IBPS Clerk vs SBI Clerk: Which Should You Choose?
India's two biggest bank clerk exams compared: banks, vacancies, pay, exam pattern and which to target.
IBPS Clerk and SBI Clerk both recruit graduates into the clerical cadre of public-sector banks, with near-identical syllabi. IBPS Clerk fills posts across 11 participating banks through one common process; SBI Clerk (officially Junior Associate) recruits only for the State Bank of India, state by state. The real differences are the employer, the pay and how vacancies are allotted.
IBPS Clerk
IBPS Common Recruitment Process for Customer Service Associates (Clerical Cadre)
- Vacancies / Year
- 4,000 to 7,000+
- Participating Banks
- 11
- Exam Phases
- 2 (Prelims + Mains)
- Starting Salary
- ₹29,000+/month (in-hand)
Eligibility
Education: Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university. Local language proficiency (reading/writing) of the state of posting.
Age: 20 to 28 years (SC/ST: +5 years, OBC: +3 years, PwD: +10 years)
SBI Clerk
State Bank of India Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)
- Vacancies / Year
- 6,589 (2025; incl. 1,409 backlog)
- Participating Banks
- SBI (single bank; state-wise vacancies)
- Exam Phases
- 2 (Prelims + Mains) + LPT; no interview
- Starting Salary
- ₹46,000/month in-hand (basic ₹26,730)
Eligibility
Education: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university (or equivalent). Final-year candidates may apply provisionally. Knowledge of the official/local language of the state applied for is required.
Age: 20 to 28 years (as on 01.04.2025). OBC: +3 years, SC/ST: +5 years, PwD: +10 to +15 years; Ex-servicemen and widows/divorced women per government norms.
Key differences at a glance
- IBPS Clerk recruits for 11 participating public-sector banks; SBI Clerk recruits only for SBI.
- SBI Clerk's starting pay (about ₹46,000/month in-hand) is higher than IBPS Clerk's (₹29,000+/month in-hand).
- Both have Prelims and Mains with no interview; selection rests on the Mains score.
- SBI Clerk adds a Language Proficiency Test for candidates who did not study the local language in class 10.
- Both take graduates aged 20 to 28, with the usual category relaxations.
Which should you choose?
Prepare for both: the syllabus is almost the same and neither has an interview. If you have to prioritise, SBI Clerk pays more at entry and gives you a single large employer, while IBPS Clerk spreads its vacancies across 11 banks, which can give you more chances of a final allotment. Both require the local language of the state you apply for, so choose your state carefully in either exam.
IBPS Clerk vs SBI Clerk: FAQ
Is SBI Clerk better than IBPS Clerk?
SBI Clerk pays more at entry and comes with SBI's scale. IBPS Clerk offers posts across 11 banks. The syllabus overlaps almost completely, so most candidates sit both.
Is there an interview in IBPS Clerk or SBI Clerk?
No. Both select on the Mains score, after a qualifying Prelims.
Can a clerk become an officer?
Yes. In both, clerks can move to the officer cadre through internal promotion, and clearing JAIIB and CAIIB helps.
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