Many of those candidates who want to become a PO in a bank have this question on their minds: SBI PO or IBPS PO, which is a better career choice? They want to know which of these two positions offers better career progression. Do you also want to become a PO? Has this question also arisen in your mind? In this blog, we will tell you which choice is better for you. To make it easier, we will compare SBI PO and IBPS PO on several parameters to help you make the best choice. Read to make a well-informed decision.
IBPS PO or SBI PO, Salary & Other Monetary Benefits
Candidates who plan to prepare for the SBI PO or IBPS PO exam are, first of all, eager to know how much salary and what monetary benefits they will receive. They want to know whether they will get accommodation or medical aid benefits or not. And if they do, then how much. The information regarding this is provided in the table below.
| Aspect | SBI PO Salary | IBPS PO Salary |
| Basic Salary | Rs. 41,960/- with four increments in the scale of 36000-1490/7-46430-1740/2-49910-1990/7-63840. | Revised basic pay structure: Rs. 36,000 – (980 x 7) INR – 42,860 – (1145 x 2) – 45,150 – (1310 x 7) – 54,320. |
| Monthly Salary | Rs. 52,000/- to Rs. 58,000/- per month. | Own salary is Rs. 57,289, which may vary by location. |
| Accommodation | Eligible to draw an amount ranging from Rs 8,000 in class C cities to Rs 29,500 in Mumbai. | HRA depends on the location and varies between 9%, 8%, and 7%. Some banks provide accommodation. |
| Medical Aid | Provided through CGHS scheme: 100% benefit to the individual and 75% to the family. | Fixed medical aid of Rs. 8,000 per year in most IBPS participating banks. |
| Other Perks | Benefits are more or less similar, but the amount of allowances varies. | Benefits are similar, but specific allowances may differ. |
IBPS PO or SBI PO, Selection Process
Both exams have the same selection processes, the only difference being that SBI has a Group Exercise along with an interview round. The three stages that both exams share are:
- Preliminary Exam
- Mains Exam
- Group Discussion and Interview
Check out the table below for a concise comparison between the selection process of both the exams:
| IBPS PO Vs SBI PO, Selection Process | ||
| Aspect | SBI PO Selection Process | IBPS PO Selection Process |
| Exam Difficulty | SBI PO exam is tougher compared to IBPS PO. | IBPS PO exam is comparatively easier than SBI PO. |
| Recruitment Scope | Exclusively for recruitment in the State Bank of India (SBI). | Conducted for the recruitment in all nationalized banks participating in IBPS. |
| Preliminary Exam | The first stage is the Preliminary Exam (objective). | The first stage is also a Preliminary Exam (objective). |
| Mains Exam | Followed by a Mains Exam (objective) with a descriptive test. | Same as SBI PO. A Mains Exam (objective) with a descriptive test. |
| Group Exercise & Interview | Includes a Group Exercise and an Interview after the Mains Exam. | Only includes an Interview after the Mains Exam. |
| Selection Stages | 1. Preliminary Exam 2. Mains Exam with Descriptive Test 3. Group Exercise 4. Interview | 1. Preliminary Exam 2. Mains Exam with Descriptive Test 3. Interview |
| Final Placement | Successful candidates are placed in various branches of SBI. | Successful candidates are placed in one of the participating banks of the IBPS recruitment drive. |
| Qualifying Rounds | Candidates must clear Prelims and Mains, followed by Group Exercise and Interview. | Candidates must clear Prelims, Mains, and the Interview. |
IBPS PO or SBI PO, Job Profile
Both SBI PO and IBPS PO roles share similar work profiles. Their responsibilities include customer service, cash handling, and clerical tasks during high-pressure periods. Check out the table below to go through the most important parts of their profile:
| IBPS PO Vs SBI PO, Job Profile | ||
| Task | SBI PO Job Profile | IBPS PO Job Profile |
| Customer Service | The most important work is customer service, which involves solving customer queries regarding loans, accounts, deposits, and other banking services. | Similar customer service tasks such as assisting customers with loans, new accounts, deposits, checkbooks, credit cards, and online banking. |
| Bringing New Business | POs have a target of bringing new business by offering multiple products like fixed deposits, insurance policies, and DMAT. | POs also help bring in new business by offering different banking products and services. They help both new and existing customers with their needs. |
| Account and Cash Handling | Manages customer accounts, handles cash disbursal, cash collection from cashiers, and clears payments. | Engaged in managing customer accounts, cash handling, and payment clearance activities. |
| Clerical Duties | May be required to perform clerk duties during busy hours. | Required to assist with clerical work during high-pressure situations. |
| Other Responsibilities | Involves payment clearances, maintaining reports, and handling official correspondence with other departments. | Responsible for payment clearances, report maintenance, and official communication with other departments. |
SBI PO or IBPS PO, Advantages and Disadvantages
Candidates should also be well aware of all the advantages and disadvantages that both jobs involve to compare them in a better way. Check out the table below for another comparison of both posts from the perspective of career prospects, salary, social status, foreign posting, work-life balance, and job security.
| SBI PO or IBPS PO, Advantages and Disadvantages | ||||
| Criteria | SBI PO Advantages | SBI PO Disadvantages | IBPS PO Advantages | IBPS PO Disadvantages |
| Career Prospects | Better career prospects with more frequent promotions and rewards for employees with extra skills. | Frequent transfers due to the large number of branches and compulsory transfer every 3 years. | Low work pressure compared to SBI PO. | Rural postings are not uncommon. |
| Salary | Handsome salary with a higher package than other public sector banks and 4 increments offered by SBI. | N/A | Attractive salary with additional benefits like concessionary loans. | N/A |
| Social Status | High social status and reverence. | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Foreign Postings | Greater chances of foreign postings due to SBI’s extensive network of branches abroad. | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Work-Life Balance | N/A | Poor work-life balance due to immense work pressure and long working hours. | N/A | Promotions are not as frequent as in SBI PO. |
| Job Security | N/A | N/A | Job security without the fear of layoffs or recession. | N/A |
| Postings | N/A | More likely to get posted in rural areas because of the bank’s reach in those regions. | N/A | N/A |
IBPS PO Or SBI PO, Career Growth and Promotion
In terms of career advancement or promotions, SBI PO has better opportunities than any other bank that comes under IBPS. If you can manage work pressure well and demonstrate your abilities to your organization, you will be rewarded with additional perks and benefits. Plus, SBI provides better opportunities for foreign postings. Check out the table below to see which posts lead to which position,
| IBPS PO or SBI PO, Career Growth and Promotion | |||
| Position | Career Path (IBPS PO & SBI PO) | SBI PO | IBPS PO |
| Junior Management Grade – Scale I | Officer (PO) | Career prospects are far greater in SBI PO than in IBPS PO. It offers more perks, benefits, and chances of foreign postings. | Entry-level post in the management grade. |
| Middle Management Grade – Scale II | Manager | ||
| Middle Management Grade – Scale III | Senior Manager | ||
| Senior Management Grade – Scale IV | Chief Manager | ||
| Senior Management Grade – Scale V | Assistant General Manager | ||
| Top Management Grade – Scale VI | Deputy General Manager | ||
| Top Management Grade – Scale VII | General Manager | ||
| Executive Director (ED) | |||
| Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) | |||
Conclusion
If you are applying for either of the two posts, you must take into account all the differences we have mentioned above. SBI PO is tougher than the IBPS PO. And the factors that make it harder to crack are the availability of vacancies, and the number of applications received, benefits, and much better exposure. On the other hand, IBPS PO can be a better option for many candidates, because it offers a greater number of vacancies as compared to SBI PO, making it easier to crack. Hence, the comparisons we have made will help you in making a well-informed decision as to which job suits you best.
| Related Blogs: | |
| IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2024 | IBPS PO Salary 2024 |
| IBPS PO Previous Year Question Paper | IBPS PO Syllabus 2024 |
| IBPS PO Cut Off 2024 | IBPS PO Study Plan 2024 |
SBI PO or IBPS PO FAQs
SBI PO career is better and its career progression is faster compared with other IBPS banks. Candidates who manage the workload well in SBI banks are rewarded. Plus, they receive multiple perks and benefits. SBI also offers better chances for international postings.
SBI PO exam is only for SBI and its associate banks. IBPS PO exam is for the rest of the public sector banks (PSBs). SBI PO has a higher salary with many more incentives. When you talk about the work pressure, it is more when you work as an SBI PO than as an IBPS PO.
Yes, you can prepare for both IBPS PO and SBI PO exams at the same time. The syllabus and overall difficulty level of both exams are almost similar. This can help you prepare for both exams simultaneously.
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