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What is the difference between IBPS and SBI?
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IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) is an agency that runs one common recruitment process for several public sector banks. SBI (State Bank of India) is a single bank that recruits for itself. Clearing an IBPS exam gets you allotted to one of the participating banks, while clearing an SBI exam makes you an SBI employee.
Who recruits and where you work
- IBPS PO/MT: a common process for 11 public sector banks in the 2026 cycle, including Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India. SBI is not among them.
- SBI PO: conducted by SBI's Central Recruitment & Promotion Department, for SBI only.
- Clerks: IBPS recruits Customer Service Associates (CSA) state-wise for those banks; SBI recruits Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) state-wise for itself.
The 2026 PO exams side by side
| Feature | IBPS PO/MT-XVI | SBI PO (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims sections | English 30, Quant 35, Reasoning 35 questions (unequal marks) | English 40, Quant 30, Reasoning 30 questions |
| Sectional cut-off in Prelims | Yes | No |
| Mains objective | 170 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes | 170 questions, 200 marks, 3 hours |
| Descriptive | Essay and Comprehension, 25 marks | "Communication Skills", 30 marks |
| After Mains | Personality Test, then interview (100 marks) | Psychometric test, group exercise and interview |
| Final merit | Mains 80 : Interview 20 | Mains 75 : Group exercise and interview 25 |
| Minimum age | 20 | 21 |
| Degree timing | Graduate on the day of registration | Final-year students may apply provisionally |
| Attempt limit | None stated | 6 / 9 / unlimited by category |
| Application fee | ₹850 (₹175 SC/ST/PwBD) | ₹750 (nil SC/ST/PwBD) |
The 2026 clerk exams
SBI Junior Associate Mains still has a Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude section and runs 190 questions in 160 minutes. IBPS CSA Mains has no separate Computer Aptitude section and has 160 questions in 125 minutes. Both have no interview. Do not mix the two when you study.
Which should you target?
Apply to both when you qualify. The preparation overlaps heavily: both test English, Quant, Reasoning and banking awareness. The differences that need separate planning are the SBI PO descriptive paper, the absence of a sectional cut-off in SBI's Prelims, and, for IBPS, sectional cut-offs and the Personality Test. For detailed plans, see the IBPS PO syllabus and exam pattern and the SBI PO syllabus and exam pattern. If you are weighing officer against clerk, read bank PO vs clerk, and the list of bank exams shows RBI, NABARD and RRB options too.
Source
- IBPS CRP PO/MT-XVI detailed notification (30 June 2026)
- SBI PO 2026 detailed advertisement (18 June 2026)
Patterns change between cycles, so confirm them in the current notifications.
Know which section is costing you the cut-off
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- Bank exams listEvery major bank exam in India in one list: IBPS PO, Clerk, SO, RRB, SBI PO and Clerk, RBI Grade B and Assistant, NABARD, with qualification and exam windows.
- Bank PO vs clerkBank PO vs clerk compared on the 2026 notifications: starting pay, role, posting, exam stages, interview and promotion, plus how to choose your first target.
- IBPS PO syllabusIBPS PO syllabus and pattern for the 2026 cycle: prelims and mains tables, descriptive test, Personality Test, interview weightage and commonly tested topics.
- SBI PO syllabus and patternSBI PO 2026 pattern and syllabus: prelims English 40, Quant 30, Reasoning 30; mains with the new email and situation-analysis descriptive; 75:25 merit weights.
More in Bank exams
- IBPS PO Mains 2026 dateIBPS scheduled the PO/MT-XVI Mains for 4 October 2026 in its tentative calendar. See the Mains pattern and the later stages, with dates marked tentative.
- Interview for IBPS ClerkThere is no interview for IBPS Clerk (CSA). Selection is on Mains marks, followed by a language test where needed. See the stages and other no-interview posts.
- IBPS PO attempt limitThe IBPS PO/MT-XVI notification sets no attempt limit. Only the age limit of 20 to 30 years, with relaxations, decides how long you can keep applying.
- IBPS Clerk: one state onlyIBPS Clerk (CSA) lets you apply for vacancies in one State or UT only. SBI Junior Associate has the same rule. How to choose your state wisely.
- IBPS Clerk salaryIBPS Clerk (Customer Service Associate) starts at a basic pay of ₹24,050 in a scale ending at ₹64,480. See the scale, the SBI clerk comparison and caveats.
- IBPS Clerk Mains 2026 dateIBPS Clerk (CSA-XVI) Prelims is tentatively on 10 and 11 October 2026 and the Mains on 27 December 2026. See the pattern and what follows.
- IBPS Clerk local language testIBPS Clerk (CSA) requires proficiency in the local language of your state. You are exempt only if your Class 10 or higher mark-sheet shows you studied it.
- IBPS Clerk is now CSAIBPS now recruits clerks as Customer Service Associate (CSA). The 2026 Mains has 160 questions and no Computer Aptitude section. Old patterns are outdated.