SBI Clerk or IBPS Clerk-Which Offers Better Career Growth?
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SBI Clerk and IBPS Clerk are one of the most sought-after clerical exams. Although both are clerical exams, the main difference between SBI Clerk and IBPS Clerk is that the recruitment for Clerk in SBI is done only to appoint Clerks in The State Bank of India. IBPS Clerk recruitment, on the other hand, is conducted to appoint Clerks in 19 Public Sector Banks. There are mainly 3 clerical cadre exams conducted in the banking sector. They are-SBI Clerk, IBPS Clerk, and IBPS RRB Clerk.

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This article will help aspirants know the major differences between SBI Clerk and IBPS Clerk and help them in decide which among the two will be a better option for them.

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SBI Clerk vs IBPS Clerk – An Overview 

CATEGORYIBPS Clerk  SBI Clerk 
Job profile   Public dealing and clerical working, reporting to PO Public dealing and clerical working, reporting to PO 
Posting   Urban/Rural   Urban /Rural 
PromotionsEvery 2 years   After 2-3 years   
Transfer Usually after 5 years  Only after 5 years of service 
Exam Type   Online: Prelims + Mains   Online: Prelims + Mains 
Bond3 Years    2 years   

SBI Clerk Exam Pattern vs IBPS exam Pattern

The SBI Clerk exam pattern and the IBPS exam pattern are the same. Candidates preparing for the exam can fill out either of the two forms as the syllabus and exam pattern for the two are the same.

SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2022

S. No.Name of Tests (ObjectiveNo. of QuestionsMaximum MarksDuration
1English Language303020 minutes
2Quantitative Aptitude353520 minutes
3Reasoning Ability353520 minutes
Total10010060 minutes

SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2022

S. No.Name of Tests (Objective)No. of QuestionsMaximum MarksDuration
1Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude506045
minutes
2General English404035 minutes
3Quantitative Aptitude505045 minutes
4General/Financial Awareness505035 minutes
Total1902002 Hours 40 Minutes

IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern

SectionsNo. of QuestionsTotal MarksTime Duration
English Language303020 minutes
Numerical Ability353520 minutes
Reasoning Ability353520 minutes
Total10010060 minutes/ 1 hour

IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern

SectionsNo. of QuestionsMaximum MarksSectional Duration
General/ Financial Awareness505035 minutes
General English404035 minutes
Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude506045 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude505045 minutes
Total190200160 minutes

SBI Clerk vs IBPS Clerk-Salary

The salaries of both the posts are somewhat identical. But SBI offers four increments in salary as compared to other Public Sector Banks which makes the salary of an SBI Clerk slightly higher than an IBPS Clerk. You can check the structure of the SBI Clerk and IBPS Clerk after the 11th bipartite settlement through the below table:

FactorsSBI Clerk (INR)IBPS Clerk (INR)
Basic Pay17,90017,900 
Special Allowance911.79911.79
Dearness Allowances 51.2% of Basic Pay51.2% of Basic Pay
City Compensatory Allowance 00
House Rent Allowance 800-11761058 – 1176
Transport Allowance depends on the posting location425
Salary (In Hand)24000-29000 (On the basis of posting location)22000-26000(On the basis of posting location)

SBI Clerk vs IBPS Clerk – BOND   

SBI Clerk IBPS Clerk 
No bond signing No bond signing 

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Career Growth Plan Comparison

IBPS Clerk SBI Clerk 
Most promotions take place within 2-3 years of regular service. There are two processes set in place to grab a promotional opportunity as an IBPS Clerk.  
Normal process: In it, promotions are given on the basis of seniority and work experience.    
Merit-based process: In it, you can get promotions if you acquire JAIIB & CAIIB (exams) diplomas from the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance.  
An SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) can get promoted up to 3 times: You can get a promotion after completing 10 years of service, then after completing 20 years of service, and finally when they have completed 30 years of service.  JAIIB and CAIIB can also help you get promoted.

Work Culture   & Pressure

Even though the responsibilities of an IBPS Clerk and SBI Clerk are similar, the work pressure in both these roles is different.

IBPS Clerk SBI Clerk 
IBPS Clerks face low or moderate work pressure, especially in rural areas. They also enjoy moderate working hours, making it a more relaxed job. The challenges faced by IBPS Clerks are less compared to the SBI Clerks. SBI Clerks are always busy no matter what their posting location is, as SBI branch offices remain occupied all day. SBI, by comparison, is a much bigger organization and market shareholder which attracts many customers. The work pressure is always high. 

RBI Assistant vs IBPS Clerk – Transfer Policy  

IBPS Clerk SBI Clerk 
Transfers happen every 5 years. Can be transferred to Rural or Urban Areas    Only after 5 years of service 

SBI Clerk vs IBPS Clerk-Which is better?

As an SBI Clerk, you have the opportunity of being promoted to a post equivalent to a Probationary Officer within 3 to 4 years of appointment. On the other hand, it may take more years for an IBPS Clerk to become an Officer in the Organisation. There is the almost same growth graph for both IBPS and SBI Clerk, but an SBI Clerk may be promoted to a higher position when compared to the Clerk in any other Public Sector Bank under IBPS. Therefore, working with SBI, as a clerk, is like working in a commercial organization where business numbers matter. Plus, the State Bank of India is also a listed company and competes with private banks for business. Therefore, you will learn and do business while working with SBI and you will be directly reaching millions of customers and learning to make lending decisions. Both Clerical jobs offer good career prospects and therefore are among the best banking jobs in the country. You can choose the right option for you, after analyzing all the comparisons mentioned above, and taking into care your personality, temperament, and ability.

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By Asad Yar Khan

I write and oversee the creation of informative educational blogs centering around study strategies, exam techniques, and more, to guide aspirants in clearing SSC, banking, engineering, and other competitive exams. I ensure a range of subjects are covered with precision and clarity. With over 7 years of diverse writing experience, I share a wealth of wisdom and expertise with thousands of students, through PracticeMock every day, helping them achieve their goals.

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