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How to become a bank or building society customer adviser

Customer advisers help people with their bank accounts, payments, savings and other products — in a branch, by phone or online.

You could work for a bank, a building society or another financial company. Personal banker and contact centre adviser are related job titles.

You do not need a degree. You could start through an apprenticeship or apply directly, and you must pass background and usually credit checks.

  • No degree needed
  • Background checks
  • Earn while learning possible

2 routes into this career

Each route is a real, published way in. None is guaranteed, and requirements vary by employer. Select up to 3 to compare side by side.

  • Route AApprenticeship

    Financial services customer adviser apprenticeship (Level 3)

    For those who want to start in a bank or building society after school or college, with training paid for.

    Starting requirements

    • You apply for an apprenticeship job; each employer sets its own entry requirements
    • The National Careers Service says advanced apprenticeships usually ask for 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 including English and maths, or equivalent
    • You must pass enhanced background checks, and most employers run a credit check

    Pathway outline

    1. Apply for a Financial services customer adviser (Level 3) apprenticeship
    2. Work and train; your employer and the government pay for the training
    3. Help customers in a branch, by phone or online
    4. Complete the end-point assessment
    5. Stay on as a customer adviser or specialise
    Estimated duration
    About 18 months
    How we estimate this

    Find apprenticeship training lists Financial services customer adviser (Level 3) at 18 months.

    Estimated direct study costs
    Up to £11,000 of training (funding band maximum), paid for youPaid up front by you: £0 — training and assessment are fundedApprentices do not pay for training or assessment. Change the assumptions in Compare costs.
    When you can start earning
    From day one — apprentices are employees and are paid a wage.

    Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026 · Availability varies

  • Route BWork + study

    Apply directly, with training on the job

    For school leavers and career changers with customer service, office or cash-handling experience who want to start straight away.

    Starting requirements

    • GCSEs or equivalent in English and maths, plus computer and keyboard skills
    • Experience in customer service, office work or processing payments helps; some employers set assessment tasks
    • You must pass enhanced background checks, and most employers run a credit check

    Pathway outline

    1. Apply directly to banks, building societies or other financial firms
    2. Pass the employer's assessments and background checks
    3. Train on the job
    4. Build experience with customers and products
    5. Specialise or move up with more training
    Estimated duration
    You can start straight away; training is on the job
    How we estimate this

    The National Careers Service lists direct application with on-the-job training. There is no set course length; 1 month is shown only as the shortest possible start, not a typical time.

    Estimated direct study costs
    £0Paid up front by you: £0Published fees only, at the lower and upper ends of official ranges. Training provider fees are extra. Change the assumptions in Compare costs.
    When you can start earning
    From day one.

    Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026 · Availability varies

Choose “View full journey” on a route to see every step, cost and source.

Good to know

Related careers — not the same as a bank or building society customer adviser

Each of these is a separate career with its own entry rules.

Questions people ask

Why is there a credit check?

The National Careers Service says most employers check you have no outstanding debts that could bar you from financial services work, alongside enhanced background checks.

Can I move on to financial advice?

Yes, you could. With further training you could specialise in mortgages, insurance, pensions or investments, or train as a financial adviser, which needs an FCA-appropriate Level 4 qualification.

Sources

Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026. Every fee and requirement on this page links to one of these.

UK reference: median full-time pay for all employees was £39,039 in April 2025 (ONS ASHE, provisional).

Compare routes side by side