SBI CBO vs SBI PO: Check All Difference and Which is Easy to Crack?

SBI CBO vs SBI PO: The State Bank of India announced two major career opportunities for banking aspirants for Circle Based Officer (CBO) and Probationary Officer (PO) posts. Both posts are highly in demand due to their attractive salaries, job security, and career growth prospects. In this article, we provide a detailed comparison between SBI CBO vs SBI PO based on various parameters to help candidates make informed career decisions. Additionally, we will provide detailed knowledge on which exam may be easier to crack based on the level of competition, exam pattern, and eligibility requirements.

SBI CBO vs SBI PO: Detailed Comparison

Let’s compare SBI CBO and SBI PO based on various parameters:

Parameter	SBI CBO	SBI PO
Full Form	Circle-Based Officer	Probationary Officer
Introduction Year	2020	Since inception of SBI
Who Can Apply?	Experienced bankers from Scheduled Commercial Banks or RRBs	Graduates (Freshers and professionals)
Recruitment Type	Lateral Entry	Direct Entry
Probation Period	Within the selected Circle (state/region)	2 years
Posting Type	Circle-Based Officer	Anywhere in India
Eligibility Experience	Minimum 2 years in officer cadre in a scheduled commercial bank/ RRB	No experience required
Selection Process	Online Test + Interview	Prelims + Mains + GD & Interview
Job Profile	Branch Banking, Credit, Operations, Customer Service	Branch Banking, Credit, Operations, Administration, and Business Development
Transfers	Limited to Circle initially	Can be transferred anywhere in India
Salary (Initial Pay)	₹36,000 (Basic) + allowances (CTC around ₹8–10 lakh p.a)	₹41,960 (Basic) + allowances (CTC around ₹10–12 lakh p.a)
Promotions	Similar to PO after confirmation and experience	Structured promotion policy with fast-track opportunities
Career Growth	AM → DM → Manager → AGM → DGM	AM → DM → Manager → AGM → DGM
Difficulty Level	Moderate (limited competition, lateral recruitment)	High (national level with lakhs of applicants)

SBI CBO vs SBI PO Job Profile

SBI CBO Job Profile:
The Circle Based Officer works in the Officer Cadre (Scale-I) and is responsible for:

• Managing daily banking operations.
• Overseeing credit and loan disbursements.
• Monitoring and managing the profitability of the branch.
• Ensuring compliance with banking regulations.
• Building and maintaining customer relationships.
• Assisting in administrative and managerial functions.

Acting as a branch head in small or medium-sized branches, depending on experience.

Key Points: Since CBOs are appointed with prior experience, they are expected to assume responsibilities rapidly with minimal training.

SBI PO Job Profile:
A Probationary Officer undergoes a structured probation of 2 years where they are trained in various departments and aspects of banking:

• Working as a branch officer managing deposits, loans and customer queries.
• Performing the functions of various departments like retail banking, credit, forex, human resources and compliance.
• Working as relief branch manager or assistant manager.
• Monitoring customer service and sales targets.
• Assisting in administrative tasks and regulatory compliance.

After successful completion of probation, they are promoted as assistant manager.

Key Points: SBI POs get diverse experiences in different banking verticals during probation

Key Differences in Job Profiles

Experience Level: SBI PO is an entry-level role for fresh graduates, while SBI CBO requires a minimum of two years of experience as an officer in a scheduled commercial bank or regional rural bank.

Scope of Work: Both roles involve similar managerial functions, but CBOs leverage their previous experience to handle more specialised tasks within a specific circle, while POs have a broader, more generalised role with possible clerical duties.

Transfer Policy: POs face frequent transfers (potentially every three months), including to rural areas, while CBOs stay in their assigned circles for longer periods, providing more location stability.

Salary Structure: SBI CBO vs SBI PO

Salary is the most important factor for aspirants, and both positions come with attractive pay packages.

SBI CBO Salary:

• Basic Pay: ₹36,000
• Pay Scale: ₹36,000-1490(7)-₹46,430-1740(2)-₹49,910-1990(7)-₹63,840
• Allowances: DA, HRA, CCA, Medical, PF, LTC, Petrol, Newspaper allowance
• Gross CTC: ₹8–10 lakh per annum (approx.)

Additional Benefits:

• 100% medical benefits for employees and 75% for dependents.
• Contributory pension fund.
• Leave encashment.
• Furniture allowance.

SBI PO Salary:

• Basic Pay: ₹41,960
• Pay Scale: ₹41,960-1490(4)-₹48,920-1740(1)-₹50,660-1990(10)-₹63,840
• Allowances: DA, HRA, CCA, Medical, PF, LTC, Petrol, Newspaper, Travelling allowances.
• Gross CTC: ₹10–12 lakh per annum (approx.)

Additional Benefits:

• Contributory Provident Fund.
• Defined Pension Scheme (NPS).
• Medical benefits for self and family.
• Leave fare concession, House rent, and Lease accommodation.

Conclusion: SBI PO has a slightly higher starting salary and CTC compared to SBI CBO.

Selection Process: SBI CBO vs SBI PO

The State Bank of India has released the SBI CBO and SBI PO Notification on their official website. The SBI CBO Selection process consists of two stages: Online Examination and Interview. The SBI PO selection process consists of three Stages: Prelims, Main and Interview. Candidates can find a detailed explanation in the section below.

SBI CBO Selection Process:

• Online Test:
  • Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude
  • English Language
  • Banking Knowledge
  • General Awareness/Economy
• Interview
  • The weightage of the Online Test and Interview is in a 75:25 ratio.

Note: Earlier, CBO selection was based only on shortlisting and an interview.

SBI PO Selection Process:

• Preliminary Exam
  • Quantitative Aptitude
  • Reasoning Ability
  • English Language
• Main Exam
  • Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
  • Data Analysis & Interpretation
  • General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness
  • English Language
• Group Exercise & Interview
  • Main exam marks + Interview marks are considered for final selection.

Conclusion: SBI PO selection is more elaborate and competitive, with multiple stages.

Main difference in exam difficulty

Competition: SBI PO is more competitive due to a higher number of applicants and a lower number of vacancies. CBO has less number of applicants as it requires prior banking experience, which makes it less competitive.
Exam structure: The three-stage process of PO exam (prelims, mains, GD/interview) is more rigorous than the simpler structure of CBO (written exam, screening, interview).
Syllabus: PO exam covers a wider syllabus, including quantitative aptitude, which is absent in CBO exam. CBO’s focus on banking awareness aligns with the prior experience of candidates.
Negative marking: The SBI PO exam has negative marking (0.25 marks per wrong answer), which increases the risk, while CBO objective tests have no negative marking.
Eligibility: The PO exam is open to fresh graduates (age 21-30), while CBO requires two years of banking experience, which limits the number of applicants but requires specialised knowledge.

Which exam is easier to crack?

The SBI CBO exam is generally easier to crack because:

• There is no negative marking in the Online Examination, so candidates can solve more questions with confidence.
• There is no sectional cut-off, allowing candidates to focus on their strengths.
• Simple selection process with two stages.
• Many candidates are eliminated due to the experience requirement, hence, the number of applicants is less.
• There is no quantitative aptitude section, which reduces the complexity of preparation.

However, the CBO exam requires candidates to leverage their banking experience, especially in the interview and screening stages, where knowledge of banking operations is crucial. The PO exam, though tougher, is more accessible to fresh graduates with strong academic preparation and general aptitude skills.

Which is better: SBI PO or SBI CBO?

Candidates choosing between SBI PO and SBI CBO depend on their career goals, experience, and preferences:

Choose SBI PO if:

• You are a fresh graduate without any banking experience.
• You want a higher salary (₹80,000–₹85,000 vs ₹50,000–₹52,000) and faster career progression.
• You are ready to handle frequent transfers, including to rural areas.
• You are prepared for a highly competitive exam and a probation period of two years.

Choose SBI CBO if:

• You have at least two years of banking experience as an officer.
• You prefer a sector-specific role with fewer transfers and more location stability.
• You want a less competitive exam with no negative marking and a shorter probation period (six months).
• You are comfortable with a lower (but still competitive) salary and a more specialised role.

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