This year is set to be a milestone for job seekers aiming for a career in public sector banks. With business expanding and new branches opening, these banks are planning to hire around 50,000 new employees during the current financial year. This large-scale recruitment aims to strengthen their workforce and improve customer service across the country.
Who’s Hiring and How Many?
State Bank of India (SBI) Leads the Way
- SBI, the largest public sector bank, is at the forefront with plans to hire nearly 20,000 people this year.
- This includes both officers and junior associates (clerks).
- Recently, SBI has already recruited:
- 505 Probationary Officers (POs)
- 13,455 junior associates for branches in 35 states and union territories
- 505 Probationary Officers (POs)
- By March 2025, SBI’s total staff stood at 236,226, with 115,066 officers.
Punjab National Bank (PNB) Expanding Its Team
- PNB, the country’s second-largest public sector bank, plans to add over 5,500 new employees this year.
- As of March 2025, PNB’s total staff was 102,746.
Central Bank of India’s Hiring Plans
- The Central Bank of India is looking to recruit about 4,000 new employees this financial year.
Other Public Sector Banks
- The remaining public sector banks are also expected to contribute to the overall hiring, focusing on both officers and clerical positions.
Why Such a Big Recruitment Drive?
Meeting Growing Business Needs
- Public sector banks are expanding their reach and services, which means they need more staff to handle increased workloads and serve more customers.
Filling Vacant Positions
- Many positions, especially at the clerical level, need to be filled across various states and union territories.
Strengthening Customer Service
- By hiring more junior associates and officers, banks aim to provide better and faster service at their branches.
What Does This Mean for Job Seekers?
Wide Range of Opportunities
- There are jobs for candidates with different qualifications, including graduates, diploma holders, and even those with 10th or 12th pass certificates.
- Positions range from clerks and junior associates to officers and specialist officers.
Attractive Benefits
- Public sector banks are known for good salary packages, job security, and employee-friendly policies.
- SBI, for example, has a very low attrition rate (less than 2% per year), showing that employees are happy and tend to stay for a long time.
- The average hiring cost per full-time employee at SBI for 2024-25 was Rs 40,440.59.
Recruitment Process
- Selection usually involves written exams, interviews, and sometimes group discussions.
- Candidates can apply online through official bank websites or recruitment portals.
Future Plans: Growing Beyond Banking
Monetising Subsidiaries
- The finance ministry has advised public sector banks to consider listing their subsidiaries and joint ventures on the stock market in the future.
- Around 15 subsidiaries or joint ventures are being prepared for initial public offerings (IPOs) or divestment over the next few years.
- Banks are being encouraged to improve governance and operational efficiency in these subsidiaries before monetisation.
Key Takeaways
- 50,000 new jobs are opening up in public sector banks this year.
- Major banks like SBI, PNB, and Central Bank of India are leading the recruitment drive.
- Opportunities are available for people with different educational backgrounds.
- The recruitment aims to support business growth and improve customer service.
- Public sector banks offer stable jobs with good benefits and career growth.
If you’re looking to start or grow your career in banking, this is a great time to apply and be part of India’s expanding public sector banking industry.
