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Useful experience for bank workers includes:

• customer service
• retail and sales work
• work in a call centre
• cash handling.

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.

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.

Bank workers may progress into bank management or financial adviser roles.

• Financial adviser job information

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.

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.