The Banking sector in India has always been one of the most preferred destinations for employment. In this decade, this sector has emerged as a sunrise sector in the Indian economy. Banking sector index has grown at a compounded annual rate of over 51 per cent since the year 2001. The Banking Industry is recruiting in a big way. In the next five years, banks will have to recruit almost 7.5 lakh people.

Now, banks have diversified their activities and getting into new products and services that include opportunities in credit cards, consumer finance, wealth management, life and general insurance, investment banking, mutual funds, pension fund regulation, stock broking services, custodian services and private equity etc. Further, most of the leading Indian banks are going global, setting up offices in foreign countries themselves or through their subsidiaries.

The expansion of the banking sector and its convergence with the other financial sectors such as insurance, NBFCs and Capital markets, retirement of the existing employees and financial inclusion have created more number of opportunities in the banking sector.

Infrastructure, Risk Management, Banking and Financial Services, Management Information Systems and Customer Relations Management are a few areas where specialization is expected.

Career as a Bank Clerk:

A bank clerk enjoys job security, challenging work environment, opportunity to strengthen customer relation skills, using best available technology and working to learn under worthy senior officers. He is trained on the job and at the Bank’s Staff Training Colleges and given opportunity through departmental exams of the bank or otherwise to rise to the higher levels of management in the bank. He gets the opportunity of life-long learning in Banking, Finance, Management and other areas of his choice through various national level institutions set up for Bankers’ education. One need not be surprised to find many senior staffs in most of the branches of various banks as well as at the Regional, Zonal and Head Offices of the banks who had joined the bank in the clerical cadre.

Public Sector Banks form the major recruiter group for candidates aspiring for bank jobs. They are:

  1. State Bank of India
  2. Nationalised Banks (Total: 19 Banks) which include Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Dena Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab & Sind Bank, Punjab National Bank, Syndicate Bank, UCO Bank, United Bank of India, Union Bank of India and Vijaya Bank.
  3. Other Public Sector Bank (Total: 1 Bank) i.e. IDBI Bank Limited.
  4. Private Sector Banks: The major recruiters in the private sector include the ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Federal Bank, Centurion Bank of Punjab, Indusind Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, ING Vysya Bank, Bank of Rajasthan, Karur Vysya Bank, Karnataka Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, South Indian Bank, Bharat Overseas Bank, etc. 
  5. Co-operative Banks: All major National and State Co-operative Banks and Scheduled Urban Co-operative Banks conduct their own exams to recruit Officers. 
  6. RRBs(Regional Rural Banks): Regional rural banks in India have penetrated every corner of the country and extended a helping hand in the growth process of the country. There are total of 82 banks across the country.

Generally, the bank examinations are of the following types:

  1. A series of Common Written Examinations (CWEs) conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) as a prerequisite for the selection of personnel for Probationary Officer / Management Trainee / Clerk / Specialist Officer posts in Public Sector banks (other than SBI) and for Officers and Office Assistants in Regional Rural Banks
  2. Exam conducted by SBI for recruitment to the posts of Clerks and Officers
  3. Recruitment by Private banks and PSBs through one year Post Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance (PGDBF) course in Manipal Global Education Services Pvt Ltd. Bangalore (MaGE) and Nitte Education International Pvt Ltd. Greater Noida (NEIPL)

The Banking Industry is recruiting in a big way. In the next few years, banks will have to recruit lakhs of candidates. IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) conducts series of CWEs in a year – once for each of PO (General Banking Officer – GBO), Clerical (Single Window Operator – SWO), Specialist Officers for recruitment into the Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks to cater to the need of the industry and also to the needs of job aspirants. This means that aspirants are clear about when they should apply, and can plan their preparation in an organised and effective manner.

The first ever CWE for PO/MT was held in September 2011, for Clerks it was held in November 2011,for Specialist Officers it was conducted in March 2011 and for RRBs in September 2012.

Participating Banks:

Except for SBI, almost all the major Public Sector Banks are participating in the CWE. The 20 banks which are participating in the CWE are Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Dena Bank, IDBI Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India, UCO Bank and Vijaya Bank.

Cutoff Score:

Each candidate will be required to obtain a minimum score in each section. There will be a second level cutoff point on total as per requirement. Depending on the number of vacancies available,cutoffs will be decided and candidates will be shortlisted for interview (For PO).Prior to the completion of the interview process,scores obtained in the online examination will not be shared with the candidates shortlisted for interview. There are no interviews for Clerks. Final selection for Clerks is based on the marks obtained in Main Examination

Marks obtained only in the Main examination will be considered for short listing for interview (for PO) and also for Final merit listing.

Common Interviews for Bank Jobs: 

To put a check on multiple selections, IBPS has introduced a system of common interview.

Vacancies remaining unfilled on account of candidates declining offer, will be filled from among the remaining candidates, through subsequent iterations.

Clerks

ExamAge LimitQualification
IBPS CWE (Clerks) for PSBs20-28 YearsDegree in any discipline from a recognised university or any equivalent qualification
IBPS CWE (Office Assistants) for RRBs18-28 YearsDegree in any discipline from a recognised university or its equivalent.
SBI/SBI Associate Banks Clerks20-28 YearsDegree in any discipline from a recorgnised university or any equivalent qualification

Note 1: Age as on date specified in the notification
Note 2: Relaxation in age for reserved categories as per rules.

Computer Literacy

Some banks insist that the candidate should posses working knowledge of computers before joining the bank and few banks mention that the desired computer skills may be acquired within six months of joining the bank. If a candidate has not studied computers as one of the subjects in school/college, the candidate must possess a valid diploma (basic applications) in computers.

Language Proficiency

  • Public Sector BanksSince clerical cadre recruitment would be on State-wise basis, the candidate may also be required to possess proficiency in the Official Language of the State/UT for which vacancies he wishes to apply.
  • Regional Rural BanksProficiency in local language as prescribed by the participating RRB/s.

IBPS has released the cut offs and scores of CWE Clerks IV 2014 that was held in Dec 2014. IBPS had announced the result status on 6th Jan 2015 and on 10th Jan 2015 it has announced the cut offs and the scores.

IBPS has also released the list (Roll Nos) of all candidates who have been shortlisted for interviews. The interviews will be conducted in Feb 2015. More than a lakh candidates have been called for interview.

Cutoff scores and marks : Candidates who have not secured the cutoff marks on total score can view their scores now. The candidates shortlisted for interview will be able to view their scores only after the completion of interview process. The message that is being displayed on the score display screen of shortlisted candidates is : You have been shortlisted for Interviews. Scores obtained by you in the online examination will be available, through query based system, on IBPS website after completion of the entire interview process for CWE Clerk IV.

The scores can be checked at :http://ibps.sifyitest.com/cweclkivjan15/login.php?appid=dksfllkdamikefnaahs

The result status can be checked at : http://ibps.sifyitest.com/cweclkjan15/login.php?appid=dfnksfllkdaaahs

Maximum scores and Cut offs in each objective test
S. NoName of the testMax MarksCut off
SC/ST/OBC/PWDGeneral
1Numerical Ability40913
2Reasoning401116
3English Language40610
4Computer Knowledge401518
5General Awareness40710

The over all cutoffs on total score are different for each state /UT as the clerical vacancies are filled on state wise basis.

Roll numbers of candidates shortlisted for Interview: IBPS has released the list of roll numbers of all candidates who have been shortlisted for interviews.

About 1,00,577 candidates have been called for interview for filling Clerical vacancies in PSBs and other institutions/ organisations under Clerks CWE IV(Exam held in Dec 2014)

BANK JOBS Calendar 2020 – 21 (Clerical) (Updated as on 4th Sep 2021)
BankAgeEligibilityComputer LiteracyInterviewGD / GEOpening date for online registrationClosing date for online registration/ fee paymentPosts
SBI – Junior Associates20-28Graduate from any discipline from a recognized university27.04.202117.05.20215000
IBPS RRB-Clerk18 – 28Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or its equivalent08.06.202128.06.20216591
SBI – Apprentice20 – 28Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or its equivalent06.07.202126.07.20216100
IBPS-Clerk20-28Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or its equivalent12.07.202101.08.20215830
Total23521

Patterns of IBPS and SBI Clerk Exam patterns

SBI – Clerk (Junior Associates ) Prelim Exam 2021
Name of the TestNo of QuestionsMax MarksDuration (Min.)
English Language303020
Numerical Ability353520
Reasoning Ability353520
Total10010060
SBI – Clerk (Junior Associates ) Main Exam 2021
Name of the TestNo of QuestionsMax MarksDuration (Min.)
General / Financial Awareness505035
General English404035
Quantitative Aptitude505045
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude506045
TOTAL190200160
IBPS Clerk 2021 Prelim Exam
Name of TestsNo of QuestionsMax MarksDuration ( Min. )
English Language303020
Numerical Ability353520
Reasoning Ability353520
TOTAL100100
IBPS Clerk 2021 Main Exam
Name of TestsNo of QuestionsMax MarksDuration ( Min.)
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude506045
General / Financial Awareness505035
General English404035
Quantitative Aptitude505045
Total190200160