This guide gives bank teller cover letter examples and templates you can adapt to your experience. You will find practical advice on structure, what to highlight, and how to show your customer service and cash handling skills clearly.
View and download this professional resume template
Loading resume example...
💡 Pro tip: Use this template as a starting point. Customize it with your own experience, skills, and achievements.
Key Elements of a Strong Cover Letter
Start with your full name, phone number, email, and city in a clear header. Add the hiring manager's name and the company address when you have them to make the letter feel personal and targeted.
Open with a concise sentence that states the role you are applying for and a brief reason you are a strong fit. Mention one achievement or strength that will make the reader want to continue.
Focus on customer service, cash handling accuracy, and any point of sale or banking software experience. Use a short example that shows impact, such as improving transaction speed or resolving a customer issue.
End by thanking the reader and requesting an interview or follow up, stating your availability if relevant. Keep the tone confident and polite so you leave a professional impression.
Cover Letter Structure
1. Header
Place your name in bold at the top, followed by your phone number, email, and city. Below that, add the date and the employer's contact details when available to personalize the letter.
2. Greeting
Address the hiring manager by name when you can, for example Dear Ms. Garcia or Dear Hiring Manager if you do not have a name. A specific greeting shows you did a little research and pays off with a stronger opening.
3. Opening Paragraph
Start with a clear sentence that names the position you want and a brief reason you are a fit, such as your customer service background. Follow with one sentence that highlights a concrete achievement or skill that ties to teller duties.
4. Body Paragraph(s)
Use one or two short paragraphs to describe your most relevant experiences, focusing on cash handling accuracy, customer interactions, and familiarity with banking procedures. Provide a specific example that quantifies your contribution or shows how you solved a customer problem.
5. Closing Paragraph
Finish with a polite call to action that thanks the reader and asks for an interview or next step. Offer your availability for a meeting and indicate you look forward to discussing how you can help the team.
6. Signature
Use a professional closing such as Sincerely or Best regards, followed by your typed name. If you are sending a PDF, you may add a scanned signature above your typed name for a formal touch.
Dos and Don'ts
Do tailor each letter to the specific bank and position, matching key words from the job posting. This shows you read the listing and makes it easier for hiring staff to see the fit.
Do open with a short hook that highlights your most relevant strength, such as reliable cash handling or strong customer service. A focused opening increases the chance the reader continues.
Do include one measurable example, like how you reduced errors or improved transaction times, to show concrete value. Numbers make your accomplishments more believable and memorable.
Do keep the letter to one page and use short paragraphs for easy scanning. Hiring staff often skim, so clarity helps you stand out.
Do proofread carefully and confirm contact details are correct before sending, ideally asking someone else to read it. Small errors can distract from your qualifications.
Don’t repeat your resume word for word, because you should add context and personality in the letter. Use the cover letter to explain why your experience matters for this role.
Don’t use generic openings like To whom it may concern when you can find a name, because a specific greeting is more engaging. A little research goes a long way.
Don’t claim skills you cannot support with examples, as this can harm your credibility in interviews. Be honest and focus on transferable skills if you lack direct banking experience.
Don’t write long paragraphs or dense blocks of text that are hard to read, because hiring staff often skim quickly. Short paragraphs help your main points stand out.
Don’t include personal information that is not relevant, such as health or family details, because it distracts from your professional qualifications. Keep the focus on job-related strengths.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using vague phrases instead of specific examples, which leaves hiring staff unsure of your actual abilities. Replace vague claims with brief stories or results.
Submitting a generic letter for multiple jobs, which makes you look uninterested in the specific role. Take a few minutes to adapt each letter to the posting.
Forgetting to mention customer service or cash accuracy, which are central to teller work and should appear early in the letter. Highlight these skills with a short example.
Overloading the letter with too many unrelated experiences, which dilutes your main message. Choose two or three points that directly support the teller role.
Practical Writing Tips & Customization Guide
Mirror language from the job description to help your letter pass initial screenings and show clear fit. Use those terms naturally when describing your experience.
If you have retail or hospitality experience, frame it around customer service and handling transactions, because those skills transfer well to teller duties. Briefly explain similarities so hiring staff can connect the dots.
Quantify one achievement when possible, like transaction accuracy rate or average customers served per shift, because numbers add credibility. Even small percentages can demonstrate reliability.
Keep formatting simple with a readable font and 1 inch margins, because clean presentation makes your letter easy to read and professional. Save and send the file as a PDF to preserve layout.
Cover Letter Examples
Example 1 — Recent Graduate (150–170 words)
Dear Hiring Manager,
I recently graduated with a B. S.
in Finance (GPA 3. 6) and completed a 10-week teller internship at State University Credit Union where I processed an average of 120 transactions per day and balanced a daily drawer of up to $8,000.
During the internship I improved end-of-day reconciliation time by 20% by implementing a simple checklist and cross-check routine. I enjoy direct customer contact and handled an average of 30 customer service interactions per shift, resolving 95% of issues without escalation.
I’m comfortable using Fiserv and TellerMate, and I completed compliance training in ACH and BSA basics. I want to bring dependable cash-handling, friendly customer service, and accuracy to First Community Bank’s branch team.
I’m available for an interview on weekdays after 3 p. m.
and can start within two weeks.
Sincerely, Jordan Lee
*Why this works:* specific numbers (120 transactions, $8,000, 20%) show capability; mentions tech and compliance knowledge relevant to teller duties.
–-
Example 2 — Career Changer from Retail (150–170 words)
Dear Ms.
After six years as a retail store supervisor, I’m pursuing a teller role where my cash control and customer-service skills translate directly. I managed daily cash deposits averaging $15,000, trained 12 associates on POS reconciliation, and reduced till discrepancies by 12% through a revised counting process.
In high-volume periods I handled queues of 40+ customers per hour while maintaining a calm, accurate pace.
I’ve completed an online banking fundamentals course and I’m proficient with MS Excel for balancing and simple reconciliations. I’m drawn to CityBank for its community focus and branch training program and I’m ready to apply my transaction accuracy, dispute-resolution experience, and people skills to your team.
I welcome the chance to discuss how my background will support your customer-retention goals.
Best regards, Casey Morgan
*Why this works:* translates retail metrics (15,000 deposits, 12% reduction) into banking value and shows concrete training and readiness to learn.
–-
Example 3 — Experienced Teller (160–180 words)
Dear Hiring Team,
I bring five years of branch experience, including two years as a senior teller at River Valley Bank where I supervised daily cash vault operations and trained new tellers. I consistently achieved a 99.
8% accuracy rate on reconciliations, cross-sold checking or savings products to 18% of customers I served, and supported a branch that averaged $2. 7M in monthly deposits.
I led a project to document teller procedures that reduced onboarding time from 14 days to 8 days.
I’m proficient in FIS Horizon and Microsoft Excel, comfortable with regulatory forms, and I completed annual BSA refresher training. I can mentor junior tellers while maintaining my own accuracy and speed.
I’m excited to bring process improvements and steady customer service to Maple Bank’s downtown branch.
Thank you for considering my application; I’m available for an interview next week.
Sincerely, Alex Rivera
*Why this works:* highlights leadership (reduced onboarding by 43%), precise accuracy numbers, product sales metric, and familiarity with bank systems.
Practical Writing Tips
1. Open with a specific achievement, not a vague phrase.
Start with a measurable result (e. g.
, "reconciled $8,000 daily drawers with 99. 8% accuracy") to hook the reader and establish credibility immediately.
2. Mirror the job posting language.
Scan the listing for 3–5 keywords (e. g.
, "cash handling," "BSA/AML awareness") and use them naturally so automated screeners and hiring managers see alignment.
3. Quantify results whenever possible.
Numbers like transaction volume, error reduction percentage, or training counts turn generic claims into proof of impact.
4. Keep it to one page and one tight paragraph for each theme.
Use an opening, one paragraph for achievements, one for fit/motivation, and a short closing—this respects a recruiter's time.
5. Show customer focus with concrete examples.
Describe a resolved complaint, a multitasked busy shift, or a cross-sell that improved a customer outcome to demonstrate interpersonal skills.
6. Use active verbs and short sentences.
Choose verbs like "trained," "reconciled," "reduced," and avoid long nominal phrases so your responsibilities read as actions.
7. Address gaps or transitions briefly and positively.
If changing careers, explain the transferable skill (e. g.
, cash accuracy, team training) and cite one relevant course or certification.
8. Close with a specific next step.
Offer availability or request a meeting (e. g.
, "I can meet Tuesday or Thursday afternoons") to make it easy for the recruiter to respond.
9. Proofread with a checklist.
Read aloud, confirm numbers match your resume, and verify bank system names and compliance terms to avoid costly errors.
10. Personalize one sentence about the bank.
Mention a local branch initiative, community program, or product the bank offers to show you researched them.
Takeaway: follow a tight structure, back claims with numbers, and tailor language to the job to move from generic to compelling.
How to Customize Your Cover Letter
Strategy 1 — Tailor by industry
- •Finance: Emphasize accuracy, compliance, and transactions per shift. Example: "Balanced 100–140 transactions daily and completed monthly BSA audits with zero findings." Use concrete systems (Fiserv, FIS) and cite regulatory training.
- •Tech (fintech/online banks): Stress comfort with digital tools and remote support. Example: "Helped onboard 300 customers to mobile deposit, increasing mobile adoption by 22%." Mention APIs or CRM names if relevant.
- •Healthcare (hospital clinics with cashiers): Highlight privacy, empathy, and insurance reconciliation. Example: "Processed patient payments and posted insurance adjustments for $60K monthly while maintaining HIPAA confidentiality."
Strategy 2 — Tailor by company size
- •Startups/small banks: Show versatility and initiative. Emphasize roles you can add (training, local marketing, basic IT troubleshooting). Example: "Built a teller training checklist that reduced errors by 30%."
- •Large corporations: Highlight process compliance, throughput, and teamwork. Emphasize adherence to SOPs and experience with central reconciliation or audit support.
Strategy 3 — Tailor by job level
- •Entry-level: Focus on learning agility, coursework, internships, and customer service metrics. Keep tone eager and coachable. Example: "Completed 40 hours of branch shadowing and learned core teller functions in two weeks."
- •Senior roles: Lead with mentoring, process improvements, and measurable outcomes. Cite headcount trained, error-rate improvements, or projects led (e.g., reduced onboarding time by 43%).
Strategy 4 — Practical customization steps
1. Swap three keywords from the job ad into your opening and achievement lines.
2. Reorder accomplishments so the top 2 reflect the employer’s priorities (volume, compliance, customer retention).
3. Replace one generic sentence with a company-specific line (mention branch location, recent award, or product).
Takeaway: choose 2–3 customization moves per application—keywords, reordered achievements, and one company-specific sentence—to increase relevance without rewriting the whole letter.