27 First Financial Bank Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our First Financial Bank interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. On the finance side of First Financial Bank, we expect our representatives to be ingrained in our sales focused culture. If hired for this role, how would you learn and embrace our sales process?
How to Answer
As an experienced loan or finance professional, your interviewer is likely very confident in the skills that you would bring to the team. This question gives them the opportunity to how you will fit into the unique culture with the team at First Financial Bank. Because they are a sales focused organization, your interviewer will expect anyone in this role to embrace that culture. In your answer, talk about your ability to partner with sales staff by using your strong people skills. As well, give your interviewer a sense of how you go about learning new processes if hired for this position and don't hesitate to give an example from your past on how you've done this.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Knowing that the main goal of First Financial Bank is to sell more products, I understand my role on the finance side is to provide customers with the best options for them to walk out the door as a lifelong customer. If hired for this role, I will take the time over the first weeks on the job to fully understand your product line, costs and typical financing procedures so I can hit the ground running in no time. In my current role, I communicate very regularly with our sales staff on each customer that we work mutually together with. It really helps provide the best customer experience possible and absolutely helps boost sales."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"I would fully expect that a good part of my orientation process into this role at First Financial Bank would entail a full education on the sales part of the business. I would look forward to working closely with and learning from the boots on the ground sales staff as that would give me great insight into the customers that I would be working with. From there, I would be able to build relationships with the sales staff and build a bond moving forward."
2. What customer service experience do you have that would greatly benefit the customers at First Financial Bank?
How to Answer
As the face of the organization for a lot of customers that will come through the lobby and drive-through of First Financial Bank, your interviewer expects that you'll be able to bring your A game to the job every day when it comes to customer service. To get an idea of your customer service experience, your interviewer is asking this question. As you prepare for your interviewer, try to think of customer service experience you have that would most apply to being a successful Teller. Talk about your duties when it came to serving customers and putting a smile on their face with each interaction that you had. Don't hesitate to use a real world example of a time you went the extra mile to provide the best service possible.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Being a people person by nature, I've always thrived in roles that put me face to face with customers at any place of employment. During my high school years, I was a waitress at a local restaurant on the weekends. During these busy times, I quickly learned how the little things can go a long way with customers that I would see on a regular basis. Knowing their usual drink orders and little things about them helped spark great conversations with them and, ultimately, their overall satisfaction with their dining experience. If hired here with First Financial Bank, I'd look to bring that same customer service attitude to your team."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"My current role in a large call center places me on the phone with consumers that are usually having either technical issues with our products or just overall unsatisfied with our products. Over the past two years in this role, I've learned how reflectively listen to customers that had a negative experience and how to quickly troubleshoot their problems with ease. As well, I've grown a very thick skin to not take things personally when consumers are downright mean about their products. I can imagine that in a bank setting, upset customers can be at their worst because finances are one of the most stressful things for people and I would be very confident in my ability to work with those customers."
3. To get to know what type of leader we'd be hiring at this branch of First Financial Bank, how would you describe your management style?
How to Answer
With your interviewer looking to hear your thoughts on what type of leader you will be, make sure not to use generic labels of different leadership styles. Rather, try and remain focused on your ability to build and maintain an effective team based atmosphere as the success of any branch at First Financial Bank will rely on the Branch Manager's ability to do so. From there, talk about your specific skills and abilities that will really be able to foster that team atmosphere to promote branch growth and employee satisfaction moving into the future.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"I take a very well rounded approach with my team that is both personable and professional and I've honed this approach through my time and experience as a senior leader. I take the time to get to know my staff and their work preferences so I can effectively delegate work as needed. I know that I am the authority for my team and I always keep an open door policy for them to approach me when needed."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"I consider my management style to be a very adaptive one and I say adaptable in that I am able to cater my approach to each unique team member and each unique situation. I pride myself on promoting a fully functional team environment and I like to allow others to be part of the decision making processes. But when necessary, I can make crucial decisions and communicate those decisions with my team in an educational and firm manner."
4. At First Financial Bank, we pride ourselves on providing the best overall customer experience. Talk about your customer service experience and explain why it will help our clients here.
How to Answer
In the financial services industry, overall client experience is a major predictor of business growth and the team at First Financial Bank takes the overall client experience seriously. For this question, your interviewer will be looking for you to expand upon your customer service experience past what they can see from your resume. To seal the deal for your interview, try to talk about times that you have went above and beyond the call of duty to provide the best service possible for a customer.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Over the past five years in my current role in customer service, my number one mantra has been to create the most personalized experience possibl for each person. I have done this by taking the time to get to know the customer, find out what their needs are and creating an experience unique to them. Where my time in automotive sales has really prepared for this role with First Financial Bank is in this approach. If hired for this role, I know that I will be relied upon to use open and honest communication skills, time management skills and to take a empathetic and personalized approach with each client and I can definitely be relied upon to do that."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In my years in a front facing customer service role, I've prided myself on being the face of the franchise. More often than not, my interactions with customers can be the difference between a repeat customer and a person who never comes back again. To ensure repeat customers, I make sure that I am knowledgeable about our products and services, I'm proactive with their needs and I'm always accountable for any mistakes that are made on my organization's side of things. If given the opportunity to join the team here at First Financial Bank, I will work hard to be highly educated in your services and be proactive and accountable in every interaction that I have."
5. Our clients here at First Financial Bank expect top-tier service and products and we will expect you to do just that in this role. Have you ever went the extra mile for a client when it wasn't expected? Why did you do so?
How to Answer
First Financial Bank looks to set themselves apart from their competition by delivering the best service possible in the industry. You, as a customer service professional, are likely used to doing this so in your example, be sure to think about a time where your going above and beyond the call of duty really impacted the overall customer experience. No matter what example you use, be sure to explain why you felt it was important to take that action and what outcomes you are aware that it produced.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"A couple of years ago when I was working customer service in retail, a customer was looking for what happened to be a discontinued item of clothing for her sick mother. The easy route would have been to simply look it up, tell her it was discontinued and have her be on her way. What I did was take down the customers contact information and let her know that I could contact our person that handled archived products. If we could track it down, I would be in touch. With a simple phone call, my colleague was able to track the item down from the supplier and have it coordinated to ship directly. We put the customer in direct contact with the supplier and she was as happy as could be. Looking back on that situation, I felt that it was the right thing to do given the situation that the customer was in and knowing she was a loyal customer of ours."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"My current role in hospitality often has me working with very high profile customers that come to our hotel. Last year, a touring manager for a musician contacted me regarding and upcoming stay for the musician. I proactively asked for their dining and entertainment preferences and with that list, I was able to work with our catering staff to ensure we had preferred items on the menus for the nights that he stayed and that we had a customized video game package in the musician's room for the his extended stay. Prior to him leaving, his manager reached out to thank me for the great service!"
6. How would you deal with an irate customer?
How to Answer
In the banking industry, keeping customers calm is a much-needed skill. This is where your relaxed demeanor and ability to empathize will come in handy. First Financial Bank wants to hear about a situation where you used your customer service skills to handle an angry customer.
1st Answer Example
"I had a customer complain about having to wait in line for so long on a busy Monday morning. She was so upset because now she was late for work and the rest of her schedule for the day was thrown off. I listened and let her know I understood where she was coming from, ensuring her I would move as quickly as I could to complete her transaction. Listening and empathizing helped her to calm down and ease the tension."
2nd Answer Example
"If I were faced with an irate customer I would spend my time listening to their concerns. Usually, people just want to be heard. If things escalated to the point where the customer became threatening, I would call in a supervisor or security."
7. What is your experience in managing an overall performance appraisal process for your staff?
How to Answer
While your interviewer can see that you have employee management in your experience from your resume, this question is allowing you to really get into detail about what experiences you have in working through a performance appraisal process with your staff in the past. While being open and honest in your experiences, try to highlight your ability to use fair judgement in writing performance appraisals and highlight any technologies that you've used to help manage the performance of your team. As well, don't hesitate to discuss any of the difficult conversations you've had in the past with your staff as First Financial Bank will look to you to be an effective part of this process as their next Branch Manager.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"In my current role, I manage a team of 13 employees and our policy is to conduct appraisals near a staff member's hire anniversary. I'm a firm believer that writing an appraisal takes preparation throughout the year by documenting performance. When it comes time to writing the appraisal, we use an online performance management system that makes organizing details within the appraisal really nice. I always block time on my calendar to take the time needed to focus on putting detail to paper and don't rush through it because feedback is so important to improving the performance of my entire team."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"As you can see from my resume, I have over 10 years of management experience and within that experience, I have a lot of experience in the performance appraisal processes for my staff. I take the approach of using a fact and documented based approach with my staff rather than personal opinion. Being in a very volatile and high turnover industry right now, evaluating my staff on tangible factors is very important. Throughout my career as a manager, I've had to have many difficult conversations with staff that were put on performance improvement plans based on their annual reviews and am comfortable having these conversations in a professional, yet personal manner."
8. Out of all of our products at First Financial Bank, which one would you be most likely to use? Why?
How to Answer
Learn as much as you can about what makes First Financial Bank stand out above other financial institutions. Their reputation is their customer service. They offer a comprehensive spectrum of financial products, so if you are interested in investments, find out more about what they offer. Knowledge is power! It will impress your interviewer and give you an advantage in the interview process!
1st Answer Example
"I would be interested in opening a savings account through First Financial Bank. I want to buy a house in the next two years, and I would greatly benefit from talking to one of your financial advisors about it. It's nice to know that I can do my banking, investing, and get a loan in the same place that offers the support I will need to make those big decisions!"
2nd Answer Example
"Of all your products, I would be most likely to open a mortgage with First Financial Bank because your rates are incredible and you make the rules surrounding lending easy to understand."
9. What are your top three strengths? How will you use them to make an impact at First Financial Bank?
How to Answer
Reviewing the job description and the company website will give you some direction on which qualities First Financial Bank values most. Share your most valuable strengths. Think about them within the context of the position. You can refer to the list of responsibilities within the job description as a guide. Explain how your strengths will help you to accomplish these tasks; and better yet, help you to exceed expectations.
1st Answer Example
"I have exceptional attention to detail and great communication skills. I am also quick to solve problems, which helps me handle customer issues with ease. These strengths will help me to build relationships and maintain customer satisfaction."
2nd Answer Example
"I plan to make an impact at First Financial Bank through my strong customer service skills, my excellent negotiation skills, and my ability to call on referrals for new business."
10. Give me an example of how you keep track of details while engaging in conversation.
How to Answer
Multi-tasking is a great skill to have within the banking industry. Share a situation that demonstrates your ability to handle the daily tasks of a busy banking environment.
1st Answer Example
"A customer came into the branch with multiple requests. To ensure that I addressed each of their needs, I wrote down a few notes for myself to gather the information. This was also helpful because when I needed to answer the phone in the middle of the transaction, I didn't forget any of the important details and I was able to resolve both requests promptly. All the while, I kept the customer engaged and made sure their banking experience was enjoyable."
2nd Answer Example
"To keep track of transaction details, while engaging in conversation, I will ask the customer questions or repeat what they are saying to me. This helps me to commit their needs to memory while still appearing engaged, and in the moment."
11. If a client here at First Financial Bank were to be denied the financing that they desire, how would you handle that situation?
How to Answer
As a Loan Officer at First Financial Bank, you will have times where you will have to have the difficult conversation with prospective clients that are being denied financing. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you take a professional approach with the clients and that you have a firm understanding of the regulations surrounding loans in the industry. To seal the deal for this question, talk about your ability to educate the client to better the chances that they will come back to First Financial Bank for business in the future.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"This is a very common occurrence in my current role in the mortgage industry. When a client is denied financing, I am very up front and honest with them in my approach. The most important thing that a customer wants to understand is why financing is denied and my experience in the finance industry lends well to me explaining the importance of credit scores and debt to equity ratios. I have found that customers that are denied financing really take well to my approach and I have had many customers come back after doing the personal work needed to improve and succeed in their application process."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"Life as a successful Loan Officer is about being knowledgeable and professional and I pride myself on my ability to project both of those things. In the times I need to personally decline a potential customer, I am firm and fair with them. I don't beat around the bush in any way because this can leave a customer with a false sense of hope. Taking the time to explain the regulations for the loan in layman's terms often helps customers understand things better as well."
12. In the banking industry, customer service is essential. Give me an example of a time when you provided excellent customer service.
How to Answer
Think about what customer service means to you. Making the customer happy and receiving positive feedback are great examples! First Financial Bank wants to hear that you treat customers with respect and are careful to resolve issues. Explain some of the elements of customer service that you possess, like empathy and patience.
1st Answer Example
"I was working as a bank teller when a woman came in, upset about her account. I could tell she needed to vent and I wasn't quite sure what the actual problem was, so I listened first. Then I asked questions to figure out what was going on. She was so appreciative of me because I was able to think on my feet and troubleshoot to solve the problem quickly. She even apologized for raising her voice and thanked me for my patience."
2nd Answer Example
"In my current position as a bank teller, customers are encouraged to provide feedback via a survey app, after each in-branch visit. For the past three months, I have received the highest ranking for overall customer satisfaction. Delivering excellent customer service is a must for me, and I look forward to bringing this level of service to the customers at First Financial Bank."
13. Tell me about a time when you demonstrated you were trustworthy.
How to Answer
To show First Financial Bank that you are reliable share an example from your work experience that is relevant to the position.
1st Answer Example
"In my last role, I was responsible for reconciling the banking at the end of the day. Last month, there was an overage, and I demonstrated my true character by reporting this to the management. Together, we partnered to research where this happened and collaborated to coach the team member who caused the error. We adjusted the accounts accordingly."
2nd Answer Example
"Every successful day in the banking industry is an opportunity to show that I am trustworthy. In my five years within banking, I have never been involved in a discrepancy."
14. The banking industry is built on trust and this is no different at First Financial Bank. Do other people you have worked closely with consider you to be trustworthy?
How to Answer
While the easy route for this question would be to simply answer yes and move on, your interviewer will be looking for you to talk about a specific situation or two where you proved your ability to be trusted in the workplace. Take the time to think about a time where trust was instilled in your beyond your normal job duties and explain the situation to your interviewer. Be sure to explain why the situation was important, what you learned from it and how it helps you be seen as a more trustworthy candidate for this role at First Financial Bank. In the end, remember that the ability to be trusted as a Teller with First Financial Bank is one of the premier qualities that your interviewer will be looking for in an ideal candidate for the role.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"If you were to ask any former colleague or manager that I have worked with, they would all say that I am worthy of any trust you would instill in me. In my current role, my manager has given me the duty of physically transporting our daily bank deposits and has given me a set of office keys and the code to the security system as a backup to our management staff. In my five years with the organization, I have proved myself to be trusted with these duties through my error free work, great attendance record and honesty."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"I have always put it on myself to try and cross-train and learn as many roles with companies that I have worked with in the past. As well, I've always strived to become an expert on all total process at any given job. Because of this extra effort, my current manager has asked me to be a department representative on a few different committees in my current organization. As well, I've also been asked to lead a few process improvement projects within our department. My manager has directly told me that I was asked to take on these extra responsibilities because of the trust that he has in my work ethic and my overall knowledge of our organization. If lucky enough to come work for First Financial Bank, I would bring this same attitude to the team here."
15. What is one unique skill that you will bring to our loan processing team here at First Financial Bank?
How to Answer
Throughout your application process and candidate vetting process, you were brought into interview because your interview was confident that you had the basic skills and knowledge required to handle this job. Now, your interviewer is giving you the opportunity to set yourself apart from your competition with this question. As you prepare for this type of question, try to think of a unique skill that you have that can prove to be a big asset if First Financial Bank offers you the job. In your answer, be sure to explain why this skill applies to this role.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"I think the one skill that I have that sets me ahead of the rest running for this position is my experience and success in the world of sales. As you can see from my resume, my career out of college started in auto sales. In my five years of sales, I worked my up from Associate Sales to a Sales Team Lead at my dealership. Getting to know and master the sales side of the business has really helped me on the finance side with overall knowledge of the business and developing the skills needed to upsell customers on their loans."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"As you can see from my experience, I have extensive leadership experience in leading teams of up to 12 employees and I also have remote working experience. Both of these duties have really given me confidence in my decision making abilities. If hired for this position, I would be able to hit the ground running on day one and be trusted with critical decisions where you might not have that ability with other candidates that don't have leadership experience."
16. What is the highest level of mathematics that you completed during any of your schooling?
How to Answer
Working as a Teller for First Financial Bank will require you to have pretty basic math skills and the ability to count cash in an accurate and efficient manner. For this question, your interview will be looking to hear that you have completed at least some levels of high school math and did so with ease. In your answer, while you discuss what levels of math that you have completed during your education, be sure to explain how your mathematical skills will be able to apply to the job that you are interviewing for. Make sure that your interviewer walks away from your conversation confident in your abilities.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"As you can see from my resume, I have an Associate's Degree in Marketing and during my coursework at XYZ Technical College, I took both college level statistics and financial accounting courses. With both of these classes, I am confident in my ability to handle and count large sums of cash and also operate account software if required for the job here at First Financial Bank."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"During my final year of high school a few years ago, I completed my final semester of Algebra II with an A- grade. Through my years of Algebra I and Algebra II during high school and with my retail experience prior to this interview, I feel comfortable with all of the accounting related duties that I would handle in this role with First Financial Bank."
17. What has been the most stressful situation that you faced in the workplace and what did you do to ensure that you navigated that situation successfully?
How to Answer
At times, the work at First Financial Bank can get stressful in a customer facing role and this question is giving your interviewer insight to how you will be able to handle the stress that will potentially come in this role if you are hired. In your answer, speak openly and honestly to your interviewer by explaining the situation that you were in and why it was stressful to you. Then, talk in detail about the things that you did to work through the situation to make sure that there was a positive outcome. While answering, try to give your interviewer the sense that you are not easily stressed out on the job and are able to work through high pressure situations with ease.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Last year, my staff of nine people was brought down to five people with one termination and three other resignations in a short period of time. Given that recruiting new staff in my current field can be difficult, we worked at almost 50% staffing for two months. To avoid burnout, our manager decided the best route was to only have two of our staff on shift at a time when we would normally have three to four on at a time. This is where work became the most stressful. For me, keeping upbeat, positive and focused on all of my duties was what helped me through each work day. I really appreciated the fact that we didn't need to double our work hours during this time and my remaining team members ended up navigating this period with great success."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"A couple of years ago, my current company purchased my previous employer and there were many unknowns surrounding my job and my job duties moving forward when it was announced that the company was being sold. When I saw a lot of my coworkers in distress, I took the direction of trying to lead by example with a positive attitude. From the start, I began asking a lot of questions to our managers to try and become as educated as possible on the changes that were coming. I also tried to hear the concerns of my colleagues as well and tried to a be a reassuring person for them. In the end, the transition was great for me and I have my positive and inquisitive attitude to thank for that. During the process, one close colleague did leave the company in fear of what would happen and they still regret that decision to this day."
18. If hired for this role here at First Financial Bank, how would you manage your daily tasks on the job to ensure that your work is completed in a timely and efficient manner?
How to Answer
Your interviewer is posing this question to gain insight into how you use resources and technologies to keep you on track in your work and to also get a sense for how you prioritize the small details in the work that you do. As you answer the question, be very specific as you describe your ability to multitask many duties throughout a given work day and talk about the tools that you use to keep yourself on track in your work. As you talk about this process for yourself, don't lose sight of your focus on the small details in your work and discuss why doing things in detail is important in the work that you do. Make sure to talk about real world examples that you've used in the past that you feel would be helpful in this role as a Teller with First Financial Bank.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"I consider myself to be highly organized in my work and I do this by using my calendar
and task functions within Microsoft Outlook. I schedule time each day for my daily tasks and it doesn't take me very long to have a quick understanding for how much time is needed to complete the routine tasks on a daily basis. I always make sure to allow for enough time for each task to be done as thoroughly as possible. Then, for the tasks that pop up from time to time, I always make sure that I add those to my to do list quickly."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In my current role, I print a daily checklist of my duties and begin working on that list as soon as my day starts. Some of the tasks have a prerequisite task that day, so I have my checklist prioritized by needs from the top. I have found this method to be extremely useful in helping me make sure that my duties are handled each and every day and I wouldn't hesitate to utilize something similar if hired for this role with First Financial Bank"
19. Have you ever had to work with a difficult colleague? How did you handle that situation?
How to Answer
A potential job with First Financial Bank will put you in a branch office that has many different people, with many different personalities, working in one place at one time. It is simple human nature for their to be conflict within a workplace like this and your interviewer is looking to hear how you personally manage interpersonal conflicts with your coworkers by asking this question. As you answer, be sure to use a real life situation and talk open and honestly about how you handled the situation. Try to focus on the positive things you did to make things work out and make sure that the situation you describe ends with a positive results. In the end, your interviewer is looking to hear that you can be a true team player no matter who you work with.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"In my current job, I am paired in a small office with a colleague that can be rather difficult at times. We handle a lot of work over the phone and he can be very loud and boisterous at times. On top of that, he can tend to get very upset following certain phone calls with clients. When first hired and paired in an office with him, I was taken aback by his behavior and remained quiet. One day, at the advice of our manager, I simply talked to my colleague and told him that I would be very thankful if he could tone his voice down in our office and to try and use more healthy ways of handling anger on the job. In the end, this was an approach I should've used right away as he thanked me for the feedback and told me that his old officemate was the same as him regarding how they handled frustration. With him knowing that I didn't care for that approach, he vowed to be better moving forward and things are great to this day."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"First and foremost, I consider myself a great team player and any of my current or past coworkers would echo that same thought. While I do work great in teams, conflict among people is always inevitable and I feel that I excel in working with difficult teammates. A couple of years ago, I was on a project team with a person that tried to take over meetings with their own thoughts on processes moving forward and wouldn't budge for other people's ideas. After seeing a few of our team members become visibly frustrated during our first gather, I took it upon myself to talk with this person face to face. The person became very confrontational with me and ended up berating the overall knowledge of the members of the team. I decided that I would let that conversation sink in with the individual and see how the next meeting the following week went. When the belittling and combative behavior continued, I approached the project lead the next day to see what could be done. While the difficult decision was made to remove that person from our project team, I have no regrets in the approach I took because it was good for the overall health of the team."
20. How would you handle communication with a customer that was visibly upset?
How to Answer
In this position with First Financial Bank, you may be faced with a customer that is upset and/or mad at the situation they are in. Because of the shoes you will be filling as a Teller, you will be expected to help deescalate the situation through solid and effective verbal communication with the customer. As you answer this question, talk about your ability to remain calm, cool and collected in any situation and explain how you take an empathetic approach with any person that you will work with in this role. If you have an example of a time that you were faced with this situation, don't hesitate to walk your interviewer through that situation and how you handled it.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"Having worked in customer facing roles for my entire career, I have handled many angry customers and feel I have a great method in the way that I communicate with them. First, I start by hearing them out and letting them vent in any means that they want. From there, I calmly repeat back the key points and then begin brainstorming solutions for them. By maintaining a calm demeanor during these situations, angry customers are often able to calm down rather quickly. After I understand the customer's needs, I take all steps necessary to help solve their problem. If this entails bringing in another colleague, I don't hesitate to do so in a team based approach."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"When this happens in my current role, I make sure that any other duties I am currently working on are put on hold so I can give full attention to that customer. Last week, I was the only person on staff handling a busy lobby when a customer came in very upset with a vehicle that they had just purchased. I immediately put the phones on hold to take the time to listen to their concerns. After hearing the causes of their frustration, I had them wait in our lobby and I went and talked to our Sales Manager. He made time for the customer immediately. In these instances, providing swift action to help alleviate any further issues is the most important thing that can be done."
21. Tell me about your experience in the banking industry.
How to Answer
Share details of your banking experience to show First Financial Bank you have what it takes to be successful in the field!
1st Answer Example
"When I worked as a bank teller, I learned how to deal with difficult customers and handle a variety of transactions, from ordering foreign money for travel to removing overdraft fees and educating customers on our products. I used my careful attention to detail to keep my drawer balanced and manage my daily tasks without error."
2nd Answer Example
"I have 12 years of experience in the banking industry, first as an administrative assistant, then a bank teller, and now; a financial advisor. I have learned a great deal along the way and look forward to putting my experience to work for First Financial Bank."
22. What experience do you have in multitasking different duties in any of your prior work experiences?
How to Answer
As a Teller with First Financial Bank, you will be relied upon to have excellent organizational skills when handling multiple tasks throughout each workday. Oftentimes, customers can have multiple transactions that must be process and your job will be to ensure that the needs of the customer are handled accurately and efficiently. To gauge your ability to handle this, your interviewer is looking for you to describe a time that you had to be a great multitasker on the job. As you answer this question, be sure to point out the organizational skills that you used to ensure that all of your duties were handled with ease. If you are a new graduate, it is okay to talk about multitasking in your school or personal life as long as you see it is relevant to proving how you can utilize those same skills in this role.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"In my current role as an Administrative Assistant, I often am juggling multiple tasks at one time. While handling schedule coordination for five different managers at my company, I'm also working on setting up many different organization wide meetings where I'm required to send multiple communications out at the same time. To keep myself organized when handling many things at once, I utilize both my Outlook calendar and a written checklist to ensure that all tasks are getting done in a timely manner."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"During my years working in the restaurant industry, I became an expert on handling many tables of customers at once. While juggling the order of all of these customers, I also had the responsibilities of manning the cash register at times. This experience really helped me with accurately recording customer orders on my order pad. I also developed what I would call a multitasking mind by training my brain to keep all of my customers orders at the top of my mind. I think my years in that industry will translate well to the Teller role here at First Financial Bank"
23. Due to the continued explosion of the digital world, First Financial Bank is becoming more virtual on a day to day basis. What job duties would you see as being fluent in this role as a Teller with us?
How to Answer
As banks have adjusted the way they do business over time to suit the needs of customers that are becoming more automated and mobile, the traditional Teller job description has certainly changed with the advancements in technology. With this question, your interview is simply looking to gauge how flexible you would be if hired for this role because First Financial Bank will be relying on the person hired this role to be highly adaptable in a changing work environment. As you answer, let your interviewer know that you are aware of how rapidly the banking industry is changing and give examples of a time or two you had to be flexible in your own job duties. Then, really put thought into what you feel are ways that the traditional Teller job role has changed and will continue to change over time.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"As my own personal banking has certainly changed to the point where I hardly visit a bank lobby any more and take care of more things online, I would venture to guess that a Teller is face to face a lot less with customers than they used to be and handling more job duties over the phone and online with customers. I would envision that on top of traditional withdrawals and deposits, Tellers at First Financial Bank are also seen as advisors to customers when it comes to different products within the bank. If hired for this role, I would be excited to be flexible and learn new duties to become a more complete member of the team here at First Financial Bank. In my current role as a Customer Service Rep, I've had to be very fluid in my job duties."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"In my current role as a Teller, I've been very adaptable over the last couple of years as my current institution moved a lot of services to a virtual format. I've received extensive training on ATM troubleshooting for customers using the ATM in our parking lot. I've also been trained on our branch kiosks and tablets that customers use for loan applications and other transactions. But because many of our elderly customers still prefer traditional in-person transactions, I've never lost my touch as a traditional Teller. If hired here at First Financial Bank, I'd look forward to being a flexible Teller that is willing to adapt with changes moving forward."
24. In your opinion, what are the benefits of banking with First Financial Bank?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to be assured that you have done your research on First Financial Bank. Review their website to find out more about their products and services.
1st Answer Example
"I always have a great experience whenever I visit one of your branches. As a customer of First Financial Bank I am impressed by the consistency and care of the bank tellers. I also love how easy it is to access my account online and make updates to my credit card whenever I travel. The level of service that is demonstrated in First Financial Bank values is evident."
2nd Answer Example
"After researching First Financial Bank products, and what your customers are saying, I believe that the benefits of banking with First Financial Bank include low fees, no fuss banking, and no sales pitches. Your organization is genuine and has an interest far beyond the bottom line."
25. How would you rate your ability to learn new software programs on a scale of 1 to 10?
How to Answer
In today's digital age, a majority of bank transactions are handled through digital software and for you to be successful in this role, your interviewer will expect you to be a very fast learner of any new programs that you would be required to work with at First Financial Bank. To give your interviewer a sense of how well you would be able to do this, talk about times where you've had to learn new software programs on the job in the past and talk about your best methods for learning on the job. As well, you can openly talk about the programs that you currently feel that you are proficient at as well to give them an idea of what type of training you would need if hired.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"I would say that my ability to learn new software programs is easily ranked as an 8. I am very proficient at word processing programs and the entire Microsoft Suite of products. I'm also very proficient at the cloud based point of sale program that I use in my current role. When hired at my current job, I need about a day of side by side training with my mentor and I was up and running with no problems. I rated myself an 8 simply because I have room to grow in learning software in the banking industry but feel very comfortable in my ability to learn quickly if hired at First Financial Bank."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"I would honestly rate myself a 9 for this question solely based on my prior history of mastering programs with my current banking institution. During my five years in my current role, I began by training on SAP programs and was able to pick up and run in my role as a Teller very quickly. Recently, we made an institution wide switch to the Oracle suite and my transition there was very smooth!"
26. We pride ourselves on teamwork here at First Financial Bank and this role in Client Services relies on teamwork. What are the top qualities you would bring to a team based atmosphere here?
How to Answer
At the heart of this question falls your interviewers need to determine how well you will work with others on the team at First Financial Bank. You will be working with high level advisors and managers that are under a lot of pressure to perform in their jobs and your communications with them will either alleviate some of that stress or add to it. To ensure that your interviewer walks away from your conversation knowing that you are a team player that keeps the end goals of the company in mind, focus your answer on your effective communication skills, your knowledge of everyone's role on the team and your knowledge of what your role on the team will be.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"As with any team that I have worked on in the past, my priority is knowing that everyone has an important piece in the overall success of the team. In customer service, this is knowing who to contact with the right questions and who to guide customers to when needed. This ensures that our work is done efficiently on our end of things and that our customers are handled efficiently and effectively. If hired here at First Financial Bank, my first goal would be to get to know everyone on the team that I would work with, what their roles are and how to best communicate with them."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"My top quality is my ability to communicate, both verbally and through writing. I have excellent interpersonal speaking and listening skills and my past colleagues have always appreciated this. Here at First Financial Bank, your clients would appreciate this in my work as well. I am a very efficient and effective written communicator as well and this would be very beneficial at a company like First Financial Bank, where your offices are spread throughout the country and I can imagine that email communication is vitally important."
27. If hired for this role with First Financial Bank, how would you handle a large workload of clients working through a mortgage process?
How to Answer
At the heart of this question, your interviewer is looking to find out how you manage a busy workload by having you talk about your organization skills on the job. In your answer, talk about the skills you have and the tools that you use to stay organized and on-track while handling a large workload. Don't hesitate to talk about the software programs that you use and any other tactics that you use to ensure that all deadlines are met and no issues occur with clients because of too large of a workload. In the end, your interviewer wants to walk away from this question knowing that you'll be able to provide top notch service to the clients of First Financial Bank.
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
1st Answer Example
"In my current role, I'm able to handle a very large workload with my ability to stay organized on the job. If you could take a tour of my office, you'd see that I maintain a neat and clean desk with a very organized file cabinet of my current workload. If I need to shift gears and move on to work with another client, I can easily access information on the fly and keep moving. I also utilize my Outlook calendar to set deadline reminders to stay on track of closing deadlines and paperwork requirements and the tasks function within the program helps me stay right on track with all of my clients I am working with at a given time."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 25th, 2020
2nd Answer Example
"During my time working a large client load as a mortgage consultant, my success was due to my efficiency and organization on the job. If hired for this role with First Financial Bank, my efficiency would be very high because of my experience with the entire mortgage loan closing process and my ability to handle certain challenges quickly with that experience. From there, my organizational skills within the loan process software I have experience with kick in to help me keep each client on track with their loan process."