SBI Probationary Officer
Join State Bank of India as a management trainee officer in branch and corporate banking.
Facts checked 29/10/2026
Is this for me?
- Meeting many different people and solving their money problems
- A steady, respected job with clear promotion steps
- Learning how loans, businesses and the economy actually work
- Transfers and postings far from home, anywhere in India
- Targets, long hours and pressure, especially in busy branches
- A very tough, uncertain selection: many attempts are common
- Class 11–12 subjects
- There is no Class 12 subject rule. Arts, commerce, science, anything works. You only need a graduation degree. Strong English, basic maths and reasoning, and an interest in the economy help in the exam.
- First degree
- Any graduation degree from a recognised university. Final-year students could apply provisionally in 2026, but they had to show proof of graduation by a set date (reported).
- Entrance exams
- SBI's own PO exam, run by State Bank of India (not IBPS). It has Prelims, Mains, then a psychometric test, group exercise and interview.
- Licence or registration
- None needed to start working.
What the work is like
Working in SBI branches and offices as a junior officer. You learn deposits, loans, customer service, and back-office and corporate banking. You then take on branch roles with a team and targets.
A day in the work
You reach the branch before opening and check the day's targets and pending work with your team. You meet customers about loans, accounts or complaints, check files, and sign off work as per the bank's rules. Some days you visit a farmer, a small shop or a company to understand a loan request. By evening you reconcile figures and close the day, often later than the clock says.
The path, step by step
- Step 1 · Class 8–12Pick any stream you enjoy. Build English reading, speed in basic maths and logical thinking. Start reading a newspaper's business page. SBI sets no Class 12 subject condition.
- Step 2 · College, 3+ yearsComplete any degree. In 2026 the age limit was 21 to 30 years on 1 April 2026, with relaxations for OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen (reported). Final-year students could apply if they had proof of graduation by 30 September 2026 (reported). The application fee was ₹750 for General, EWS and OBC, and nil for SC, ST and PwBD (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
- Step 3 · Prelims (2026: 1–2 August)Online test of 100 marks in 1 hour: English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning, with separate timing for each section. It only decides who moves on. Reportedly, about ten times the vacancies are shortlisted in each category, and Prelims marks do not count in the final merit list.
- Step 4 · Mains (2026: 12 September)Online test with 170 objective questions in 180 minutes, with separate timing for each section. There is also a short descriptive English test (reported as 30 marks). Mains marks count towards final selection. (reported — check with the official body)
- Step 5 · Psychometric test, group exercise and interviewThis is the last selection stage. In the 2026 cycle the psychometric test was reported for 31 October and interviews from 18 November. Final merit is reported to be based on Mains plus this stage. (reported — check with the official body)
- Step 6 · Medical and document checksSelected candidates go through verification of certificates and a medical fitness check before joining. SBI has said it dropped HIV testing from its recruitment medical tests. (reported — check with the official body)
- Step 7 · Joining and probation, 2 yearsYou join as a Probationary Officer in Junior Management Grade Scale-I. You work and train in different departments, with continuous assessment. Passing it confirms you as a regular officer. The ad reportedly asks for a ₹2 lakh bond to serve at least 3 years. (reported — check with the official body)
Time and money
| Stage | Time | Government college or body | Private college | Help available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 11–12 (any stream) | 2 years | Your school's fees | Your school's fees | — |
| Degree (any graduation, 3+ years) | 3+ years | Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Chandigarh: B.Com-I ₹12,187 first installment (year not stated) | Check the college's fee page | — |
| SBI PO exam application (Prelims, Mains, psychometric, group exercise, interview) | About 6–9 months of selection stages | ₹750 application fee (reported) for General, EWS and OBC; nil for SC, ST and PwBD | — | Fee waived for SC, ST and PwBD (reported); no paid coaching needed |
| Probation as Probationary Officer (JMGS-I) | 2 years | Paid: starting basic pay ₹48,480 (reported) plus allowances | — | Paid training; full salary during probation (unverified, non-official sites) |
Fees from: SBI Careers – Current Openings · SBI advertisement, January 2026 (emoluments) · Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Chandigarh: Fee Structure. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.
What people earn
Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I). Starting basic pay ₹48,480 with four advance increments (reported for the 2026 PO ad), in the scale 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920. Also DA, HRA or lease rental, CCA, PF, NPS, LFC and medical benefits as per SBI rules. (reported: the official page opened was SBI's January 2026 officer advertisement, which shows the same scale; the PO-specific increments come from reports of the 2026 PO notice.)
Pay starts decently and grows with promotions, and what you take home depends on the city of posting and its allowances. Later growth depends on exams, performance and the posts you get.
Myth and fact
For girls and students with disabilities
The 2026 ad reportedly gave age relaxation of 3 years for OBC, 5 for SC/ST, and 10 to 15 years for candidates with benchmark disabilities. It also reportedly reserved posts for visually impaired, hearing impaired, locomotor and other disability categories, and waived the fee for SC, ST and PwBD. SBI has dropped HIV testing from its recruitment medical tests.
Try it now
- Class 7–9Ask a parent to take you to the bank. Read a passbook or statement and work out simple interest on a small amount. Try the free money quizzes for students on NCFE.Open link ↗
- Class 10–12Read the business page of a newspaper for 15 minutes daily. Note one new word and one number you didn't understand. Join the school debate or quiz club to build speaking confidence.
- College or afterDo a free SWAYAM or NPTEL course on economics, banking or finance this month. Or volunteer through MY Bharat to practise teamwork and public contact.Open link ↗
Good to know
- SBI runs this exam itself. IBPS PO is a separate exam for other public sector banks. You can prepare for both.
- You can be posted anywhere in India and transferred during your career.
- Vacancies change a lot each year. Reportedly there were 1,500 in 2026 and 541 in 2025, and lakhs of people apply.
- The minimum age is 21, so you cannot apply straight after a 3-year degree at 20. SBI usually publishes the notice around June, but check sbi.bank.in every year.