Checklist template

Cash drawer and vault controls for bank branches

A ready-to-use checklist with 112 items in 6 sections, covering Drawer limits, Dual control, Vault counts, Shipments, Surprise counts, Records. Use it as-is in InspectLoop, or adapt it to your own standards in minutes.

  • 6 Sections
  • 112 Items
  • 89 Yes / No checks
  • 6 Scored ratings
  • 119 Points

Use this template How audits work

1. Drawer limits 18 items

  1. Each teller has a written cash limit for the drawer, signed by the branch manager Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The system balance of each teller drawer sampled is at or below its limit Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Cash at the window (top drawer) is within the counter limit set by company policy, with the excess in the locked second drawer Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Today's vault buy and sell tickets show tellers selling excess cash to the vault during the day Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The drive-up teller drawer is within the lower limit set for drive-up stations Yes / No 1 pt
  6. The balance of each teller cash recycler or dispenser is within the limit set for the machine Yes / No 1 pt
  7. ATM cassettes were last loaded with no more than the amount set for this ATM Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Total branch cash on hand is at or below the branch limit Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Days when the branch limit was exceeded in the last 30 days have a written approval on file Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Each teller works only from the drawer assigned to that teller Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Cash passed between two tellers is recorded in the system and counted by both Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Notes of the largest denominations beyond the day's need are kept in the vault, not in drawers Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Foreign currency held by tellers is within the limit set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Tellers observed locked their drawer each time they stepped away from the window Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Tellers in their probation period work with the lower drawer limit set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Number of teller drawers checked against their limit Number
  17. Number of drawers found over their limit Number
  18. Compliance with drawer limits Rating
    • Every drawer sampled within its limit 5 pts
    • One drawer over, corrected during the visit 3 pts
    • Two or more over, or limits not assigned 1 pt

2. Dual control 18 items

  1. Reserve cash is kept in a vault compartment that needs two employees to open Yes / No 1 pt
  2. No single employee holds everything needed to reach the reserve cash alone Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Two employees were present each time the reserve cash compartment was opened today Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Both employees stay at the compartment until it is locked again Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The reserve cash compartment was found locked when not being worked Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Override functions on the teller cash recycler require a second employee's user ID Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Vault buys and sells are counted by a vault custodian and by the teller, and both initial the ticket Yes / No 1 pt
  8. ATM cassettes are loaded and emptied by two employees who both sign the ATM balancing sheet Yes / No 1 pt
  9. The cash recycler safe is opened and emptied by two employees together Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Each currency strap carries the date and the stamp or initials of the employee who counted it Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Straps added to reserve cash are verified by a second employee before they are put away Yes / No 1 pt
  12. The list of employees assigned to dual control duties matches the current staff roster Yes / No 1 pt
  13. A named backup covers dual control when a custodian is at lunch or absent Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The pairing of vault custodians is rotated on the schedule set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  15. The drawer of an absent or departed teller is counted by two employees before it is reassigned Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Cash on a cart or tray outside the vault was never left unattended during the visit Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Large amounts are counted in the vault or back counting area, out of customer view Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Dual control as observed during the visit Rating
    • Kept at every step observed 5 pts
    • One lapse, corrected when pointed out 3 pts
    • Reserve cash handled by one person 1 pt

3. Vault counts 19 items

  1. Vault cash was counted and balanced to the general ledger at the close of the last business day Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The vault balancing sheet records the count by denomination Yes / No 1 pt
  3. The vault balancing sheet is signed by both employees who counted Yes / No 1 pt
  4. A full piece count of strapped notes was done within the period set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Sealed bundles from the cash center have intact seals Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Boxed and bagged coin is counted and included in the vault total Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Unfit and mutilated notes are held apart from fit notes and included in the count Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Vault cash is stored by denomination, with straps stacked in rows that can be counted at a glance Yes / No 1 pt
  9. The vault cash holds no IOU, personal check or other paper standing in for cash Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Returned checks and other cash items held in the vault are within the age allowed by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  11. The ATM was balanced on its schedule and the last balancing sheet shows no unexplained difference Yes / No 1 pt
  12. The cash recycler was balanced on its schedule and its totals agree with the system Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Differences found at vault counts in the last 90 days were researched and reported the same day Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The inspector's count of vault cash during the visit agreed with the system balance Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Vault cash balance per the system at the time of the count (dollars) Number
  16. Vault cash counted by the inspector (dollars) Number
  17. Difference between the count and the system balance (dollars) Number
  18. Date of the last full piece count of the vault Date
  19. Result of the vault count Rating
    • Balanced to the ledger 5 pts
    • Difference found and explained during the visit 3 pts
    • Unexplained difference 1 pt

4. Shipments 19 items

  1. Cash orders are placed only by employees authorized to order, on the branch's order schedule Yes / No 1 pt
  2. No emergency cash order was needed in the last 30 days Yes / No 1 pt
  3. The armored courier's identity is checked against the carrier's list of authorized staff before any bag changes hands Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Bag count and seal numbers of an incoming shipment are checked against the manifest before it is signed Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Incoming bags are opened and counted by two employees on the day they arrive Yes / No 1 pt
  6. An incoming shipment is entered in the vault ledger on the day it is received Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Differences in an incoming shipment are reported to the cash center within the time set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Outgoing shipments are prepared by two employees who both sign the shipment slip Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Outgoing bags are closed with numbered tamper-evident seals and the numbers are written on the slip Yes / No 1 pt
  10. No outgoing bag exceeds the per-bag value set by the carrier contract Yes / No 1 pt
  11. The courier signs for outgoing bags by bag number, and the branch keeps the receipt Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Bags waiting for pickup are locked in the vault, not staged near the back door Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Unfit notes and excess cash are shipped out on schedule so the branch stays within its limit Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The cash center's confirmation of receipt is matched to each outgoing shipment Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Manifests and courier receipts are filed by date Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Shipments are handed over away from the lobby or with customers kept clear of the handover point Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Date of the last incoming cash shipment Date
  18. Number of shipments in the last 30 days with a reported difference Number
  19. Handling of cash shipments Rating
    • Every step documented and under dual control 5 pts
    • Documents complete, one step done alone 3 pts
    • Seals or counts not verified 1 pt

5. Surprise counts 19 items

  1. The log shows each teller drawer surprise-counted at least as often as company policy requires Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The log shows vault cash surprise-counted at least as often as company policy requires Yes / No 1 pt
  3. The log shows the ATM and the cash recycler surprise-counted on the same program Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Surprise counts are done by a supervisor or manager who does not work the cash being counted Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The days and times of surprise counts in the log show no fixed pattern Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Tellers asked say they receive no warning before a surprise count Yes / No 1 pt
  7. The teller is present during the count and signs the count sheet Yes / No 1 pt
  8. A surprise count covers all the teller's cash: top drawer, second drawer, coin and locker Yes / No 1 pt
  9. The counter also checks the drawer for unprocessed transactions, held checks and personal items Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Each count sheet shows the counted total, the system total and the difference Yes / No 1 pt
  11. A difference found at a surprise count is posted as a teller over or short the same day Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Tellers in their probation period are counted more often, per company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  13. The district manager or internal audit performed an independent surprise count within the period set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The inspector's surprise count of one teller drawer during this visit agreed with the system Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Name of the teller whose drawer was counted during this visit Short text
  16. Number of drawers surprise-counted during this visit Number
  17. Total difference found in the drawers counted during this visit (dollars) Number
  18. Date of the most recent surprise count in the log Date
  19. Surprise count program Rating
    • On schedule, unpredictable and documented 5 pts
    • On schedule but predictable or partly documented 3 pts
    • Counts missed or not documented 1 pt

6. Records 19 items

  1. The teller over and short log lists each difference by date, teller and amount Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Differences above the amount set by company policy were reported to the regional office Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Tellers with repeated differences have documented coaching on file Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Differences unresolved after the number of days set by company policy were escalated or charged off with approval Yes / No 1 pt
  5. No teller balancing sheet sampled shows a difference cleared without a supervisor's approval Yes / No 1 pt
  6. The branch manager signs the over and short log each month Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Teller balancing sheets for the last 30 days are on file, one per teller per day worked Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Vault balancing sheets for the last 30 days are on file with no day missing Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Cash order and shipment records are kept for the retention period set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  10. The branch cash limit and drawer limits were reviewed and signed in the last 12 months Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Each cash-handling employee took the uninterrupted time off required by company policy in the last 12 months Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Cash records showing totals are kept in a locked cabinet, not left on desks Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Cash findings from the last internal audit have been corrected Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Number of teller differences recorded in the last 30 days Number
  15. Largest single teller difference in the last 30 days (dollars) Number
  16. Name of the vault custodian on duty Short text
  17. Name of the branch manager Short text
  18. Overall cash control at this branch Rating
    • Strong 5 pts
    • Acceptable, minor gaps 3 pts
    • Weak, needs follow-up visit 1 pt
  19. Comments and corrective actions Comments

About this template

This checklist is part of the InspectLoop template library. Yes / No checks score 1 point when met; ratings score the points shown for each option. The overall score is the percentage of points earned, with N/A answers excluded. In InspectLoop you can add photos, assign corrective actions, require sign-off and compare results across sites.

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