New Delhi, September 8, 2023 – The State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest commercial bank in India. It offers a variety of job opportunities across different levels and functions. This article will provide an overview of the different job opportunities offered by the SBI, including Probationary Officers (PO), Junior Associates (Clerk), Lateral Hires, Management Trainees, and Apprenticeships.
Among several job opportunities on offer, SBI PO is a highly sought-after job in the banking sector. It has attractive remuneration along with several compensation and benefits including excellent career growth prospects on offer.
The Probationary Officers remain on probation for two years during which they are given intensive training. Towards the end of their probation and training period, they are subjected to a screening process.
- While those Officers who achieve the predetermined standards are confirmed and given placement in the next higher grade i.e., Officer Middle Management Grade Scale-II.
- Others who qualify in the test but fail to achieve the standards set for placement in Middle Management Grade Scale-II, are confirmed as Officer Junior Management Grade Scale-I.
- The services of those officers who fail to qualify in this process are discontinued.
Bank provides immense opportunities for growth in the Bank including opportunities for postings abroad. The attractive promotion policy of the Bank provides an opportunity to the meritorious and exceptionally brilliant officers to reach the Top Management Grade in a reasonably quick time.
- The position of Junior Associate (Clerk) offers an excellent starting point for a career in banking. Lateral hires as an option are available for experienced professionals in a variety of job roles.
- The role of Management Trainees are offered to potential fresh graduates who could be groomed as the future leader. Apprenticeships are available to students who want to gain hands-on experience in the banking sector.
This article is an attempt to provide a clearer picture on the eligibility criteria, selection process, and salary including other compensatory benefits for each of the job positions. It will also act as a guide on how to apply for a job at the SBI.
SBI Probationary Officer (PO)
The SBI PO (Probationary Officer) is a highly sought-after career in the banking domain in India. The selection process is conducted in three phases that are as follows:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Group Discussion and Interview
Essential Academic Qualifications
- An applicant must have a graduate degree from a duly recognised university or with an equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government.
- Applicants who are in Final Year/Semester of their graduation can also apply. This is subject to producing proof of having passed the graduation examination on or before the specified eligibility date as given in the related advertisement if called for interview.
- Candidates having Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) certificates must ensure completion of the program on or before the eligibility date mentioned in the related advertisement.
- Date of passing the eligibility examination shall be the date appearing on the official mark sheet or provisional certificate issued by the University/Institute.
- If exam results are posted on the website of the University/Institute, a certificate from the appropriate authority indicating the date on which the result was posted will be taken as the date of passing.
Age Limit
Candidates must be at least 21 years old and not older than 30 years on the date of eligibility as specified in the advertisement. However, there are age relaxations for certain categories. They are as follows:
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 Years |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| Persons With Disabilities (PWD) | PWD (SC/ST)-15 Years |
| PWD (OBC)-13 Years | |
| PWD (Gen)-10 Years | |
| Ex-servicemen:
Commissioned Officers Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs) Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs)
|
5 Years |
| Persons Ordinarily domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the Period 01.01.1980 to 31.12.1989 | 5 Years |
Note – Cumulative age relaxation will not be available either under the above items or in combination with any other items.
| Category | Number of Chances |
| General | 4 |
| General (PWD) | 7 |
| OBC | 7 |
| OBC (PWD) | 7 |
| SC/SC (PWD) | No Restriction |
| ST/ST (PWD) | No Restriction |
NOTE – Candidates who have already appeared for the maximum number of chances permissible are not eligible to apply. Appearing in Preliminary Examination will not be counted as a chance.
Selection Procedure
The SBI PO examination is initially held in two phases:
- Preliminary Examination (Phase-I)
- Main Examination (Phase-II)
Shortlisted candidates who qualify the Preliminary Examination appear for the Main examination. Shortlisted candidates in the Main Examination are subsequently called for a Group Discussion and Interview which is considered as Phase-III.
Phase-I: Preliminary Examination
The SBI PO Preliminary Examination consists of Objective Tests for 100 marks that is conducted online. It is qualifying in nature. This test is of 1 hour duration consisting of 3 Sections as follows:
| Name of Test | Number of Questions | Marks | Composite Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour |
Candidates have to qualify in each of the three tests by securing passing marks that shall be decided by the Bank. Shortlisted candidates appear for the Main Examination.
Phase – II: Main Examination
The Main Examination for the SBI PO post consists of two online tests:
- Objective Tests for 200 Marks
- Descriptive Tests for 50 Marks
Descriptive Test is also conducted online. Candidates have to type their answers for this test on the computer. The Objective Tests for the SBI PO Main Examination are of 3 hours duration. It consists of 4 sections for a total of 200 marks with separate timing for every section.
It has multiple-choice questions (MCQ) with 4 options for each question. The candidates are required to qualify in each of the tests or sections by securing the passing marks, which is decided by the bank.
| Name of the Tests | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 Minutes |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| General Awareness on Economy/Banking | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 Minutes |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 3 Hours |
- Descriptive Tests papers of only those candidates are evaluated who have scored qualifying marks in the Objective Tests and are placed adequately high as per total marks secured in the test.
- Descriptive Test on English Language consists of Letter Writing and Essay. It is of 30 minutes duration and carries 50 marks. The candidates are required to qualify in the Descriptive Test by securing passing marks that is decided by the Bank.
- Penalty for Wrong Answers – Penalty is applicable to both – Preliminary and Main examination. There is a penalty for wrong answers marked in the Objective Tests. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate one fourth of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty to arrive at a corrected score.
- If a question is left blank, i.e. no answer is marked by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.
Phase – III: Group Discussion and Interview
The candidates who qualify in both the Objective Tests and Descriptive Tests will be ranked in order of their aggregate marks. The aggregate marks of candidates are arranged in descending order in each category.
Adequate number of candidates in each category, as decided by the Bank are called for Group Discussion and Interview.
The qualifying marks in Group Discussion and Interview are decided by the Bank. Weightage for Group Discussion and Interview is tabulated below.
| Name of Test | Maximum Marks |
| Group Discussion | 20 |
| Interview | 30 |
| Total | 50 |
Final Selection
The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination (Phase-I) will not be counted or added for the final selection. Only the marks obtained in the Main Examination (Phase-II), both in the Objective Test and Descriptive Test, will be added to the marks obtained in the Group Discussion and Interview for the preparation of the final merit list.
The candidates must qualify both the Main Examination (Phase-II) and the Group Discussion and Interview (Phase-III) separately.
Total marks secured by the candidates in the Written Test which is out of a total weightage of 225 marks will be converted proportionately or normalised out of a total weightage of 75 marks.
Similarly, the marks obtained in the Group Discussion and Interview which is out of total weightage of 50 marks will be converted proportionately (normalised) out of a total weightage of 25 marks.
The final merit list is prepared by aggregating the converted marks of the Written Test and the Group Discussion and Interview, out of 100 marks for each category. Final selection is made from the top merit-ranked candidates in each category.
| Name of test | Maximum Marks | Normalised To |
| Main Examination (Tier – II) | 225 | 75 |
| GD & Interview (Tier – III) | 50 | 25 |
| Total | 275 | 100 |
Salary
The current starting basic pay for SBI PO is ₹27,620 per month. It comes with 4 advance increments, allowances and perquisites. These includes Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA)/Lease Rental, City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), Medical Allowance, including other allowances as per the rules in force from time to time. Minimum total compensation per annum is ₹7.55 lakh ranging up to a maximum of ₹12.93 lakh depending on the place of posting and other factors.
How to Apply
- Applicants are required to register online through the SBI Bank’s website:
- After registration, applicants must pay the application fee through online mode using a debit card, credit card, or internet banking during the specified dates mentioned in the respective advertisement.
- Application fee and intimation charges are non-refundable.
| Category | Total |
| SC/ST/PWD | ₹100 (Intimation Charges Only) |
| General, OBC | ₹600 (Application Fee including Intimation Charges) |
Junior Associate (Clerk)
Essential Academic Qualifications:
- Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university or equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.
- Candidates having integrated dual degree (IDD) certificate should ensure that the date of passing the IDD is on or before the date of eligibility stipulated by the Bank.
- Matriculate ex-servicemen, who have obtained the Indian Army Special Certificate of Education or corresponding certificate in the Navy or Air Force, after having completed not less than 15 years of service in Armed Forces of the Union are also eligible for the post.
- Such certificates should be dated on or before the date of eligibility.
- Candidates should be able to write and speak English.
Age Limit:
Applicants should neither be below 20 years nor above 28 years as on stipulated date.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 Years |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 3 Years |
| PWD (Gen) | 10 years |
| PWD (SC/ST) | 15 Years |
| PWD (OBC) | 13 Years |
| Persons Ordinarily Domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir State During the Period from 01.01.1980 to 31.12.1989 | 5 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen/Disabled Ex-Servicemen | Actual period of service rendered in defence services + 3 years (8 years for Disabled Ex- Servicemen belonging to SC/ST) subject to max. age of 50 years. |
| Widows, Divorced Women and Women Judicially Separated from their Husbands & Who are Not Remarried | 9 Years (Subject to maximum age limit of 35 years for General, 38 years for OBC and 40 years for SC/ST candidates) |
Candidates falling in the following categories of the specially – abled may apply for the post:
| Suitable Categories for the Post of Disabled Candidates | ||
| OA | One Arm Affected (Right or Left) | (a) Impaired Reach |
| (b) Weakness of Grip | ||
| (c) Ataxia | ||
| BL | Both Legs Affected but Not Arms | |
| OL | One Leg Affected (Right or Left) | |
| PD | Partially Deaf | |
| D | Deaf | |
| B | Blind | |
| LV | Low Vision | |
| OAL | One Arm and One Leg Affected | |
Persons with visual disability who suffer from any one of the following conditions are eligible to apply.
- Total absence of sight.
- Visual acuity not exceeding 6/60 or 20/200 (On Snellen Eye Chart) in the better eye with correcting lenses.
- Limitation of the field of vision subtending an angle of 20 degrees or worse.
Selection Procedure
Preliminary Examination
Preliminary Examination for Junior Associate consists of Objective Tests for 100 marks. This test is of 1 hour duration. It is conducted online. Three sections of the Objective Tests are as follows:
| Name of Test | Number of Questions | Marks | Composite Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | Composite Time of 1 Hours |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Main Examination
Main Examination consists of Objective Tests for 200 marks. This is also conducted online.
| Name of Test | Number of Questions | Marks | Duration |
| General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 Minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 Hours 40 minutes |
Each test will have separate timing as mentioned above. Passing marks in each of these tests will be decided by the Bank on the basis of the performance of all the competing candidates taken together in each test to a minimum required level.
Candidates are also required to score a minimum percentage marks on aggregate.
For SC/ST/OBC/PWD/XS candidates, 5% relaxation shall be available thereon.
Minimum percentage marks on aggregate will be decided by the bank.
Interview and Final Selection
- Candidates who qualify the test will be ranked in descending order based on their marks obtained in the test.
- Only a certain number of candidates from the top of the merit list will be called for an interview.
- Candidates will be required to score a minimum percentage in the interview in order to be considered for the final selection. Minimum percentage will be decided by the bank. 5% relaxation will be available for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/XS category candidates. ‘XS’ implies ex-servicemen.
- Final selection will be made on the basis of the candidate’s performance in the test and interview taken together.
Note: Call letters for the pre-examination training, online test (Preliminary and Main), and interview will be uploaded on the bank’s website. Candidates will have to download the call letters from the website. No hard-copies of the call letters will be sent by post.
Application Fees
| Categories | Total |
| SC/ST/PWD/XS | ₹100/- (Intimation Charges Only) |
| General and OBC | ₹600/- (App. Fee Including Intimation Charges) |
Lateral Hire
Lateral hiring is a process through which experienced professionals are hired for specific roles in a company. The Lateral Hire posts in SBI are filled through a merit-based selection process. The eligibility criteria for Lateral Hire posts vary depending on the specific role. Some of the Lateral Hire posts in SBI are:
- Economist
- Chartered Accountant
- Hindi (Official Language) Officer
- Law Officer
- Security Officer
- System Officer
- Electrical Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Network Engineer
- Fire Officer
- Medical Officer (Permanent-Part-Time)
- Risk Analyst
Eligibility Criteria
Only Indian citizens are eligible to apply. The minimum age requirement varies depending on the specific role. The educational qualifications required for each role are also different. Experience required for each role varies. Reservation and relaxation in upper age for candidates from the reserved category will be applicable as per the Government Guidelines.
Selection Process
- For most of the posts, an online examination is conducted. The examination is a multiple-choice question (MCQ) test. The questions are based on the knowledge and skills required for the specific role.
- For posts relating to Security, Fire, and Medical Officers including Senior positions and where the number of applications is less, no examination is conducted. However, the applications are scrutinised and shortlisted by a shortlisting committee. Shortlisting committee will consider the candidate’s educational qualifications, experience, and other relevant factors.
- The number of candidates shortlisted for the Interview is generally 3 to 10 times the number of vacancies. The Interview is conducted by a panel of experienced bankers. The Interview tests the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and suitability for the role.
Examination Pattern
The examination consists of two parts:
- Part-I: This part consists of three tests:
- Test of Reasoning
- Test of English/Hindi Language
- Quantitative Aptitude (for certain posts)
Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks (Mean marks) in each of these tests to be considered for the interview. Minimum qualifying marks (Mean marks) are decided by the Bank depending upon the performance of all the candidates. The marks scored in these tests are not counted towards the final merit list.
- Part-II: This part is a test of professional knowledge that is specific to the post or position applied for.
Only candidates who qualify in each test of Part-I are eligible to take the test of Part-II. The marks scored in the papers of Part-II are counted towards the final merit list. For some posts, such as Economist, a descriptive test is also conducted. The marks scored in the descriptive test are also counted in addition to the test on professional knowledge for preparing the final merit list.
Interview and Final Selection
- Only those candidates who are shortlisted in the merit list and rank high enough are called for an interview.
- The minimum percentage marks required for the interview will be decided by the bank.
- 5% relaxation is provided to the candidates from reserved categories.
- Final selection is made on the basis of the candidate’s performance in the professional knowledge test, interview, and descriptive test (if any). The marks of all the tests are added together to prepare the final merit list.
- Selection is made on the basis of the marks awarded in the interview where no test is held.
SBI Apprenticeship
The State Bank of India (SBI) recruits apprentices every year for different states in India. SBI Apprentices are not permanent employees of the bank. They are trainees who will be trained as apprentices.
It is important for the candidates to know all the details about the salary structure, job profile, roles and responsibilities, career growth, and training period before applying for the recruitment process.
- The SBI Apprenticeship program is a one-year training program that provides candidates with the opportunity to learn about the banking industry and gain practical experience.
- The program is open to graduates of any discipline.
- Candidates must have secured a minimum of 60% marks in their graduation.
- The selection process for the SBI Apprenticeship program includes a written test and an interview.
- After completing the apprenticeship program, SBI Apprentices may be eligible for permanent employment with the bank.
SBI Apprentice Salary Structure
| Year | Stipend per Month |
| 1st Year | ₹ 15000 |
| 2nd Year | ₹ 16500 |
| 3rd Year | ₹ 19000 |
Perks and Additional Benefits for SBI Apprenticeship
- SBI Apprentices are not eligible for any other allowance/benefit or any other additional perks except their stipend during the one-year training period.
- Candidates who successfully complete the apprenticeship will enjoy special weightage/relaxations in the SBI Clerk Recruitment.
SBI Apprentice Job Profile
The job profile of an SBI Apprentice includes those who are performing clerical and administrative tasks, such as data entry, filing, and customer service. They work under a senior who guides them to perform all the tasks assigned to them in the bank.
According to the released notification of SBI Apprentice, the selected candidates are trained for a duration of 1 year and after completing their training they are eligible to apply in different banks.
Here are some of the tasks that an SBI Apprentice may be assigned:
- Providing customer service
- Filing and managing documents
- Preparing reports
- Conducting research
- Attending training programs
The job profile of an SBI Apprentice is not limited to these tasks. They may also be assigned other tasks depending on the needs of the bank.
Management Trainee
Management Trainees are selected by the Bank on a contractual basis for 5 years. After the opening up of the economy and entry of many private banks, the banking scenario has undergone tremendous changes. Banking business is market-driven. Ever-increasing customer expectations and the competition in the market has resulted in shrinking revenues.
It is forcing banks to look beyond the usual services offered by them and to come up with innovative products and services supported by technology. The first and foremost enabler an organisation requires to innovate and improve is talented human resources.
Bank’s Requirement
Dynamic and young officers are needed by the Bank in order to meet market competition. Banks require special skill sets in the specialised areas like Credit, Treasury, Finance, Marketing, Investment Banking etc. Bank visits Business Schools for campus recruitment so as to get desired talents in these specific areas.
Selection Process
The selection process is done through Group Discussions/Test followed by personal interviews.
Compensation Package & Designation
Compensation package will be ₹9.00 lakh, ₹8.50 lakh and ₹7.50 lakh for postings in Megapolis, Metropolis and other cities respectively. Annual hike for the first two years will be ₹0.50 lakh per year and for 4th & 5th year it will be ₹1.00 lakh per year. 70% of the CTC will be paid as the fixed pay component and 30% will be variable pay.
The selected candidates designated as follows:
| 1st Year | Management Trainee |
| 2nd Year Onwards | Assistant Vice President |
Reservation
Reservation criteria will be applicable for recruitment of Management Trainees from Business Schools. Candidates qualifying for Group Discussion and Interview under ‘OBC’ category would be required to submit a current year OBC certificate containing the ‘Non Creamy layer’ clause. Likewise, candidates belonging to SC/ST/PWD categories will have to submit respective certificates at the time of Group Discussion and Interview.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of SBI PO?
Ans: The roles and responsibilities of an SBI PO (Probationary Officer) are as under.
- Managing the day-to-day operations of a branch, including maintenance of accurate records and ensure compliance with bank policies and regulations.
- Handling customer transactions, such as deposits and withdrawals, and addressing customer inquiries and complaints.
- Supervising and training other branch staff, including tellers and customer service representatives.
- Marketing the bank’s products and services to customers.
- Preparing reports and presentations on various banking operations.
- Participating in the bank’s risk management and compliance programs.
- Staying up-to-date on the latest banking trends and technologies.
Q: Can an SBI Apprentice become permanent?
Ans: Yes, after completing the apprenticeship program, SBI Apprentices may be eligible for permanent employment with the bank.
Q: What are the types of jobs in SBI Bank?
Ans: There are many jobs available with SBI Bank which comes under these four categories:
- SBI Probation Officer (PO)
- SBI Junior Associate (Clerk)
- SBI Apprenticeship
- Management Trainee
- Lateral Hires
Q: Is SBI Jobs considered a government or private job?
Ans: The SBI is treated as a public sector bank and its employees are treated as government employees.
Q: What are the SBI Jobs available after graduation?
Ans: A candidate can apply for SBI PO, SBI Clerk, and Apprentice post after graduation.
Q: What is the salary of SBI PO?
Ans: The current starting basic pay for SBI PO is ₹27,620 per month. It comes with 4 advance increments along with allowances and perquisites such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA)/Lease Rental, City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), Medical Allowance, including other allowances as per the rules in force from time to time. Minimum total compensation per annum is ₹7.55 lakh ranging up to a maximum of ₹12.93 lakh depending on the place of posting and other factors.
Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of an SBI clerk?
Ans: The roles and responsibilities of an SBI Clerk are as follows:
- The SBI Clerk is the first point of contact for customers and is responsible for providing them with information and assistance on a variety of banking products and services. This includes opening and closing accounts, depositing and withdrawing money, issuing cheques, and resolving customer complaints.
- The SBI Clerk is responsible for processing a variety of banking transactions, such as NEFT/RTGS, demand drafts, and cheque clearing. They also maintain records of these transactions and ensure that they are accurate and up-to-date.
- The SBI Clerk also performs a variety of other banking operations, such as managing cash and securities, maintaining ledgers, and preparing reports. They may also be responsible for assisting with marketing and promoting banking products and services.
- The SBI Clerk may also be responsible for performing general office duties, such as filing, photocopying, and faxing. They may also be required to travel to other branches to assist with training or other tasks.
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