Working Conditions

Hours. The average workweek for nonsupervisory workers in depository credit intermediation was 35.7 hours in 2006. Supervisory and managerial employees, however, usually work substantially longer hours. About 1 out of 10 employees in 2006, mostly tellers, worked part-time.

Employees in a typical branch work weekdays, some evenings if the bank is open late, and Saturday mornings. However, banks are increasingly expanding the hours that their branches are open and opening branches in nontraditional locations. For example, hours may be longer for workers in bank branches located in grocery stores and shopping malls, which are open most evenings and weekends. To improve customer service and provide greater access to bank personnel, banks are establishing centralized phone centers, staffed mainly by customer service representatives. Employees of phone centers spend most of their time answering phone calls from customers and must be available to work evening and weekend shifts.

Administrative support employees may work in large processing facilities, in the banks’ headquarters, or in other administrative offices. Most support staff work a standard 40-hour week; some may work overtime. Those support staff located in the processing facilities may work evening shifts.

Work environment. Branch office jobs, particularly teller positions, require continual communication with customers, repetitive tasks, and a high level of attention to security. Tellers also work for long periods in a confined space.

Commercial and mortgage loan officers often work out of the office, visiting clients, checking loan applications, and soliciting new business. Loan officers may travel to meet out-of-town clients, or work evenings if that is the only time at which a client can meet. Financial service-sales representatives also may visit clients in the evenings and on weekends to go over the client’s financial needs.

The remaining employees located primarily at the headquarters or other administrative offices usually work in comfortable surroundings and put in a standard workweek. In general, banks are relatively safe places to work. In 2006, the rate of work-related injury and illness per 100 full-time workers was 1.1 in central banks (monetary authorities) and 2.7 in other banking establishments (depository credit intermediation), both lower than the overall rate of 4.4 per 100 employees in the private sector.

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