Which is Better, IBPS PO or SBI PO? Know Key Differences

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