The hours are no longer ''banker's hours'' either, which when your parents were growing up probably meant that they had to get to the bank by 3pm or put off banking business for another day. Some banks even closed by 2pm! The advent of computers has made banking much easier and accounts for the new ''acceptable'' hours that banking has made available. There are some banks that are now open late into the evening, and on Saturdays.
There are many different facets of a banking career that are open to you. For example, there are specialists who deal strictly with wealth banking, often having to hold the hand, as it were, for their wealthy customers who can't be bothered learning the intricacies of banking procedures. There are mortgage specialists who need to work with borrowers on a very personal level, advising them of different mortgages that are available through their company, and having to explain each bewildering term to already overwhelmed borrowers at times.
No matter which kind of job is attractive to you in banking, you must first of all be highly reliable, and undeniably extremely honest. You need to have tremendous communication skills so that you never lose patience with those who do not understand a procedure, as well as being able to explain banking terms that may have confused your clients. As a teller, for example, you will have to explain why interest rates are so low, and why a customer was charged for a bounced check. There's no telling how often you will hear ''I can't be out of money, there's tons of checks in my checkbook, remaining!'' A good sense of humor is absolutely essential at times.
Further, banking requires that you are not afraid of numbers. Many of us feel bewildered by decimal points and the like. It's called ''fear of math,'' and it's often a fear that will dissuade you from following a career in banking. Banking salaries are commensurate with location and experience, as you would expect, and banks are notorious for being generous with benefits packages, as well.
Once you are a member of the staff in a banking institution, you will find that there are many courses available through your employer that would allow you to move up in the institution. Attending the myriad of courses available will point you in the right direction so that you can be promoted within the company. Becoming a bank manager, for instance, requires that you know all of the intricacies of each worker at the bank, and are able to step into their shoes at a moment's notice, whether they are part of the teller line, or in charge of the safe deposit boxes.
