Feb
2013
Observations of a Former Bank Teller
Does anyone else find it ironic that Girl Meets Debt use to be a bank teller? I mean, I worked in the finance industry for two years, helping people with their money decisions, while my own finances were such a hot mess! Hopefully the advice I gave out was more helpful than harmful to my clients 
Many people who know me in my real life are surprised to find out that I went into banking in the first place since I am horrible at math (2+2=let me see check on my Iphone calculator). The one thing I did have going for me was that I have a natural talent for friendly chatter which is a benefit since bank tellers are the first people customers see when they walk into bank.
To be honest, I didn’t really enjoy working as a bank teller much. The low pay and getting robbed 4x in two years probably didn’t help either. The first time I was robbed, the guy slipped me a note demanding money or he would kill me. The second time was also an unoriginal note threatening the same thing. The third time a machete but no note was used and the fourth and final time, a guy came in with a black ski mask and gun, demanding money, just like in the movies. The last robbery finally made me realize that I just may possibly be the world’s unluckiest bank teller and with each incident escalating in violence, I figured it was time for a career change.
I am now currently in a career that has NOTHING to do with finances (or robberies) and I couldn’t be any happier about it. Nevertheless, my time at the bank did teach me the basics of finances (why don’t we teach kids this is high school???) and even though I didn’t put any of that information to good use until recently when I became serious about paying off my debt, I am just happy that I was able to retain all that helpful information. Girl Meets Debt random tidbit – I have atrocious memory. Ask me anything important that I am “suppose” to remember and I won’t be able to recall it without a nudge but ask me to recollect ANY Backstreet Boys song and I can sing it word for word no problem 
As part of the “front line” of a busy downtown bank, I, (the world’s unluckiest bank teller) observed and experienced too many wacky things you wouldn’t believe to be true but it happened…let me try to recall them for you 
1) I’ve had a few guys try to ask me out on a date while I was helping them with their banking. Awkward!!! Guys, whatever gave you the idea that it would be a good idea to ask out a bank teller while she was on the job? I’m flattered but don’t you know I can see your whole financial picture on my computer screen! That includes the good, the bad and the UGLY. Enough said.
2) Working at the bank has made me an expert at spotting fake bills, but it doesn’t take an expert to spot a really bad fake. If you try to deposit a fake bill that looked like you printed off your own computer in color ink that was fading and couldn’t even cut out straight, I will outright ask you “are you seriously trying to tell me you think this bill has a chance of being legit?” Yes, I can ask you that and you better have a good excuse before I call the police for attempted fraud.
3) Ditto for attempting to deposit a fake check!
4) If you get a phone call/email/letter asking you to send a small amount of money to Timbuktu to receive a larger amount of money that apparently fell from the sky and is eagerly awaiting your greedy hands, you are being duped! If it sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true people!!!
5) For all the Craigslist scammers out there, if you want to try to convince a stranger to cash a large check for you, promising them 20% of the amount, make sure you pick a shady adult not a sneaky teenager. Once, I had a teenage girl bring in a check that was obviously fake and I asked her where she got the check from. She said it was from her part-time job. I asked her a few more questions about her “employer” and she was obviously previously coached on her answers. I knew she was lying and it took every. ounce. of. willpower not to yell at her to tell me the truth. I told my manager about the situation and she said to tell the girl that we will deposit the check but need to place a hold on it for funds to clear first. The next day, my manager asked the girl to come back in to discuss the check and when she came in, the police were waiting for her with handcuffs. She’s only a teenager so the police were just there to give her a “warning.” She tried apologizing to me afterwards but I told her flat out “you knew what you were doing, I just hope you don’t do it again.”
6) If for whatever reason, your banking history is less than stellar and I need to place a hold on your check for funds to clear first, it is NOT part of my job description to listen to your long sob story as to why you need your money right away. I truly do feel awful and can sympathize sometimes, but it’s not my fault that the reason why there is a hold on the check is because you have had 6 bounced checks in the last 2 months!
7) I’ve also had people talk to me in a manner like they were “above” me somehow but just remember, I see your whole financial picture on my computer screen – you are not as rich and important as you seem to think!
Oh my goodness I sound like such a bitter bank teller haha. Good thing I am no longer in the profession! To be honest, it wasn’t all bad. After working there for so long I did build relationships with people and had quite a few regular clients that would come in the bank and wait in line just to see me. That made me feel special. I also felt good helping people make smarter money decisions everyday.
I would love to hear in the comments below if you have ever observed anything good, bad, or just plain strange while at the bank. Any other past or current bank tellers out there have “observations” to share?
eemusings
February 25, 2013 at 11:58 am (88 days ago)It’s been a long time since I had to visit a bank, but I always really enjoyed interacting with the tellers. At least at my bank, they were always friendly and warm. I didn’t like the aggressive sales pitches that they were forced to make for other products, though.
eemusings recently posted..Unexpected benefits of couchsurfing (or, how to fall in love with your own country again)
Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 12:03 pm (88 days ago)Unfortunately the agrressive sales pitches have become part of the role. I remember really disliking that part of the job! Some people have a natural talent for sales and some just suck at it like I did
Mo' Money Mo' Houses
February 25, 2013 at 12:05 pm (88 days ago)My old roommate was a bank teller for a little while, and what’s funny is after she left and moved out of province she continued going to the same bank and whenever the teller would say “Umm we can’t do that” or some other BS she would call them on it because she knew all the ins and outs and knew they were just to lazy to check something for her.
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 1:05 pm (88 days ago)I confess, I may have once or twice or 50x told a client a white lie because I didn’t have time to check. Gosh, it really is a good thing that I am no longer in the profession lol
Michelle's Finance Journal
February 25, 2013 at 12:16 pm (88 days ago)I, too, have been a bank teller and I’ve been in banking for a long time (almost 10 years) before I made the switch last year. But you and I aren’t the only one’s who made financial mistakes and managements who were and are in financial industry.
I think retail banking focuses more on sales and customer service so it’s hard for us ex-bankers to connect bits and pieces of actual finance aspect that we learn in banking with our personal finance. And since I saw so many people with their finances in crazy state, they made me look like I had it together. Other people who had it together had such high income, I just thought they’re born that way or something.
I agree with your number 1. As they’re begging me to refund they’re NSF (non sufficient fund) fee, they’re asking me out. Really? It doesn’t even matter how old they are. I was in my 20s, I got asked out by guys in 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. Can you believe that?
Another thing I want to mention is how people get upset for asking for their IDs. I would be upset if they didn’t ask for IDs. But people got mad when I asked for IDs and then talk about how they’re worried about bank security.
I have so many more stories and “observations” but I’m going to stop myself right now before I sound like a lunatic ex-banker lady. (maybe I already do)
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 1:07 pm (88 days ago)I can totally exchange more lunatic ex-banker lady stories with you Michelle
Michelle's Finance Journal
February 26, 2013 at 1:24 pm (87 days ago)Oh~ forgot to mention. I got robbed once too with a note. Months later I got a letter from the court saying they caught the guy and asked if I wanted to come. I didn’t want to see him again, so I didn’t go. But it was good to know that he was behind bars.
Michelle’s Finance Journal recently posted..Ran Out of Gas
Morgaine
February 25, 2013 at 12:18 pm (88 days ago)Well, as another former bank teller to another, I can TOTALLY relate to all of the above points! Especially #7 before I worked at a bank, I worked as a parking attendant so I was completely used to it by then but I have to say it did get me down sometimes. I felt like yelling at everyone who acted like that “Hey! Everyone has to start somewhere! I went to University and have a degree, I have a brain and feelings. Just because I don’t drive a BMW or Mercedes doesn’t make me less of a person”. But I never did, just kept it inside.
Strange that at both of those jobs I was never robbed and they’re both the most likely jobs to get robbed at. Lucky me I guess
Its such a stressful job that its no surprise that there is extremely high turnover and I didn’t last much longer at this job than you did. In Toronto there is just so many jobs in Finance so its hard not to look at a bank job as a good first job/stepping stone and that’s exactly how I looked at it
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 1:09 pm (88 days ago)Banking is SUCH A STRESSFUL JOB! They really should be paid more! Although all the money in the world couldn’t make me stay to be robbed a 5th time in my life
Grayson @ Debt Roundup
February 25, 2013 at 12:47 pm (88 days ago)Those are good. I used to work in the mortgage collections part of a large bank and I have a lot of stories, both good and bad. I have probably heard almost every story of why someone couldn’t pay their mortgage. Maybe I should do a most on it.
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 1:11 pm (88 days ago)Excuse stories are highly entertaining. Do it Grayson
Lisa @ Elle Sees
February 25, 2013 at 1:24 pm (88 days ago)Wow, those are crazy/funny stories! So much of banking has become impersonal these days, and while digital is convenient, I forget how nice it can be (if the lines aren’t too long) to talk to a real person and have them sort something out for you. I can totally understand the frustrations from your side of the counter though!
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 1:33 pm (88 days ago)Don’t get me wrong, I greatly enjoyed interacting with people and assisting them with their banking while I was a bank teller. I just didn’t appreciate the cray cray that often comes with money lol
debtperception
February 25, 2013 at 2:31 pm (88 days ago)Yikes at the bank robberies! I would never be able to work at a bank or a gas station because of the potential for robberies. Scary stuff!
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 2:43 pm (88 days ago)It’s like an out-of-body experience. I could see and feel myself being robbed (4x) but I just couldn’t BELIEVE that it was actually happening at the time. I still can’t believe I was robbed that many times but apparently it’s a rather common occurence for banks but the “news” never gets to the media because they don’t want to scare people.
Michelle
February 25, 2013 at 2:41 pm (88 days ago)Oh my god those robberies sound scary! And this all pretty interesting. I love the tellers at my bank!
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 2:45 pm (88 days ago)The robberies were SCARY. I’m sure the tellers at your bank love you too Michelle
Every bank teller has favorites, I know I sure did!
Financial Black Sheep
February 25, 2013 at 3:39 pm (88 days ago)haha too funny! Not the robbery parts of course, but everything else of course. Reminds me of my days as a computer support technician and satellite dish agent. Some of the sob stories over not being able to watch T.V. or they lost their personal MP3 collection lol. I cannot believe people would try and pick you up at work! Did you lightly brush them off, or tell them the truth?
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 3:44 pm (87 days ago)If I didn’t have TV, my cable guy/gal would be hearing a sob story from me as well
And as for the guys who tried to ask me out for coffee, I just said I’m allergic to caffiene haha.
Do or Debt
February 25, 2013 at 5:01 pm (87 days ago)I am so glad you are ok! Yikes, sounds like a stressful, crazy job. Your stories were amusing. I always think it’s funny when people try to flirt when you are on the job. It’s like, really dude, really?
Glad you got out of that situation!
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 5:53 pm (87 days ago)I don’t mind a little flirting, as long as the guy was cute lol. It’s never the cute guy though!!!
anna
February 25, 2013 at 5:48 pm (87 days ago)Except for the first time when I signed up for an account, I’ve actually never stepped foot in a bank again (yet). Your crazy stories make me want to go and people watch now, though… well, except for the robbery stuff. Glad you were never hurt from it!
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 5:54 pm (87 days ago)Go to your bank and people watch. I guarantee you will see something strange. Then come back and tell me
KK @ Student Debt Survivor
February 25, 2013 at 5:57 pm (87 days ago)My mom’s small local bank still gives out dog biscuits to dogs and lollypops to kids. They know everybody by name (and everybody’s financial “story”) so you better be nice to them or everyone will know your business. Always wondered about that. Is there some sort of bank version of HIPPA that tellers are supposed to adhere to to protect client’s privacy?
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 6:14 pm (87 days ago)The bank is strict on their privacy and confidentiality policies. No talking about anybody’s business outside of work. Well at least the Canadian banks are. Not too sure about other countries.
We gave out dog biscuits at the bank I worked at too but it was a downtown location which surprised me at first but I love dogs so it was a lot of fun
Amber Simpson
February 25, 2013 at 6:41 pm (87 days ago)Actually my bank teller gave my great advice/ more of an good idea today.
here is the post http://wp.me/p2dJgx-dK
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 10:00 pm (87 days ago)That’s awesome that she/he was able to help you save money Amber
Cassie
February 25, 2013 at 8:19 pm (87 days ago)Where do I even begin? OMG with regards to the robberies, and LMAO with regards to everything else. I wish I had some experience as a teller, if only so that I had more understanding about the internal workings of banks and fraud detection.
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Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 9:59 pm (87 days ago)Not going to lie, knowing the internal workings of banks does have it’s advantages but for myself personally, the disadvantages sure outweigh any advantages of working there. But that could just be my bitterness talking
Michelle
February 25, 2013 at 10:10 pm (87 days ago)My mom was a bank teller for a little while and towards the end really hated it. I can’t believe you were robbed 4x that is some scary sh$t!! I’m just glad you’re ok and nothing bad happened. Jeez.
Girl Meets Debt
February 25, 2013 at 10:17 pm (87 days ago)Thanks Michelle! It was some scary shit!!! But to be honest, nowadays I almost laugh when I think back to how unlucky I was to be robbed so many times in such a short period. Some bank tellers work 20 years without being robbed once. I work 2 years and get robbed 4x. It’s the luck of the draw I guess.
Laurie @the frugal farmer
February 26, 2013 at 5:04 am (87 days ago)Girl, you stole my story, except for the robberies part. I can say that I was never robbed, thank God, but we did have a naked guy come through the first drive up window once. Talk about creepy! Funny how you can work in a position that should teach you everything you need to know about PF and still not put it into place, isn’t it? Oh well, at least we’re getting on track now.
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Girl Meets Debt
February 26, 2013 at 6:44 am (87 days ago)I didn’t know you worked in the bank too Laurie! Naked guy at a drive up window would certainly be a sight lol. Yes, I do find it rather ironic that I worked as a bank teller for 2 years but never put all that PF good stuff into place until now. Ahhh well, you live you learn. And in my case I’m just grateful I still retained the information I learned
Mochimac
February 26, 2013 at 5:24 am (87 days ago)This makes more sense now, why I was questioned heavily when I brought in my first few paycheques. They were large amounts ($20K – $30K), and I looked very young (I didn’t dress up or anything, just a hoodie and jeans).
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Girl Meets Debt
February 26, 2013 at 6:46 am (87 days ago)Hehehe, it’s not a common occurrence for a younger or older person to bring in $20K-30k paychecks! Hopefully you didn’t get too annoyed with your tellers for asking questions. It’s just part of the job.
John S @ Frugal Rules
February 26, 2013 at 9:35 am (87 days ago)Wow, 4 robberies?! So glad you were not harmed in any of them. I worked at a bank for about a year soon after college and can relate to many of your stories. I always hated the sob stories and people yelling at you because you could not cash their check because they were overdrawn. My favorite was the guy who complained that he had no idea where all his money went and then I look at his account to see over $300 in money on Girls Gone Wild videos.
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Girl Meets Debt
February 26, 2013 at 9:44 am (87 days ago)Lol, that’s an awesome story! I had one girl (who literally could have been a younger version of me a few years ago) asked me where all her money went and I did an account history for her which showed all her spending at expensive stores. Poor girl. Poor me
The Asian Pear
February 27, 2013 at 4:50 am (86 days ago)I’m now secretly glad the bank didn’t hire me as a teller when I first applied after university.
Thanks for sharing!
As for me, no observations… I HATE going to the bank. Don’t worry, not because of tellers. I have problems with long line-ups. Even lines at Walmart checkouts annoy me. ^__^; I do everything via internet now. WOOT.
Girl Meets Debt
February 27, 2013 at 6:16 am (86 days ago)Be very secretly glad the bank didn’t hire you after university
Holly@ClubThrifty
February 27, 2013 at 8:40 am (86 days ago)I would freak out if I was robbed! I don’t think I could be a bank teller!!! The banks in my area get robbed periodically. However, the pharmacies get robbed all the time.
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Girl Meets Debt
February 27, 2013 at 8:58 am (86 days ago)Oh geez. I didn’t even think of pharmacies! They must get robbed just as much as banks!
Jacob @ My Personal Finance Journey
March 5, 2013 at 1:43 pm (80 days ago)These are some really interesting insights here. Thanks so much for sharing!
I am surprised to hear about the frequency that it seems like people try to deposit fake checks/bills. Do they really think they can get away with it?! Geez!
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Girl Meets Debt
March 5, 2013 at 2:11 pm (80 days ago)Not even tryong to exaggerate, but here in downtown Vancouver, I saw a fake check or bills at least 3 times a month!
Johnny Moneyseed
March 7, 2013 at 8:03 am (78 days ago)You seriously had some bad luck as a bank teller lol.
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Girl Meets Debt
March 8, 2013 at 4:42 pm (76 days ago)Correction. I WAS the UNLUCKIEST bank teller EVER
Sharon J. Gilman
March 8, 2013 at 9:57 am (77 days ago)oh my gosh, you’ve just burst my bubble! haha… I’ve always thought being a bank teller would be kinda fun. I’ve been out of work for a couple years, and anytime I’ve seen a bank position open I’ve applied for it. I guess it’s a good thing I never got hired there! Glad you survived all those robberies, too. not sure how I would have handled that. Do you they train you on what to do in those situations?
Sharon J. Gilman recently posted..Hands off my Starbucks!
Girl Meets Debt
March 8, 2013 at 4:40 pm (76 days ago)It’s a horrible job Sharon. Don’t do it! I would never wish that misery even on my worst enemy lol