The State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, is set to recruit around 3,500 officers across various roles this financial year as part of its plan to enhance operational efficiency and customer service nationwide.
In an interview with PTI, Kishore Kumar Poludasu, SBI’s Deputy Managing Director (HR) and Chief Development Officer (CDO), said the bank has already recruited 505 probationary officers (POs) in June, while the process to fill a similar number of positions is underway. Applications for 541 additional PO vacancies have also been received.
“The recruitment for POs follows a three-tier process — preliminary examination, main examination, and a psychometric test followed by interviews,” Poludasu said.
Recruitment Drive Across Roles
In addition to probationary officers, SBI has selected around 1,300 specialist officers for roles in IT and cybersecurity, reflecting the bank’s growing focus on digital transformation and secure banking systems.
The lender is also looking to onboard nearly 3,000 circle-based officers (CBOs), with the recruitment expected to conclude within the current financial year.
Earlier, SBI Chairman C.S. Setty announced that the total recruitment for FY25 would be around 18,000 positions, including 13,500 clerical roles and 4,500 officers across different categories.
In the first quarter alone, the bank had recruited 13,455 junior associates and 505 POs, reinforcing its branch-level manpower to improve customer experience nationwide.
Focus on Gender Diversity and Inclusion
SBI is also taking proactive measures to improve gender diversity in its workforce. Poludasu revealed that the bank aims to increase the representation of women employees to 30% within the next five years.
“Among our frontline staff, women already make up about 33%, but overall, they currently represent 27% of the total workforce. We’re working to bridge that gap and enhance diversity further,” he said.
With a workforce of over 2.4 lakh employees, SBI is one of India’s largest employers and the biggest in the banking sector.
Women-Centric Initiatives at SBI
The bank has introduced several initiatives to create a more inclusive workplace for women. These include:
- Creche allowance for working mothers
- A Family Connect Programme to strengthen employee support systems
- Reintegration training for women returning from maternity leave, sabbaticals, or extended medical breaks
Under its flagship ‘Empower Her’ initiative, SBI identifies, mentors, and grooms women employees for leadership roles through structured leadership labs and coaching sessions.
“Our goal is to build a strong pipeline of future women leaders and create an environment where women thrive at all levels,” Poludasu emphasized.
