SBI to Hire 3,500 Officers to Enhance Services and Promote Gender Diversity

SBI's Recruitment Plans

The State Bank of India (SBI), recognized as the largest bank in the nation, is set to recruit around 3,500 officers to bolster its operations and improve service delivery nationwide.

In a recent interview, Kishore Kumar Poludasu, SBI's Deputy Managing Director (Human Resources) and Chief Development Officer (CDO), revealed that the bank had previously hired 505 Probationary Officers (POs) in June and is currently working to fill an equal number of vacancies, with applications already submitted.

Continuing Recruitment for POs and Circle Officers

Poludasu mentioned that about 1,300 specialist officers have been appointed to oversee IT and cybersecurity roles.

An advertisement has been published for 541 PO positions, with applications already in progress. The recruitment process for POs consists of three phases: a preliminary exam, a main exam, a psychometric test, and an interview.

Moreover, he indicated that the appointment of around 3,000 circle-based officers is anticipated to be finalized within the current financial year.

SBI's Ambitious Hiring Goals

Earlier this year, SBI Chairman CS Shetty announced plans to recruit approximately 18,000 individuals across various roles, with about 13,500 of these being clerical positions, while the remainder will include probationary and locally employed officers.

In the first quarter, SBI disclosed the recruitment of 13,455 junior associates and 505 POs to enhance customer service at its branches across the country.

Poludasu also highlighted the bank's commitment to promoting gender diversity, aiming to elevate the female workforce to 30% within five years.

Targeting Gender Diversity

Currently, women make up around 33% of frontline employees, but overall, they account for 27% of the total workforce. The bank is dedicated to improving this figure to foster greater diversity.

SBI employs over 240,000 individuals, making it the largest employer in the banking sector and across all organizations in the country.

He emphasized that the bank is focused on creating an environment where women can excel at all levels, implementing targeted programs to promote leadership, work-life balance, and respect in the workplace.

Initiatives for Women's Empowerment

Poludasu outlined several initiatives aimed at supporting women within the bank, including providing crèche allowances for working mothers, conducting family outreach programs, and offering training for women returning from maternity leave, sabbaticals, or extended sick leave.

Additionally, the 'Empower Her' initiative is designed to identify, mentor, and prepare women for leadership roles through structured labs and coaching sessions, with the goal of increasing female representation in leadership positions and developing a robust pipeline of future women executives.