The State Bank of India (SBI) has officially released the Circle Based Officer (CBO) Recruitment 2026 notification, opening a massive opportunity for experienced banking professionals seeking a stable officer-level career in India’s largest public sector bank. This recruitment drive is aimed at filling 2050 Circle Based Officer posts across multiple SBI circles in India.
Unlike PO or Clerk recruitment, SBI CBO is exclusively meant for experienced officers from Scheduled Commercial Banks or RRBs, making it one of the most career-defining lateral entry opportunities in the Indian banking sector.
In this article, we break down the notification in simple, practical language, focusing not just on eligibility and dates, but also on real problems faced by applicants, document mistakes, experience mismatches, and selection strategy.
📌 Candidates can also check Exam Updates here
⚡ Quick Review – SBI CBO 2026 at a Glance
- 🏦 Organization: State Bank of India
- 🧾 Post Name: Circle Based Officer (CBO)
- 📊 Total Vacancies: 2050
- 🗓️ Application Dates: 29 January 2026 – 18 February 2026
- 🧑💼 Eligibility: Graduate + 2 years officer experience
- 📝 Selection Stages: Online Test → Screening → Interview → Language Test
- 💰 Starting Basic Pay: ₹48,480 + allowances
- 📍 Posting: Only in the applied circle
- ❌ No inter-circle transfer till SMGS-IV / 12 years
📢 About SBI CBO Recruitment 2026
SBI has introduced the Circle Based Officer (CBO) role to strengthen its regional banking operations. Candidates selected under this recruitment will be posted only in the circle they apply for, and their career growth is governed under the general officer cadre of SBI.
This recruitment is not suitable for fresh graduates. It is specifically designed for officers who already understand banking operations such as:
- Retail lending
- CASA management
- Credit appraisal
- Branch operations
- Customer handling
🧮 SBI CBO 2026 Vacancy Details (Circle-Wise)
- Total Vacancies: 2050
- Regular Vacancies: 1827
- Backlog Vacancies (PwBD): 223
Vacancies are distributed across circles such as:
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Mumbai Metro
- Lucknow
- Jaipur
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Bhubaneswar
- Thiruvananthapuram
…and many more.
📌 Important Applicant Rule:
You can apply for only ONE circle. Applying for multiple circles will lead to cancellation of candidature
🎓 Eligibility Criteria (Explained Clearly)
🎓 Educational Qualification
- Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university
- Professional degrees like Engineering, CA, CMA, Medical are also eligible
📌 Date of passing is taken from marksheet / provisional certificate, not result declaration email.
🎂 Age Limit (As on 31 December 2025)
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: 30 years
🔓 Age Relaxation
- SC / ST: +5 years
- OBC (NCL): +3 years
- PwBD: up to +15 years
- Ex-Servicemen: +5 years
⚠️ No cumulative relaxation allowed.
🧑💼 Mandatory Work Experience (MOST IMPORTANT)
- Minimum 2 years experience as an Officer
- Experience must be from:
- Scheduled Commercial Bank OR
- Regional Rural Bank (RRB)
🚫 Not Eligible If:
- Working in SBI Clerical / Supervisory cadre
- Working in bank subsidiaries
- Previously resigned from SBI officer post
- Contract employees
📌 Big Rejection Reason:
If your job profile does NOT match SBI Scale-I Generalist Officer duties, your application will be rejected during Screening, even if you clear the exam
🗣️ Local Language Requirement (Non-Negotiable)
- Must be proficient in reading, writing & understanding the local language of the applied circle
- Language test conducted before joining
- Exempted if:
- You studied the local language in 10th or 12th standard
❌ Failure in language test = No appointment
📝 Selection Process – Step by Step
🖥️ Stage 1: Online Examination
Objective Test (120 Marks – 2 Hours)
- 📝 English Language – 30 Qs (30 mins)
- 🏦 Banking Knowledge – 40 Qs (40 mins)
- 🌍 General Awareness / Economy – 30 Qs (30 mins)
- 💻 Computer Aptitude – 20 Qs (20 mins)
✔️ No negative marking
✍️ Descriptive Test (50 Marks – 30 Minutes)
- Essay Writing
- Letter Writing
(Typed on computer)
🔍 Stage 2: Screening (Most Critical Stage)
- SBI verifies:
- Experience
- Job profile
- Salary proofs
- If mismatch found → Direct rejection
📌 Many candidates fail here due to generic job profiles.
🎤 Stage 3: Interview (50 Marks)
- Minimum qualifying marks required
- Final merit prepared with:
- Online Exam: 75% weight
- Interview: 25% weight
🗣️ Stage 4: Local Language Test
- Qualifying in nature
- Mandatory unless exempted
💰 SBI CBO Salary & Benefits
💵 Pay Scale
- Starting Basic Pay: ₹48,480
- Includes 2 advance increments
🎁 Allowances
- DA
- HRA / Lease Rental
- CCA
- NPS (Pension)
- Medical Benefits
- LFC
- Other perks as per SBI rules
This makes SBI CBO one of the highest-paying lateral entry roles in PSU banking.
📝 Application Fee
- General / OBC / EWS: ₹750
- SC / ST / PwBD: Nil
⚠️ Fee once paid is non-refundable
🖥️ How to Apply Online (Simplified)
- Visit SBI Careers portal – Link Given Below
- Register with valid email & mobile number
- Fill application carefully
- Upload all documents in prescribed format
- Pay application fee
- Download application & e-receipt
📌 No corrections allowed after final submission
📂 Documents Required (Most Common Mistakes)
- Photograph & signature (size-specific)
- Left thumb impression
- Handwritten declaration (ONLY English)
- ID proof & DOB proof
- Job profile (certified)
- Experience certificates
- Salary slips (last 24 months)
- Form-16
❌ Unclear or wrong uploads = Application rejected
🚨 Common Problems Faced by Applicants (Solved)
❓ “I cleared exam but rejected later”
➡️ Screening rejection due to job profile mismatch
❓ “Language test fear”
➡️ Prepare basic reading & writing; exemption possible via marksheet
❓ “Multiple applications mistake”
➡️ Only last application is considered, fees of others forfeited
❓ “Photo/signature rejected”
➡️ Follow exact pixel & KB size mentioned
📌 Final Advice for SBI CBO Aspirants
- Do NOT treat this like PO exam
- Focus more on:
- Banking concepts
- Real-world experience
- Job profile documentation
- Apply only if 100% eligible
This recruitment is a golden opportunity for serious banking professionals aiming long-term growth in SBI.
🔖 Official Source
All information is based on SBI Advertisement No. CRPD/CBO/2025-26/18
🌐 Important Links
- Official Notification pdf download
- Official Website: sbi.bank.in
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