Rights Of Drawer And Payee

Then, after thus looking after the interests of his bank, the teller has to give consideration to the drawer of the cheque and the payee. As the bank is acting as fiscal agent for the drawer of the cheque the teller should not, by word, manner, or action, unnecessarily give the payee the impression that the drawer of the cheque is held in small esteem by the bank. That would be un-gentlemanly, impolitic, and unfair. The cheques of wealthy customers are accorded every respect. Those of smaller men, who conduct their accounts properly, should be given the same.

As for the payee, the consideration given him consists in meeting his convenience and wishes as far as they can be met reasonably and safely; and in giving a courteous attention to his business.

Payments To Big Customers

Besides these cheques presented by the payees, there are, at every branch, perhaps every day, cheques for round amounts presented by the makers thereof for cash to take or send into the country to buy cattle, other live stock, or produce, to pay wages in the lumbering camps or in factories, etc. The customer himself, or a trusted employee of his, presents the cheque. Marked on the back of it, or on an accompanying slip of paper, will be the denominations required. When the extensions and additions have been checked, to make sure that the total agrees with the amount of the cheque, the cash is counted out and handed over.

Sometimes customers bring or send in cheques for amounts to be sent by the bank to certain addresses. In this event the customer's instructions are taken in writing, with the double object of guarding against mistakes and against possible repudiation by him. In sending these parcels, as well as all others, the only way the teller can protect himself from fraudulent or mistaken claims for shortage, made by the recipients of the parcels, is to have his count checked and his closing and sealing of the packages watched by a fellow-officer, who goes on record in the parcel book, specifically in each case, as having done this.

In The Event Of Overpayment

For tellers to mark on the back of each cheque paid, the number and denomination of the bills given for it is quite a common practice. The practice is to be commended, as it serves several purposes. It helps materially in hunting for a shortage in the cash balance; and in the event of over-payment it would have some weight, even in a court of law, in establishing the fact.

There are plenty of other kinds of payments to be made during the course of each day: withdrawals from the savings department, payments of interest on, or of the principal, of deposit receipts, payment of drafts drawn on the bank by other branches and by other banks, payment for remittances or cheques on other points, or for United States or sterling exchange purchased.

Handling The Rushes

In some seasons there are regular rushes to be handled, in which the space in front of the teller's counter, or perhaps the whole space allotted to the public, is crowded for several hours at a time with customers to be attended to. The teller who allows himself to be stampeded or flustered by these is extremely liable to lose money, or at best to get badly mixed in his balancing. Cool-headedness, evenness of temper, and concentration of attention, are essentials under these circumstances. The experienced man does not allow his gaze to wander over the crowd, or his mind to dwell on the number of people waiting for him.

He concentrates upon the one man directly in front of his wicket, attends carefully, and as quickly as may be, to him; finishes that business and puts it away; then concentrates on the next man; and so on till he finds ultimately that the rush is over, the crowd melted away, and all that is left is a larger than usual stack of cheques and vouchers to put through his books, a bigger than usual hole in his cash on hand. Though a rush is exhilarating while it lasts, 'tis work at high pressure; some natures do not wear well under it.