How to Become a

Bank Courier

The complete career guide to be a Bank Courier: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started.

Why We Love It

  • $29,130
    Potential Avg. Salary
  • 5.2%
    Job Growth Rate
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook
  • Dependable Daily Workload
    Career Attribute

Bank couriers work for banking institutions and transport money and important documents between banks and other businesses. They typically drive armored cars and work with a partner. Because they transport valuables, bank couriers may be required to carry a weapon and be trained in self-defense.

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What is a Bank Courier?

The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in bank courier roles:

  • Transport money, documents, and valuables between banks and other businesses
  • Drive an armored car to make deliveries and pickups
  • Collect customer signatures for retrieved and delivered packages
  • Use weapons and/or self-defense techniques to protect self, partner, and transported valuables when necessary
  • Drive through varying weather conditions and different types of traffic

A Day in the Life

Bank couriers work for banks and play an important role in transporting and collecting money, documents, and other valuables. They drive armored cars that are large and designed to provide an extra layer of protection for couriers and the valuables they transport, and they generally work with a partner for added protection. They may pick up and transport large amounts of money from businesses and smaller banks to a bank’s main branch, or they may deliver large amounts of money to businesses.

Because they transport large sums of money, bank couriers can be targets for thieves. As such, they usually need to be trained in self-defense, and may need to carry pepper spray, a gun, or another type of weapon. Working with a partner helps to protect bank couriers because it enables two sets of eyes at all times keeping an eye out for suspicious behavior or activity. However, though driving an armored car can make bank couriers targets of thieves, the role is usually a relatively safe one because drivers work during the daylight and make deliveries in well-populated areas.

Bank couriers generally receive their schedule of deliveries when they arrive to work each morning. They must be adept drivers because they’re required to drive in many different types of traffic and weather conditions. A thorough knowledge of the delivery area can be helpful for bank couriers so that alternate routes can be taken when traffic blocks their path to a delivery or pickup.

Typical Work Schedule

Most bank carrier roles are full-time and conducted during normal banking hours. Bank couriers typically work during the day, during the week, and are off for all major holidays.

Typical Employers

Bank couriers are hired to work for banks. Some of the most common employers include the big four banking chains: J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup. Bank couriers may also work for banking courier services, like Brinks and American Courier.

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How To Become a Bank Courier

Bank couriers do not need any postsecondary certificates or degrees to qualify for their position, though a professional work history that includes security work is usually preferred. In addition to a history of security work, it’s helpful if bank couriers have received professional training in self-defense and are licensed to carry a weapon. This training may be offered by the employer as part of hiring and training benefits, but having training and licensure before applying can be helpful in securing a position.

Because bank couriers drive for a living and carry large sums of money, banks must be assured that couriers are adept drivers and trustworthy individuals. Bank couriers usually have to undergo thorough background checks, and may also need to undergo a credit check. Individuals with large amounts of debt and incomes that do not support debt repayment can be a red flag for a bank when hiring a bank courier. Additionally, bank couriers will need to have a clean driving record to show they’re good drivers.

Bank couriers may also have some administrative responsibilities and frequently interact with bank customers, so coursework in business can be advantageous. Courses at a community or vocational college can help teach aspiring bank couriers skills that will be valuable on the job, including computer skills, customer service skills, and organizational skills.


Bank Courier Salary Data

We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.

National Anual Salary

Low Range

$21,670

Average

$29,130

High Range

$43,740

National Hourly Wage

Low Range

$10/hr

Average

$14/hr

High Range

$21/hr

How do Bank Courier salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Bank Courier's can make an average annual salary of $29,130, or $14 per hour. This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make $21,670 or $10 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.

Salary Rankings And Facts

  • #716 Nationally for All Careers


Highest Education Among Bank Couriers

  • 0.3%   Doctorate
  • 1.6%   Masters
  • 11.5%   Bachelors
  • 10%   Associates
  • 32.2%   College
  • 36.8%   High School
  • 7.5%   Less than High School

Job Growth Projections and Forecast

2014 Total Jobs

92,900

2024 Est. Jobs

97,700

Job Growth Rate

5.2%

Est. New Jobs

4,800

How does Bank Courier job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 4,800 jobs for a total of 97,700 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 5.2% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.

Growth Rankings And Facts

  • #429 Nationally for All Careers


What Companies Employ The Most Bank Couriers

Industry Current Jobs New Jobs Needed % Increase
Self-employed workers 18,200 -600 -1%
Local messengers and local delivery 10,300 400 0%
Medical and diagnostic laboratories 9,600 3,300 3%

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