How to Earn a Banking Certificate

Online banking certificates help professionals advance in their careers and earn more money in a growing industry. Business and financial operations occupations will likely grow by 8% from 2020-2030, on pace with the average rate for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employers will add some 750,800 new positions each year.

Tellers, bill and account collectors, and branch managers can earn certificates from community colleges, vocational schools, online schools, or professional organizations to compete for jobs in this ever-evolving sector.

Investing the time and money to earn a certificate offers industry recognition from other professionals and future employers. Credentials can also train you in specialized areas of finance and banking, such as fraud prevention or digital banking.

Read on to learn more about how long it takes to complete banking certification courses, what you may learn, and how much money you can make.

There is no universal banking certification for all industry occupations. Tellers, bank managers, customer service representatives, financial consultants, and health savings account experts can all find specific online banking certificates to grow their specific careers.

Online banking certificates for professionals at the beginning stage of their career need minimal qualifications, which vary by school and professional agency. Usually, students must:

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below

Career advancement in banking comes from on-the-job experience, higher degrees, and/or professional development, such as credentials.

What career path you intend to follow will influence what certificate or education you need. For instance, certificate programs for the Certified Modern Banking Representative Exam provide a pathway to entry-level banking positions — such as tellers and customer service representatives — that usually require on-the-job experience. Programs teach students about laws in banking, quality customer service, identifying fraud, and current banking issues and trends.

Certificates, such as the American Bankers Association’s Digital Banker Certificate, also give current banking professionals the skills to compete in an increasingly digitized industry. Students set the pace for online courses, watching lectures and completing readings when they want. Schools and professional organizations often provide flexible start and end dates.

These beginner-level certificates suit workers at any level in banking, even those with no banking or accounting knowledge.

Bank tellers serve as the face of a company at banks and other financial institutions. Bank tellers need to understand the products available and have the basic skills to do banking procedures such as withdrawals and deposits. This job often requires settling issues and communicating effectively with customers.

On the phone, by email, or through live chats, customers get answers and advice from banking customer service representatives. Many clients now do their banking via mobile apps. Customer service representatives must often help clients resolve technical issues.

Banking supervisors and team leaders oversee employees. They handle interpersonal, payroll, and customer disputes. The job also requires hiring staff and providing motivation and rewards to current team members.

At all levels of banking, professionals can benefit from earning certificates. Their earnings reflect their job level, their education, and credentials. According to the BLS, bank tellers earned a median annual salary of $36,310 as of 2021, with the top 10% earning $46,320. Bank tellers work for management and credit intermediation companies.

Positions such as bill and account collectors made a median annual salary of $37,700 in 2021. Bill and account collectors working in management companies and healthcare made the most, with respective salaries of $41,100 and $38,190.