SBI PO vs IBPS PO: The Honest Comparison
One bank versus eleven, higher pay versus more seats. The syllabus overlap means you rarely have to choose.
Choose SBI PO if pay and brand are your priority: it starts around ₹80,000-82,000 in hand against IBPS PO's roughly ₹52,000-60,000 CTC per month, but offered only 541 posts in the 2025 cycle. Choose IBPS PO if the odds matter more: one exam feeds 11 public sector banks with 3,000 to 5,000+ vacancies a year.
In practice, most serious aspirants prepare for both. The syllabus overlaps almost entirely, the phases mirror each other, and the same preparation covers the two with small adjustments. The comparison below is about knowing what differs, not about picking one to abandon.
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SBI PO vs IBPS PO: Side by Side
Recruiting for
SBI PO
State Bank of India (single bank, 22,500+ branches)
IBPS PO
11 participating public sector banks
Vacancies
SBI PO
541 (2025 cycle)
IBPS PO
3,000-5,000+ per year
Starting pay
SBI PO
Basic ₹48,480; ~₹80,000-82,000/month in-hand; CTC ~₹21.97 L/yr
IBPS PO
Basic ₹36,000; CTC ~₹52,000-60,000/month
Phases
SBI PO
Prelims + Mains (objective + descriptive) + Phase III (GE & Interview)
IBPS PO
Prelims + Mains (objective + descriptive) + Interview
Final merit split
SBI PO
Mains 75% : Phase III 25%
IBPS PO
Mains 80% : Interview 20%
Selection round beyond mains
SBI PO
Psychometric test, Group Exercise (20 marks) + Interview (30 marks)
IBPS PO
Interview (100 marks)
Attempt limit
SBI PO
General 4, OBC 7, SC/ST/PwD unlimited within age limit
IBPS PO
No official attempt limit; age ceiling applies
| Factor | SBI PO | IBPS PO |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting for | State Bank of India (single bank, 22,500+ branches) | 11 participating public sector banks |
| Vacancies | 541 (2025 cycle) | 3,000-5,000+ per year |
| Starting pay | Basic ₹48,480; ~₹80,000-82,000/month in-hand; CTC ~₹21.97 L/yr | Basic ₹36,000; CTC ~₹52,000-60,000/month |
| Phases | Prelims + Mains (objective + descriptive) + Phase III (GE & Interview) | Prelims + Mains (objective + descriptive) + Interview |
| Final merit split | Mains 75% : Phase III 25% | Mains 80% : Interview 20% |
| Selection round beyond mains | Psychometric test, Group Exercise (20 marks) + Interview (30 marks) | Interview (100 marks) |
| Attempt limit | General 4, OBC 7, SC/ST/PwD unlimited within age limit | No official attempt limit; age ceiling applies |
Where the Exams Genuinely Differ
Difficulty concentrates differently. SBI's mains has a reputation for tougher DI and puzzle sets and adds a group exercise to the selection, while IBPS PO's interview alone carries its non-mains weight. SBI also caps general-category attempts at 4, a constraint IBPS PO does not impose, which changes how casually you should burn an attempt.
The other real difference is scale against selectivity. IBPS PO's ~60:1 competition ratio across thousands of seats gives a well-prepared candidate more paths in; SBI PO's few hundred posts make every stage's cut-off sharper. Neither is easy. They are hard in different shapes.
The overlap means one practice bank serves both.
Preparing for Both: What Actually Changes
- check_circleCore sections are shared: quant/DI, reasoning, English and banking awareness appear in both mains.
- check_circleTrain DI and puzzles to SBI's difficulty; IBPS PO's sets then feel manageable rather than the reverse.
- check_circleBoth have a descriptive paper in mains, so one typed essay-and-letter habit serves both calendars.
- check_circleTrack both notifications separately: cycles, fees and dates are set independently by SBI and IBPS.
SBI PO vs IBPS PO FAQs
Which pays more, SBI PO or IBPS PO?expand_more
SBI PO. It starts at a basic of ₹48,480 with roughly ₹80,000-82,000 per month in hand and a CTC of about ₹21.97 lakh per year. IBPS PO starts at a basic of ₹36,000 with a monthly CTC of roughly ₹52,000-60,000.
Which is harder to crack?expand_more
SBI PO is the more selective exam: 541 posts in the 2025 cycle against IBPS PO's 3,000-5,000+ annual vacancies, with a mains known for tougher DI and puzzles. IBPS PO's competition ratio of roughly 60:1 still makes it a demanding exam in its own right.
Can I prepare for SBI PO and IBPS PO together?expand_more
Yes, and most serious aspirants do. The syllabus overlaps almost fully across quant, reasoning, English, banking awareness and descriptive writing. Prepare to SBI's difficulty level and both exams are covered.
Do both exams have an interview?expand_more
Yes, but structured differently. IBPS PO has a 100-mark interview weighted 20% in final merit. SBI PO's Phase III combines a group exercise (20 marks) and interview (30 marks) for 25% of final merit, plus a qualifying psychometric test.
Next steps
- Salary & Careerarrow_forward
- Exam Patternarrow_forward
- Preparationarrow_forward
- IBPS PO Guidearrow_forward
- SBI PO Guidearrow_forward
Whichever you pick, the sections are the same. Start free.