(About) SBI : Probationary Officers Examination

State Bank of India (Probationary Officers)

About SBI PO Exam

About Probationary Officer:

Probationary Officer (PO) is the starting level appointment for bank and the promotional prospects are quite healthy with the work as it defining the limit for the candidate's success. Job profile of PO (Probationary Officer) is General Banking, administration work and any other work assigned by the Bank from time to time.

A PO Officer can be asked to do anything till the completion of its probation period. After the confirmation PO can give tasks having routine work like posting, scrolling or advances or anything that is related to banking. PO Officer generally assigned to various responsibilities, as directed by the Sr. Manager. They are trained for accounting, marketing, finance, investment as well as billing.

PO Officer also work on increasing other aspects of the bank's business such as the loan department, the the mortgage and finance divisions of the bank. Handling customer complaints and issues is also the responsibility of the Bank PO. Often this means dealing with complaints over issues such as charges, discrepancies in accounts, or even in complaints with service at the bank. Good communication skills and an ability to resolve conflicts calmly is essential for a Bank PO

Bank PO officer joins the bank as Asst manager after the end of probation period . Initially he/she may be posted in a branch where he/she will handle daily customer transaction like passing a cheque, cash management, Draft issuance etc. After certain experience and depending upon skill/aptitude, the person would be given an opportunity to work in other areas like planning, marketing, budgeting, processing of loan , investment management etc.

Eligibility Criteria

(A) Essential Academic Qualifications : Graduation in any discipline from a recognised College / University

(B) Age Limit : 30 Years

Selection Process

1. Phase-I - Written Examination : Combined duration 3 Hrs. (Objective & Descriptive Type Tests -- Max. Marks - 250)

The duration of objective type test will be 2 hours max. marks 200 and will consist of :

  1. Test of English Language (Grammer, Vocabulary, Comprehension etc.)
  2. Test of General Awareness, Marketing & Computers
  3. Test of Data Analysis & Interpretation
  4. Test of Reasoning (High Level)

The duration of descriptive type test will be 1 hour max. marks - 50 and the test will be of "Test of English Language (Comprehension, short precis, letter writing & essay)" Descriptive test paper of only those candidates will be evaluated who are adequately high in percentile ranking in each of all the four objective tests and have scored overall aggregate 40% and above in case of General category and aggregate 35% and above in case SC/ST/OBC/PWD category. The qualifying marks for descriptive test will also be overall aggregate 40% for General category and overall aggregate 35% for SC/ST/OBC/ PWD category. The merit list of written examination will be based on the aggregate of the marks obtained by the candidates in objective and descriptive tests.

2. Phase-II : Group Discussion & Interview : Max Marks - 50 (GD - 20, Interview - 30)

The aggregate marks of objective and descriptive test will be arranged in descending order and the candidate who have qualified in both the written tests will be called for group discussion and interview depending upon the vacancies in each category, subject to maximum of 3 times of the vacancies.

3. Final Selection

The marks of group discussion & interview will be put together and the candidates who secure minimum 40% marks (minimum 35% in case of SC/ST/OBC/PWD) in group  discussion and interview will be considered for final selection. The candidates will have to qualify in Phase I and Phase II separately. Marks obtained by the candidates in Written Test out of 250 marks (maximum) are nomalized to 75 and marks obtained in GD/ Interview out of 50 are normalized to 25, final merit list is arrived at after totalling the normalized marks as above with an aggregate of 100. The selection will be made from the top merit ranked candidates in each category. Phase I & Phase II marks after normalisation will be aggregated and arranged in descending order (category wise) for candidates who have qualifed in both the phases separetely & depending on the vacancies, selection will be made from the top merit ranked candidates in each catagory. Results of the candidates who have qualified for Phase II and thereafter the list of candidates finally selected will be available on the Banks's website in addition to publication in Employment News / Rozgar Samachar.

Number of chances :

Category                                   Number of Chances
General                                          4
General (PWD)                                    4 
OBC                                              7
OBC (PWD)                                        7    
SC/ SC (PWD)/ ST/ ST (PWD)     		    No Restriction