- Tests honesty and ownership of mistakes.
- A strong answer shows:
- Telling the supervisor straight away, correcting it through the bank’s process rather than informally, and making sure the customer is contacted if the procedure calls for it.
Fraud, scams and older customers
Tellers often see fraud and scams first, at the window. Look for candidates who notice, ask gentle questions and escalate under the bank’s procedure, rather than either ignoring a concern or confronting the customer.
Question 11: An older customer you know well comes in with someone you haven’t seen before and asks to withdraw far more cash than usual. What do you do?
- Why ask it:
- Tests whether the candidate recognizes possible elder financial exploitation and responds appropriately.
- A strong answer shows:
- Noticing the change from the customer’s usual activity and any signs of pressure from the companion, asking open questions about the purpose, speaking with the customer privately if the bank’s procedure allows it, and escalating to a supervisor without accusing anyone.
- Follow-up:
- What if the customer insists the money is theirs to spend and gets annoyed with you?
Question 12: A customer wants to wire money or withdraw cash urgently because a caller told them a relative is in trouble, or that their account is under investigation. How do you respond?
- Why ask it:
- Emergency and imposter scams depend on urgency and secrecy, and a teller may be the last person who can stop the payment.
- A strong answer shows:
- Recognizing the warning signs, such as pressure to act fast, secrecy and an unusual way of paying, explaining the concern kindly, and involving a supervisor under the bank’s procedure rather than simply processing it.
Question 13: Which details make you suspect that a check or an ID presented at your window has been altered or faked?
- Why ask it:
- Tests practical fraud awareness at the point of the transaction.
- A strong answer shows:
- Specifics such as a photo or signature that doesn’t match, amounts or payee names that look changed, or unusual behavior, followed by holding the transaction and calling a supervisor rather than confronting the person.
Question 14: How do you keep up with the scams and fraud patterns your branch is seeing?
- Why ask it:
- Fraud keeps changing, so tellers need to keep learning after their initial training.
- A strong answer shows:
- Reading the bank’s fraud alerts and training, talking with colleagues and supervisors about what they have seen, and applying it at the window.
Compliance, security and confidentiality
Tellers apply legal and security procedures many times a day. Listen for an understanding of why the rules exist, not only that the candidate follows them.
Question 15: A customer wants to deposit $9,500 in cash today and says they’ll bring the rest tomorrow so the bank “doesn’t have to file anything.” What do you do?
- Why ask it:
- Breaking up cash to evade the federal Currency Transaction Report is called structuring and is a crime, and tellers are expected to recognize it.
- A strong answer shows:
- Never suggesting a way around the report, following the bank’s procedure, such as recording what was said and telling the supervisor or the BSA team, and not telling the customer whether anything has been or will be reported as suspicious.
- Follow-up:
- Why shouldn’t you tell the customer that you are passing this on?
Question 16: What do you need from a customer before you complete a cash transaction of more than $10,000, and why?
- Why ask it:
- Banks must file a Currency Transaction Report for cash transactions of more than $10,000 and verify and record the identity of the person presenting the transaction.
- A strong answer shows:
- Verifying ID and recording the details the bank’s procedure requires, such as name, address, ID number, taxpayer identification number and who the transaction is for, every time and whatever the reason for the cash.
Question 17: What have you been trained to do during and after a robbery?
- Why ask it:
- FDIC rules require the banks it supervises to train employees in proper conduct during and after a robbery, and the answer shows whether the candidate puts safety first.
- A strong answer shows:
- Complying calmly without resisting or chasing anyone, noting descriptions, using alarms only as the procedure says and when it is safe, and afterwards securing the branch, protecting evidence and following the security officer’s instructions.
Question 18: Someone phones the branch, says they are a customer and asks for their balance and recent transactions. What do you do?
- Why ask it:
- Tests whether the candidate protects customer information from people they can’t verify.
- A strong answer shows:
- Verifying the caller’s identity with the bank’s authentication process before sharing anything, declining politely if they can’t, and never giving details to relatives or anyone else without proper authority.
Question 19: Outside work, a friend asks whether someone you both know banks with you, or how much they keep there. How do you answer?
- Why ask it:
- Customer confidentiality doesn’t end when the shift does.
- A strong answer shows:
- A polite refusal to confirm or deny anything about any customer, wherever they are, and no casual talk about customers’ money.
Must-haves and logistics
Ask these of every candidate before the main interview, and leave criminal history to the bank’s formal background check.
Question 20: Where have you handled cash before, such as a teller line, a cash office or a busy register, and were you responsible for balancing your own drawer?
- Why ask it:
- Banks usually want proven cash-handling accuracy.
- A strong answer shows:
- Specific roles, the kinds of transactions they handled, and direct responsibility for balancing.
Question 21: Before anyone starts, the bank runs the background checks the law requires, including a check under Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and any offer depends on the result. Are you comfortable going through that process?
- Why ask it:
- FDIC-insured banks must make a reasonable, documented inquiry into an applicant’s history before the person starts work, so the check belongs in the bank’s formal process, not in interview questions about convictions.
- A strong answer shows:
- A clear yes and consent to the checks, with no questions about criminal history at this stage.
Question 22: The branch is open [days and hours, including Saturdays], and tellers arrive by [time] to open. Can you work that schedule, and when could you start?
- Why ask it:
- Rules out schedule mismatches early.
- A strong answer shows:
- A clear yes, or the specific constraint, and a firm start date.
Question 23: Are you authorized to work in [country] for this employer? We ask every candidate the same question.
- Why ask it:
- Confirms eligibility the same way for every applicant.
- A strong answer shows:
- A clear answer, with documents checked later through the employer’s normal hiring process.
Bank teller interview scorecard
Five criteria for this role, with what a score of 1, 3 and 5 looks like. Scores of 2 and 4 sit between them.
| Criterion | What it means | Score 1 looks like | Score 3 looks like | Score 5 looks like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash accuracy | Handles, counts and balances cash accurately. | Can’t describe a balancing routine, or treats small differences as unimportant. | A clear daily routine and prompt reporting of any difference. | A careful routine, finds the cause of differences methodically and has habits that prevent them. |
| Fraud and scam awareness | Spots warning signs at the window and escalates them. | Would process anything a customer asks for, or confront people directly. | Recognizes common scams and altered items and calls a supervisor. | Picks up subtle behavioral and transactional red flags, especially with older customers, and handles them kindly and by the book. |
| Compliance and security | Applies identification, reporting and security procedures every time. | Vague about why ID checks or cash reporting matter, or would bend procedures for a regular. | Follows identification, reporting and security steps correctly. | Explains why the rules exist, recognizes structuring and keeps security habits without reminders. |
| Customer service and referrals | Serves customers well and refers them to the right products. | Purely transactional, or pushes products regardless of need. | Friendly and clear, and refers customers when a cue is obvious. | Builds trust quickly, explains unwelcome news well and makes referrals that genuinely help customers. |
| Integrity and confidentiality | Protects customer information and owns mistakes. | Shares information loosely or hides errors. | Verifies callers and reports their own mistakes. | Protects information inside and outside work and raises concerns even when it is awkward. |
The 1–5 rating scale
The same scale for every criterion and every candidate.
| Score | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Well below requirement | No relevant evidence, or an answer that contradicts the requirement. |
| 2 | Below requirement | Partial evidence with important gaps. |
| 3 | Meets requirement | Clear, relevant evidence at the level the role needs. |
| 4 | Above requirement | Strong, specific evidence beyond the expected level. |
| 5 | Exceptional | Repeated high-quality evidence with clear impact. |
How to run the interview with these bank teller interview questions
- 01
Step 01
Agree the must-haves first
Confirm the essential credentials, experience and availability with the hiring manager or client before any interviews. - 02
Step 02
Pick 8 to 12 questions
Take the must-have questions, then the questions that test what this role needs most. Use the same set, in the same order, for every candidate. - 03
Step 03
Ask for real examples
When you hear “we” or “I would”, ask what the candidate personally did, and what happened in the end. - 04
Step 04
Score before you discuss
Rate each criterion on the scorecard with the evidence behind it, then compare with other interviewers. - 05
Step 05
Verify before you submit
Check licenses, certifications and right to work against the original source before you put the candidate forward.
Red flags, and questions not to ask
- Would make up a drawer shortage from their own pocket, or quietly keep an overage instead of reporting it.
- Suggests a customer split cash deposits to avoid “paperwork,” or would tell a customer that their activity has been reported.
- Sees an older customer’s unusual withdrawal as none of their business, or describes lecturing the customer instead of escalating.
- Gives account details to callers or relatives without verifying identity, or talks about customers’ money outside work.
- Describes resisting or chasing a robber, or can’t describe any branch security procedure.
- Age, marital or family status, pregnancy or plans for children, religion, ethnicity or national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity. These are protected characteristics under the UK Equality Act 2010 and US federal law, and they say nothing about whether someone can do the job.
- Health, sickness absence or disability before an offer. You can ask whether the candidate needs any adjustments for the interview, and whether they can do the essential tasks of the job.
Screen bank teller applicants before the first call
Add these questions to a Beatview AI interview and every applicant answers them on video or audio, with the same time limit. Beatview scores each answer against your criteria and shows the reasoning, and you can share the shortlist with your client through a password-protected link. AI interviews are on the Pro plan; the Free plan screens resumes for one active job.
Bank teller interview questions: frequently asked questions
Still deciding?
Bring a live vacancy and we’ll walk through where automation ends and recruiter review begins.
Ask for real examples that test cash handling and balancing, accuracy under pressure, customer service and referrals, fraud and scam awareness, and how the candidate applies identification, reporting, security and confidentiality procedures, such as a drawer that didn’t balance or an older customer making an unusual withdrawal. Add must-have questions about cash-handling experience, the bank’s background checks, branch hours and start date, and ask every candidate the same questions in the same order.
In the US, Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act says a person convicted of a criminal offense involving dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering, or who entered a pretrial diversion or similar program for such an offense, may not work for or otherwise take part in the affairs of an FDIC-insured bank without the FDIC’s prior written consent. The FDIC’s rules set out exceptions, such as for certain older offenses, and require insured banks to make a reasonable, documented inquiry into an applicant’s history. FDIC-supervised banks may make a conditional offer that depends on a satisfactory background check, but the person may not start work until the bank has determined they are not prohibited. Let the bank run that check through its formal process, and don’t ask about convictions in a screening interview.
Banks must file a Currency Transaction Report for each deposit, withdrawal, exchange of currency or other payment or transfer that involves more than $10,000 in cash, and several cash transactions by or for the same person in one business day count as one when the bank knows about them and they total more than $10,000. Before completing a reportable transaction, the bank must verify and record the name and address of the person presenting it and record other details, such as their taxpayer identification number, so tellers need to collect ID details accurately every time. FinCEN explains that breaking cash into smaller amounts to evade the report, called structuring, is a federal crime, so a strong candidate will never suggest a way around it.
The Interagency Statement on Elder Financial Exploitation, from the federal banking agencies, FinCEN, the CFPB and state financial regulators, describes training customer-facing employees to identify transactional and behavioral red flags when they conduct transactions for older adults, such as unusual behavior by an older customer or their caregiver, or an unexpected, large transfer out of an account with no history of similar activity, and giving them clear escalation procedures. Ask candidates what they would do, and listen for noticing the change, asking open questions and escalating under the bank’s procedure. The statement also notes that federal law protects a financial institution and certain employees from liability for reporting suspected elder financial exploitation to covered agencies if the institution has trained its employees in time, and that no employee may tell a person involved in a transaction that it has been reported as suspicious.
Get the bank teller interview questions template
All 23 questions with why you ask each one, what a strong answer shows and follow-ups, plus the bank teller scorecard and rating guide.
Opens in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers. Version 2 October 2026.
Sources: eCFR: 31 CFR 1010.311, filing obligations for reports of transactions in currency; eCFR: 31 CFR 1010.312, identification required; eCFR: 31 CFR 1010.313, aggregation of currency transactions; eCFR: 31 CFR 1010.314, structured transactions; FinCEN: Notice to Customers, a CTR reference guide (including structuring); eCFR: 12 CFR part 303, subpart L, Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; eCFR: 12 CFR part 326, subpart A, minimum security procedures (FDIC); Interagency Statement on Elder Financial Exploitation (PDF, via the CFPB). This template is general guidance, not legal advice.