6551-NOC

Customer services representatives - financial institutions

(NOC 6551)
Annual Earnings
$41,712
Typical Education Background
Diploma/Certificate Excluding Apprenticeship
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
2,280

Career Overview

Customer service representatives in financial institutions handle customers’ financial transactions, including cashing cheques, completing money transfers and opening and closing accounts.

People in this occupation:

  • Record data, produce receipts and provide information on related banking products and services
  • Are employed by banks, trust companies, credit unions and similar financial institutions

Duties

Workers in this group perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Process customer cash deposits and withdrawals, cheques, transfers, bills and credit card payments, money orders, certified cheques and other related banking transactions
  • Obtain and process information required for the provision of services, such as opening accounts and savings plans and purchasing bonds
  • Sell travellers' cheques, foreign currency and money orders
  • Answer enquiries and resolve problems or discrepancies concerning customers' accounts
  • Inform customers of available banking products and services to address their needs.

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$41,712

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$25.57/hr
Median$20.00/hr
Low$16.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

8,500

% Employed Full Time

39%
Source: 2016 Census

This a fast-paced environment in which workers process a high volume of customer requests and provide excellent customer service.

Customer service representatives in financial services must follow strict banking hours.

Career Pathways

Progression to supervisory/management or sales positions is possible with experience.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Conventional
Conventional

Job Titles

Agent, customer service
Clerk, accounts information
Clerk, adjustment
Officer, customer service
Representative, current account
Teller, bank / credit union / trust
Teller, foreign exchange / head

Education, Training and Skills

Although on-the-job training is generally provided, employers usually prefer that employees have a high-school diploma or equivalent. Other requirements may include:

  • Experience working in a fast-paced customer service-oriented environment
  • A degree in finance (or something similar) and/or the completion of the Investment Funds in Canada course
  • Being bondable and having basic security clearance, confidential security clearance and a criminal record check
  • Basic computer skills, including accurate data entry and experience handling cash

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Business Administration/Management/Commerce
EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

61%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

58%
Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

55%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

55%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

53%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

52%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

52%
Numeracy

Using mathematics to solve problems.

50%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

49%
Judgment and Decision-Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

49%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

8,500
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 280 2.8%
Kootenay 200 3.1%
Mainland/Southwest 6,300 63.7%
North Coast and Nechako 180 1.9%
Northeast 100 1.5%
Thompson-Okanagan 1,510 11.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 1,510 15.7%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

2,280
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 30 0.4%
Kootenay 60 1.4%
Mainland/Southwest 1,500 0.6%
North Coast and Nechako 100 2.9%
Northeast 10 1.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 220 0.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 310 0.4%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Finance, insurance and real estate50,900
Retail Trade115,500
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Public Administration49,200
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

It is becoming more common for banking institutions to hire co-op students, with the hope of hiring them full-time once they have completed their education.

Some banking institutions have begun creating different sectors within the bank, opening the possibility for individuals to specialize in a specific area in the future.

Resources