What are transferable skills and why do you need them? What does it mean to be employable today and in the future?...
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- Help customers by providing banking services, advice and support
- With experience, progress to specialist roles, or into management
- Requires excellent communication and people skills, as well as good basic numeracy skills
As a customer service adviser for a bank or building society you'll normally work in a bank branch or a contact centre, helping customers with their everyday banking needs. This is primarily a customer service role, advising on and assisting with services such as setting up savings accounts, authorising loans and moving money.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Processing payments and withdrawals
- Setting up and maintaining customers' accounts
- Dealing with enquiries via telephone, email, online and face-to-face
- Supporting customers to use self-service options in the branch or using digital apps
- Promoting and selling financial products and services to customers
- Using the IT system to update account details
- General administration tasks
- Operating UK and overseas currency tills
- Helping customers with loan and mortgage applications
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
Bonuses and commission for meeting sales targets can increase your earnings. Other benefits can include special deals on mortgages, loans, pensions, shares and insurance. In a high street retail branch, you'll spend some of your time working at a counter or front office and will probably need to wear a uniform.
In contact centres, which usually operate 6 or 7 days a week until late in the evening, shift work is common. Part-time work is also widely available. In a contact centre you'll work at a desk with a telephone headset and computer.
You'll need
Entry requirements vary between employers if you want to apply directly.
You may find it useful to have 5 or more GCSEs or equivalent qualifications, including English and Maths. Some employers may ask you to pass a series of selection tests when you apply.
Taking a college course in customer service could help to bring your skills up to date while looking for work. Relevant courses include a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Customer Service. Or you could get into this job through a financial services customer adviser intermediate apprenticeship.
Customer service experience, cash handling and computing skills would be helpful, so building up some work experience where you use these skills is a good idea. To work in a bank you will also need to pass a background check.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could progress to specialist customer service and advice roles, or into management; for example, you could work towards becoming a branch or area manager. You might also be able to apply your customer service skills in corporate or investment banking.
