SBI Circle Based Officer (CBO) Recruitment 2026: Notification, Vacancies, Eligibility, Online Form

State Bank of India (SBI) has announced the recruitment of 2050 Circle Based Officers (CBO) for 2025–26, offering a permanent officer-level job for experienced banking professionals.

Eligible Indian candidates aged 21–30 years with a graduation degree and at least 2 years of officer-level experience in a Scheduled Commercial Bank or RRB can apply online from 29 January to 18 February 2026 for one chosen Circle only, with mandatory knowledge of the local language of that Circle.

The selection process includes an online exam, screening of experience and job profile, interview, and a local language test. Selected candidates will be appointed in JMGS-I with a starting basic pay of ₹48,480 plus allowances, good career growth, and posting limited to the applied Circle for a long period. This recruitment is a strong opportunity for experienced bankers seeking job security, good salary, and long-term growth in India’s largest public sector bank.

SBI CBO Recruitment 2026 Notification – Apply Online for 2050 Circle Based Officer Posts

State Bank of India (SBI) has released the official notification for the Recruitment of Circle Based Officers (CBO) for 2025-26 under Advertisement No. CRPD/CBO/2025-26/18. This is a golden opportunity for experienced banking professionals who want a secure officer-level job in India’s largest public sector bank.

SBI CBO Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Total Vacancies – Circle Wise & Category Wise

SBI has announced a total of 2050 regular vacancies for Circle Based Officers, along with backlog vacancies for SC/ST/OBC and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities).

Total Regular Vacancies

In addition, there are backlog vacancies for SC/ST/OBC and PwBD in various circles. Vacancies are circle-wise and category-wise, and selection list will also be prepared circle-wise and category-wise.

Important points about circle preference:

• A candidate can apply for only one Circle.
• Once you apply for a Circle, you cannot apply for any other Circle.
• Merit list & posting will be strictly within the applied Circle.
• No Inter-Circle transfer / Corporate Centre / Foreign posting till promotion to SMGS-IV or completion of 12 years of service, whichever is later.

Circle and Local Language Requirements

Each Circle covers specific States/UTs and requires proficiency in one of the listed local languages of that Circle (reading, writing and understanding).

Some examples:

• Amaravati Circle – State: Andhra Pradesh – Language: Telugu/Urdu
• Bengaluru Circle – State: Karnataka – Language: Kannada
• Bhopal Circle – State: Madhya Pradesh – Language: Hindi
• Chennai Circle – State: Tamil Nadu & Puducherry – Language: Tamil
• Gandhinagar Circle – State: Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu – Language: Gujarati
• Guwahati Circle – North Eastern States – Languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Manipuri, Garo, Khasi, Mizo, Kokborok, English (special condition)
• Kolkata Circle – West Bengal, A&N Islands, Sikkim – Languages: Bengali, Nepali, Hindi
• Lucknow Circle – Uttar Pradesh – Languages: Hindi / Urdu
• Maharashtra & Mumbai Metro Circles – State: Maharashtra, Goa – Languages: Marathi / Konkani
• Thiruvananthapuram Circle – Kerala & Lakshadweep – Language: Malayalam

Candidates have to opt for one local language of the applied Circle during online registration.

Local Language Proficiency Test

• Conducted only for provisionally selected candidates (after Online Test + Screening + Interview).
• If you fail the language test, you will not be offered appointment.
• Candidates who have 10th or 12th mark sheet showing the specified local language as a subject will be exempted from the language test.

SBI CBO 2026 – Important Dates

All updates, changes, corrigendum will be published only on SBI’s career website under Current Openings section.

Eligibility Criteria for SBI CBO 2026

1. Nationality

• Only Indian Citizens are eligible.

2. Educational Qualification (as on eligibility date)

• Graduation in any discipline from a recognized University or equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government.
• Candidates with professional degrees like Medical, Engineering, CA, Cost Accountant, etc. are also eligible.
• The date of passing is the one mentioned on the mark sheet / provisional certificate, or as certified by the University if result is declared online.

3. Age Limit (as on 31.12.2025)

• Minimum Age: 21 years
• Maximum Age: 30 years
• Candidate must be born between 01.01.1996 and 31.12.2004 (both days inclusive).

Age Relaxation

Note: Cumulative age relaxation is not allowed.

4. Experience (as on 31.12.2025)

• Minimum 2 years post-qualification experience as an officer in:
  • Any Scheduled Commercial Bank, or
  • Any Regional Rural Bank (RRB) listed in Second Schedule of RBI.

Additional important conditions:

• You must submit job profile certified by current / previous employer.
• Your job profile must substantially match that of a Scale-I Generalist Officer in SBI, otherwise your candidature can be rejected at any stage.
• For candidates from private sector scheduled commercial banks, minimum annual gross salary of ₹9.50 lakh per year is required, and must be supported with:
  • Form-16, or
  • AIS (Annual Income Statement), or
  • Last 24 months’ payslips, or
  • Employer certificate.

Not Eligible:

• Employees of SBI in clerical/supervisory cadre or on contract.
• Candidates who resigned from officer grade in SBI/Associate Banks.
• Candidates working with subsidiaries of scheduled commercial banks.
• Ex-contract employees of SBI who resigned/exited.

5. Local Language Proficiency

As detailed earlier, proficiency in the specified local language of the applied Circle is mandatory.

6. Other Conditions

• Candidates with loan/credit card default who have not regularized their accounts before offer date will not be eligible. Even if CIBIL not updated, you must get it corrected or provide NOCs before joining.
• Candidates with adverse reports on character, antecedents or moral turpitude are not eligible.

Reservation Details (SC/ST/OBC/EWS & PwBD)

• 4% horizontal reservation for PwBD as per RPwD Act, 2016.
• Suitable disability categories include:
  • Visual Impairment (Blind, Low Vision)
  • Hearing Impairment (Hard of hearing)
  • Locomotor Disabilities – OA, BA, OL, BL, OAL, Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victim, certain Spinal conditions
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (Mild)
  • Multiple Disabilities among above categories
• Only persons with benchmark disability ≥ 40% (or as defined) are eligible for PwBD reservation.

Backlog vacancies reserved for PwBD can be interchanged between VI, HI, LD and d&e if suitable candidate is not available in a particular sub-category.

Scribe Facility and Compensatory Time

• Scribe facility is allowed for:
  • PwBD candidates with ≥40% disability having limitation to write.
  • Certain categories with <40% disability but certified difficulty in writing as per Govt. guidelines.
• Key points:
  • Candidate must indicate scribe requirement in online form.
  • Both candidate and scribe must submit undertakings.
  • Eligible candidates get 20 minutes extra per hour of exam whether they use scribe or not.
  • Candidate must arrange their own scribe at own cost.
  • Scribe must not be a candidate for the same exam.
  • If scribe is found answering independently, candidature will be cancelled.

Category Codes for Online Application

While filling the online form, candidates have to select correct category code, such as:

• SC – 01, ST – 06, OBC – 11, GEN – 16, EWS – 21
• With sub-codes for PwBD (LD, VI, HI, d&e) across categories (e.g., SC(LD) – 02, GEN(VI) – 18, etc.)

No change of category is allowed after final submission of the online application.

Selection Process for SBI CBO 2026

The selection process has four stages:

1. Online Examination
2. Screening of Experience & Job Profile
3. Interview
4. Local Language Proficiency Test

1. Online Test Pattern

The Online Test consists of Objective Test (120 marks) and Descriptive Test (50 marks). The Descriptive Test is conducted immediately after the Objective Test on the same day.

Objective Test Pattern (2 Hours)

• Separate timing for each section.
• No sectional qualifying marks.
• No negative marking – there is no penalty for wrong answers in the Objective Test.
• Minimum aggregate qualifying marks will be decided by SBI.

Descriptive Test (30 Minutes)

• Test of English Language (Letter Writing & Essay).
• Total 2 questions for 50 marks.
• Candidates have to type answers on the computer.

2. Screening

• Only candidates who qualify the Online Test will be considered for Screening.
• A Screening Committee will check:
  • Eligibility criteria regarding experience.
  • Matching of candidate’s job profile (certified by employer) with SBI Scale-I Generalist Officer job profile.
• If job profile does not substantially match, the application can be rejected at this stage.
• SBI will decide the parameters for matching job profile, and its decision will be final.
• A circle-wise & category-wise merit list will be drawn based on Online Test marks for candidates who pass Screening.
• Up to 3 times the number of vacancies (approx.) per circle/category will be called for Interview from the top of this list.
• Merely passing the Online Test does not guarantee interview call.

3. Interview (50 Marks)

• Interview carries 50 marks.
• Minimum qualifying marks in Interview will be decided by SBI.
• Candidates must qualify Interview separately for final selection.

4. Final Selection & Merit List

• Candidates must qualify both Online Test and Interview separately.
• Final merit list is prepared with weightage 75:25:
  • Online Test (Objective + Descriptive) marks out of 170 are converted to 75.
  • Interview marks out of 50 are converted to 25.
• Combined score (out of 100) is used to prepare Circle-wise & Category-wise final merit list.
• Selection is made from top-ranked candidates in each list, subject to local language qualification.

Salary, Allowances & Career Growth

SBI CBO Salary (Pay Scale)

• Starting basic pay: ₹48,480/- in the pay scale:
  48,480 – 2,000/7 – 62,480 – 2,340/2 – 67,160 – 2,680/7 – 85,920
  applicable to Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I) plus 2 advance increments.

In addition to basic pay, CBOs are eligible for:

• Dearness Allowance (DA)
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) / Lease Rental
• City Compensatory Allowance (CCA)
• Provident Fund (PF)
• Contributory Pension (NPS)
• Leave Fare Concession (LFC)
• Medical Facilities
• Other perquisites as per SBI rules

Probation and Confirmation

• Probation period: 6 months.
• Continuous assessment during probation.
• Those meeting the bank’s standards will be confirmed in JMGS-I.
• Failure to meet criteria can lead to termination, as per bank policy.

Career Path

• Selected officers will be in General Cadre and covered under SBI’s normal promotion policy.
• No Inter-Circle, Corporate Centre, Establishment, or Foreign posting till:
  • Promotion to SMGS-IV, or
  • 12 years of service, whichever is later.

Application Fee

• Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other recruitment.

Pre-Examination Training (PET)

• Online Pre-Examination Training may be provided to SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates as per Government guidelines.
• Those who want to avail PET must opt for it in the online application form.
• Information about PET schedule will be sent via email/SMS.
• No hard copy communication will be sent.

How to Apply Online for SBI CBO 2026

Eligible candidates can apply only online from 29.01.2026 to 18.02.2026. No other mode is accepted.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Visit SBI’s official career website:
   https://sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings
2. Scroll to “Current Openings” and click on “Recruitment of Circle Based Officers in State Bank of India – 2026” (Advertisement No. CRPD/CBO/2025-26/18).
3. Download and read the detailed advertisement carefully.
4. Click on “Apply Online”.
5. Register by entering basic details to get Registration Number and Password.
6. Login and fill the application form carefully:
   • Personal details
   • Educational details
   • Experience details
   • Circle and local language choice
   • Category and reservation details
7. Upload required documents (as per given formats and sizes).
8. Pay the application fee through:
   • Debit card / Credit card / Internet Banking.
9. On successful transaction, e-receipt & application form will be generated – download and print them.
10. Do not send hard copy of application to the bank.

Multiple applications are not allowed. If multiple are submitted, only the last valid application will be considered, and earlier fees will be forfeited.

Documents to be Uploaded

Candidates must upload the following in prescribed JPG/JPEG/PDF formats:

• Recent passport-size photograph
• Signature
• Left thumb impression
• Handwritten declaration (as per given text)
• ID proof (PDF)
• Proof of Date of Birth (PDF)
• Job profile certified by existing/previous employer (PDF)
• Brief resume with education, experience, assignments handled (PDF)
• Relevant educational certificates / mark sheets / degrees (PDF)
• Experience certificate / Appointment letter / Job offer letter (PDF)
• Latest Form-16 issued by employer (PDF)
• Latest Salary slip (PDF)

Photograph, signature, thumb impression and handwritten declaration must be clear and as per specifications, otherwise the application can be rejected.

Call Letter Download

• Call letters for Online Exam and Interview will be available for download on SBI’s website.
• Candidates have to login using Registration Number and Password/Date of Birth.
• No hard copy call letters will be sent by post.

Documents Required at Exam & Interview

At the time of Online Exam and Interview, candidates have to bring:

• Original and photocopy of Photo Identity Proof – Passport/Aadhaar/PAN/Driving Licence/Voter ID/Bank passbook with photo/ Photo ID by Gazetted Officer.
• For Interview:
  • Original & photocopy of all relevant documents,
  • Call letter,
  • Proof of category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) as applicable,
  • Experience documents, etc.

If identity proof or documents are not produced, or identity is doubtful, the candidate may not be allowed to appear.

Biometric Verification

• SBI may capture photo and thumb impression/iris at multiple stages.
• Any mismatch or inconsistency can lead to rejection of candidature.
• Candidates should avoid applying mehendi/ink/chemicals on hands.

Misconduct, Malpractice & Disqualification

Candidates will be disqualified or debarred if found:

• Using unfair means or impersonation.
• Misbehaving in exam/interview.
• Providing false information or forged documents.
• Sharing answers or indulging in pattern-based cheating.

Mobile phones, calculators and electronic devices are strictly prohibited at the exam venue.

General Instructions for Candidates

• Ensure you fulfil all eligibility criteria as on the specified date before applying.
• Fill the form carefully; no changes allowed after final submission.
• Apply well before the last date to avoid technical issues.
• Retain multiple copies of the uploaded photograph for future stages.
• SBI is not responsible for problems like network issues or heavy traffic on the website.
• Government/PSU/Nationalised Bank/RRB employees must produce No Objection Certificate at interview.
• SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates must bring valid caste/Income & Asset certificates in Govt. of India format and within specified dates.
• All legal disputes will fall under Mumbai jurisdiction.
• SBI reserves the right to cancel the recruitment process at any stage.

Important Disclaimer

If at any stage it is found that the candidate does not meet eligibility norms or has suppressed/incorrect information, the candidature or appointment can be cancelled/terminated.

SBI does not endorse or authorize any coaching institute, consultancy or digital channel claiming guaranteed selection or insider help. Candidates should rely only on the official website.

Final Words – Who Should Apply for SBI CBO 2026?

SBI CBO is ideal for:

• Banking professionals with 2+ years officer-level experience in Scheduled Commercial Banks/RRBs.
• Candidates looking for a secure officer job in India’s largest PSU bank with excellent salary, benefits and long-term career growth.
• Experienced bankers willing to work within a specific Circle and comfortable with the local language.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, have relevant experience, and want to build a stable banking career with SBI, you should apply online for SBI CBO 2026 between 29 January 2026 and 18 February 2026 and start your preparation for the Online Test and Interview.

FAQs about SBI CBO Recruitment 2026

What is SBI CBO Recruitment 2026?
SBI CBO Recruitment 2026 is a hiring process by State Bank of India to recruit experienced banking professionals as Circle Based Officers (CBO) in Junior Management Grade Scale-I.

How many vacancies are released under SBI CBO 2026?
A total of 2050 regular vacancies have been announced, along with backlog vacancies for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD categories.

Who can apply for SBI CBO 2026?
Indian citizens with a graduation degree and at least 2 years of officer-level experience in a Scheduled Commercial Bank or Regional Rural Bank can apply.

What is the age limit for SBI CBO 2026?
The minimum age is 21 years and the maximum age is 30 years as on 31 December 2025, with applicable age relaxation for reserved categories.

Is prior banking experience mandatory for SBI CBO?
Yes, a minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience as an officer in a Scheduled Commercial Bank or RRB is mandatory.

Can fresh graduates apply for SBI CBO 2026?
No, fresh graduates without the required officer-level banking experience are not eligible.

What is meant by Circle Based Officer in SBI?
A Circle Based Officer is appointed for a specific SBI Circle and normally works within that Circle for a long duration without inter-circle transfer.

Can a candidate apply for more than one Circle?
No, a candidate can apply for only one Circle and cannot change it after submission.

Is local language knowledge compulsory for SBI CBO?
Yes, proficiency in the local language of the applied Circle is mandatory.

Is there a local language test in SBI CBO selection?
Yes, a local language proficiency test is conducted for provisionally selected candidates unless exempted.

Who is exempted from the local language test?
Candidates who have studied the specified local language in 10th or 12th standard are exempted from the test.

What is the selection process for SBI CBO 2026?
The selection process includes an online test, screening of experience and job profile, interview, and local language proficiency test.

What is the exam pattern for SBI CBO online test?
The online test includes an objective test of 120 marks and a descriptive English test of 50 marks conducted on the same day.

Is there negative marking in the SBI CBO exam?
No, there is no negative marking in the objective test.

What subjects are asked in the SBI CBO objective exam?
English Language, Banking Knowledge, General Awareness/Economy, and Computer Aptitude.

What is the descriptive test in SBI CBO?
It is an English language test consisting of letter writing and essay writing for 50 marks.

What is the interview weightage in SBI CBO final selection?
The interview carries 25% weightage, while the online test carries 75% weightage in the final merit list.

Is screening mandatory after the online exam?
Yes, screening of experience and job profile is mandatory before interview shortlisting.

Can candidature be rejected during screening?
Yes, if the job profile does not match SBI Scale-I Generalist Officer duties, candidature can be rejected.

What is the salary of SBI CBO?
The starting basic pay is ₹48,480 with DA, HRA, CCA, PF, pension, medical benefits and other allowances.

Is SBI CBO a permanent job?
Yes, it is a permanent officer cadre position.

What is the probation period for SBI CBO?
The probation period is 6 months with continuous performance assessment.

Can SBI CBO officers get promotion?
Yes, CBOs follow SBI’s regular promotion policy under the general cadre.

Is inter-circle transfer allowed for SBI CBO?
No inter-circle or corporate/foreign posting is allowed until promotion to SMGS-IV or completion of 12 years of service, whichever is later.

What is the application fee for SBI CBO 2026?
₹750 for General, OBC and EWS candidates, while SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempted.

When is the SBI CBO 2026 application period?
Online applications are accepted from 29 January 2026 to 18 February 2026.

How can candidates apply for SBI CBO 2026?
Candidates must apply online through SBI’s official career website only.

Is offline application allowed for SBI CBO?
No, only online applications are accepted.

Can SBI clerical employees apply for CBO?
No, SBI clerical or supervisory staff are not eligible.

Are private bank officers eligible for SBI CBO?
Yes, officers from private sector scheduled commercial banks are eligible subject to salary and experience conditions.

Is there any minimum salary requirement for private bank candidates?
Yes, a minimum annual gross salary of ₹9.50 lakh is required.

Is PwBD reservation available in SBI CBO recruitment?
Yes, 4% horizontal reservation is available for eligible PwBD candidates.

Is scribe facility available in SBI CBO exam?
Yes, eligible PwBD candidates can avail scribe facility with compensatory time.

Is pre-examination training provided for SBI CBO?
Yes, online pre-examination training may be provided to eligible SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates.

Where will SBI CBO call letters be available?
Call letters will be available for download on SBI’s official website only.

Will SBI send hard copy call letters by post?
No, call letters will not be sent by post.

Can SBI cancel the CBO recruitment process?
Yes, SBI reserves the right to cancel or modify the recruitment process at any stage.

Is SBI CBO a good career option?
Yes, it is ideal for experienced bankers seeking job security, good salary, benefits and long-term career growth in India’s largest PSU bank.