State Bank of India (SBI) has officially released the recruitment notification for Circle Based Officers (CBO) 2026. This drive is one of the most significant officer-level hiring events of the year, with a total of 2,273 vacancies (2,050 regular and 223 backlog) available across various circles.
Important Recruitment Dates
The application window is currently active. Candidates are advised to complete their registration before the deadline to avoid technical delays.
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | January 28, 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | January 29, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | February 18, 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | February 18, 2026 |
| Online Examination (Tentative) | March 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria (As of Dec 31, 2025)
The CBO role is designed for experienced banking professionals. Unlike the Probationary Officer (PO) role, prior experience is mandatory.
- Educational Qualification: Graduation in any discipline. Professional degrees like CA, CS, Engineering, or Medical are also eligible.
- Work Experience (Mandatory): Minimum 2 years of experience as an officer in any Scheduled Commercial Bank or Regional Rural Bank (RRB).
- Age Limit: 21 to 30 years.
- Age Relaxation: SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), PwBD (10–15 years).
- Local Language: Proficiency in the local language of the applied circle is required (exempted if studied in 10th/12th).
- CIBIL Score: Must maintain a healthy credit history; candidates with defaults or adverse remarks are not eligible.
Selection Process
The selection is conducted in three distinct phases:
- Phase I: Online Written Test
- Objective Test: 120 Marks (2 hours). Includes English, Banking Knowledge, General Awareness/Economy, and Computer Aptitude.
- Descriptive Test: 50 Marks (30 minutes). Letter and Essay writing.
- Note: There is no negative marking in the objective test.
- Phase II: Screening
- The Screening Committee verifies the work experience and job profile documentation.
- Phase III: Interview & LPT
- Interview: 50 Marks.
- Local Language Test (LPT): Mandatory for those who cannot provide proof of studying the local language in school.
Salary & Career Path
Selected candidates will be placed in Junior Management Grade Scale I (JMGS-I).
- Basic Pay: ₹48,480 (with 2 advance increments).
- In-Hand Salary: Approximately ₹55,000 – ₹60,000 (depending on the city of posting).
- Probation: 6 months.
- Posting: Candidates are posted only within the circle they applied for. Inter-circle transfer is generally not allowed until promotion to SMGS-IV or completion of 12 years of service.
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official SBI Careers portal: sbi.bank.in/web/careers.
- Under “Current Openings,” look for “Recruitment of Circle Based Officers 2026.”
- Register: Use a valid mobile number and email to generate a registration ID.
- Upload Documents: Recent photo, signature, experience certificates, and latest salary slips.
- Application Fee: * General/OBC/EWS: ₹750
- SC/ST/PwBD: Nil (Exempted)
