SBI to Recruit 3,500 Officers Within Five Months to Boost Operations and Customer Service

SBI to Hire 3,500 Officers to Strengthen Operations and Enhance Service Delivery.

The State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, is set to recruit around 3,500 officers over the next five months as part of a broader plan to boost operational efficiency and improve customer service across its nationwide network.

In an interview with PTI, Kishore Kumar Poludasu, SBI’s Deputy Managing Director (HR) & Chief Development Officer (CDO), said the recruitment drive will cover multiple categories, including probationary officers (POs), specialist officers, and circle-based officers (CBOs).

“We recruited 505 probationary officers in June, and the process to fill another similar number of vacancies is already underway,” Poludasu said. “In addition, around 1,300 specialist officers have been selected to strengthen our IT and cybersecurity capabilities.”

The advertisement for 541 new PO vacancies has already been released, and applications have been received. The selection process involves preliminary and main examinations, followed by a psychometric test and interview.

Poludasu added that around 3,000 circle-based officers are also being considered for recruitment this financial year, as part of the bank’s broader expansion and service enhancement plans.

Earlier this year, SBI Chairman C. S. Setty announced that the bank aims to recruit around 18,000 employees across various roles — including 13,500 clerical staff and the rest in officer categories — to strengthen its retail operations and improve customer engagement.

In the first quarter, SBI had already hired 13,455 junior associates and 505 POs to enhance the customer experience at its branches across India.

Focus on Gender Diversity

Poludasu also highlighted SBI’s commitment to promoting gender diversity within its workforce. The bank aims to raise the representation of women employees to 30% within the next five years.

“At the frontline level, women already make up about 33% of staff, while overall representation stands at 27%. We are working to bridge this gap and move towards a more balanced and inclusive workplace,” he said.

To support this goal, SBI has rolled out several initiatives, including creche allowances for working mothers, family connect programmes, and reorientation training for women employees returning from maternity or extended leave.

Its flagship initiative, ‘Empower Her’, focuses on identifying, mentoring, and grooming women for leadership roles through structured leadership labs and coaching sessions. The programme is designed to create a strong pipeline of future women leaders and ensure equal opportunities across all levels.

With a total workforce of over 2.4 lakh employees, SBI remains not only India’s largest bank but also one of the country’s biggest employers, committed to enhancing efficiency, diversity, and service excellence.