The State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest public sector bank, has released the official notification for the recruitment of Circle Based Officers (CBO) in 2026. This is a significant opportunity for experienced banking professionals to join SBI in a supervisory role focused on business development, credit processing, and customer relationship management at the circle level.
The recruitment drive offers a total of 2,273 vacancies (comprising 2,050 regular vacancies and 223 backlog vacancies). Applications are open from January 29, 2026, to February 18, 2026. The online test is tentatively scheduled for March 2026.
Key Highlights
- Post Name: Circle Based Officer (CBO)
- Total Vacancies: 2,273 (2050 Regular + 223 Backlog)
- Advertisement No.: CRPD/CBO/2025-26/18
- Organization: State Bank of India (SBI)
- Job Location: Across various SBI Circles in India (assigned based on preferences and merit; candidates must be proficient in the local language of the applied circle)
- Official Website: www.sbi.co.in (Careers section)
- Application Mode: Online only
Important Dates
- Notification Release Date: January 28, 2026
- Online Registration/Apply Start Date: January 29, 2026
- Last Date to Apply Online: February 18, 2026
- Online Exam Date: March 2026 (Tentative)
- Admit Card Release: To be notified (likely March 2026)
- Interview Dates: To be notified later
Eligibility Criteria
This recruitment targets experienced officers, so freshers are not eligible.
- Educational Qualification: Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university or institution. Candidates must have passed the degree examination.
- Work Experience: Minimum 2 years of post-qualification experience as an officer in a Scheduled Commercial Bank or Regional Rural Bank (RRB). Experience must be after acquiring the graduation degree.
- Age Limit (as on the notification cutoff date, typically January/February 2026): 21 to 30 years (relaxations apply for reserved categories as per government norms: SC/ST – 5 years, OBC – 3 years, PwBD – 10 years, etc.).
- Local Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient (reading, writing, speaking) in the local language of the circle they apply for. This is mandatory and may be tested.
- Nationality: Indian citizen.
Note: Experience in non-officer roles or in other sectors does not count. Candidates must provide proof of experience during document verification.
Vacancy Distribution
Vacancies are distributed across SBI’s circles, with specific allocations based on language and regional needs. Examples from the notification include:
- Amaravati: Telugu/Urdu – ~101 posts
- Bengaluru: Kannada – ~236 posts
- Other major circles: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, etc.
Exact circle-wise and category-wise (UR/SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) breakup is provided in the official notification PDF. Candidates can apply for one circle only, based on language proficiency and preference.
Salary and Benefits
- Basic Pay: ₹48,480 per month (starting scale)
- Pay Scale: ₹48,480 – ₹85,920 (with annual increments)
- In-Hand Salary: Approximately ₹90,000+ per month (including allowances like DA, HRA, CCA, etc., depending on posting location)
- Perks: Medical benefits, leave fare concession, pension under NPS, performance-linked incentives, housing/lease facilities, and other SBI officer-level benefits.
The role offers excellent career progression within SBI, with opportunities to move into higher managerial grades.
Selection Process
The selection is multi-stage and merit-based:
- Online Written Examination (Objective type, 200 marks):
- Sections: Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, and Professional Knowledge (related to credit, banking operations, etc.).
- Duration: Typically 2–3 hours.
- Negative marking may apply.
- Screening of Applications: Based on eligibility, experience, and other criteria.
- Interview: For shortlisted candidates (marks weightage: Online test + Interview).
- Focus on banking knowledge, experience, personality, and local language skills.
- Language Proficiency Test (if required for the circle).
Final merit list is prepared based on combined scores. Document verification and medical examination follow for selected candidates.
Application Process
- Visit the official SBI careers page: www.sbi.co.in/web/careers or directly access the recruitment link.
- Click on the “Current Openings” → “Recruitment of Circle Based Officers”.
- Register with basic details (name, mobile, email) to generate registration ID and password.
- Log in, fill the online application form carefully.
- Upload scanned documents: Photo, signature, left thumb impression, handwritten declaration, experience certificates, etc.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable: typically ₹750 for General/OBC, exempt for SC/ST/PwBD).
- Submit and take a printout of the application for future reference.
Application Fee:
- General/OBC/EWS: ₹750 (approx.)
- SC/ST/PwBD: Nil
How to Prepare
- Focus on banking awareness, current affairs, credit policies, and numerical ability.
- Review previous years’ papers and practice mock tests.
- Brush up on local language if applying for a specific circle.
- Ensure your experience documents are ready.
This is a prestigious role in India’s leading bank with job security, good pay, and growth prospects. Apply early to avoid last-minute rush, and always refer to the official SBI CBO Notification 2026 PDF on www.sbi.co.in for the most accurate and complete details, including exact vacancy tables, syllabus, and guidelines.
If you’re eligible and interested, don’t miss the deadline—February 18, 2026! Good luck! For any specific doubts (e.g., circle preferences or syllabus breakdown), feel free to ask.