Important Banking exams in India

Banking has always been considered a golden sector for employment because of their pay scale and work zone. Every year, the banking sector recruits thousands of candidates through a series of exams and interviews.

Shiksha.com lists the top exams in banking and financial sector:

1. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS): IBPS conducts four crucial Common Written Examinations for recruitment at various levels. These are: 

• CWE for Probationary Officers (PO)/Management Trainee (MT) [Written entrance was last held on June 17, 2013. The next exam will be held in mid/late October, 2013.]
• CWE for Specialist Officers [Last held on March 17, 2013]
• CWE for Clerical Cadre [Written entrance last held in December (dates: 15/16/22/23/29/30), 2012]
• CWE - Regional Rural Banks [Tentative dates for online entrance for the post of Officers are September 21 and 22, 2013 and that of the Office Assistant (Multipurpose) on September 28/29 or October 5/6, 2013]

About 19 participating public sector banks recruit their POs/MTs through this exam.  These banks/institutions are:

The scores are used by a few other Banks and Financial Institutions like IDBI Bank, ECGC etc for selection for entry level Officers’ posts.

2. State Bank of India (SBI): The largest national bank of India conducts their own recruitment process for probationary officers and clerks. In 2013, SBI reported a vacancy of 1500 officers. It is rumoured that the bank will publish about 19000 clerical vacancies in 2013.

The bank conducts the following two exams:

• Probationary Officer [Last held on April 28, 2013]

• Clerical Cadre [Last held on May 27 and June 3, 2012]

3. RBI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central body of India’s financial system, maintaining the nation’s monetary and financial stability. RBI is known as the banker of the banks. The primary financial institute of India conducts exams for the following level: 

• RBI Assistant Exam [Last held on July 20, 21, 27 and 28, 2013]
• RBI Officer – Grade B [Phase-I online examination will be held on n August 17/24/25, 2013]

4. Private Banks: There are about 16 domestic players and more than 30 international players in Indian banking market. These conduct separate exams and interview process for entry level hiring.