IBPS PO vs SBI PO: Quick Answer
SBI PO recruits officers for one bank (State Bank of India): 1,500 vacancies in 2026, starting basic ₹48,480 plus 4 advance increments and an official CTC of about ₹21.97 lakh a year (Mumbai). IBPS PO is a common exam for several public sector banks: 6,715 indicative vacancies (2027-28), starting basic ₹48,480 in the same JMGS-I scale, with allowances as per the bank you are allotted. SBI PO is harder to clear (fewer seats, tougher Mains), while IBPS PO offers more seats.
All rules below are from the official 2026 notices: the IBPS CRP PO/MT-XVI notification (30.06.2026) and the SBI PO 2026 advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 (18.06.2026).
Key takeaway: Both are JMGS-I (Scale I) officer posts with the same pay scale ₹48,480-2,000/7-62,480-2,340/2-67,160-2,680/7-85,920. SBI adds 4 advance increments at joining, limits the number of attempts, allows final-year students and has a ₹2 lakh, 3-year bond. IBPS has no attempt limit and needs you to be a graduate on the day you register.
IBPS PO vs SBI PO 2026: Comparison Table
| Point | IBPS PO 2026 (CRP PO/MT-XVI) | SBI PO 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) | State Bank of India (CRPD) |
| Banks | Participating public sector banks (allotment by IBPS) | SBI only |
| Vacancies | 6,715 indicative (2027-28) | 1,500 (1,446 regular + 54 backlog) |
| Age limit | 20-30 years on 01.07.2026 | 21-30 years on 01.04.2026 |
| Qualification | Graduate in any discipline, result declared by 21.07.2026 | Graduate in any discipline; proof by 30.09.2026 |
| Final-year students | Not eligible | Can apply provisionally |
| Number of attempts | No limit (only age) | 6 (UR/EWS), 9 (OBC and PwBD UR/EWS/OBC), no limit (SC/ST) |
| Application fee | ₹850; ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD | ₹750 for UR/EWS/OBC; nil for SC/ST/PwBD |
| Stages | Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, Interview | Prelims, Mains, Phase III (psychometric test, group exercise, interview) |
| Final merit weight | Mains : Interview = 80 : 20 | Mains : (GE + Interview) = 75 : 25 |
| Starting basic pay | ₹48,480 | ₹48,480 + 4 advance increments (₹56,480 by the scale) |
| CTC stated in notice | Not stated (as per bank rules) | About ₹21.97 lakh a year at Mumbai |
| Service bond | Not set in the IBPS notice (bank-specific) | ₹2 lakh for 3 years |
| Probation | As per the allotted bank | Up to 2 years |
Detailed notes: IBPS PO eligibility, SBI PO eligibility.
Eligibility: IBPS PO vs SBI PO Age Limit and Attempts
| Category | IBPS PO max age | SBI PO max age |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 30 | 30 |
| OBC (NCL) | 33 | 33 |
| SC / ST | 35 | 35 |
| PwBD (General) | 40 | 40 |
The upper limits are the same, but the minimum age differs (20 for IBPS, 21 for SBI) and the cut-off dates differ (1 July vs 1 April). SBI counts an attempt only when you appear in the Main exam; appearing in Prelims alone is not an attempt.
Prelims: IBPS PO vs SBI PO Exam Pattern
| Section | IBPS PO Prelims 2026 | SBI PO Prelims 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 Q, 30 marks, 20 min | 40 Q, 40 marks, 20 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 Q, 30 marks, 20 min | 30 Q, 30 marks, 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 Q, 40 marks, 20 min | 30 Q, 30 marks, 20 min |
| Total | 100 Q, 100 marks, 60 min | 100 Q, 100 marks, 60 min |
| Negative marking | 1/4 of the question's marks | 1/4 of the question's marks |
| Sectional cut-off | Yes, every section must be cleared | No, merit on the aggregate score only |
2026 change: IBPS no longer gives one mark per question in Prelims; Quant questions are worth about 0.857 marks and Reasoning about 1.143. See IBPS PO exam pattern 2026.
Mains: IBPS PO vs SBI PO Exam Pattern
| Section | IBPS PO Mains | SBI PO Mains |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning (SBI: + Computer Aptitude) | 40 Q, 60 marks, 45 min | 40 Q, 60 marks, 50 min |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 Q, 60 marks, 45 min | 30 Q, 60 marks, 45 min |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 50 Q, 60 marks, 35 min | 60 Q, 60 marks, 45 min |
| English Language | 40 Q, 20 marks, 35 min | 40 Q, 20 marks, 40 min |
| Objective total | 170 Q, 200 marks, 160 min | 170 Q, 200 marks, 3 hours |
| Descriptive | 2 Q (essay + comprehension), 25 marks, 30 min | 3 Q (communication skills), 30 marks, 30 min |
| Mains total | 225 | 230 |
SBI Mains is longer (3 hours for the objective part) and its DI and banking awareness sections are known for tougher, longer sets. Full tables: SBI PO syllabus and exam pattern.
Interview: IBPS PO vs SBI PO Final Selection
| Point | IBPS PO | SBI PO |
|---|---|---|
| Interview marks | 100 | Group Exercise 20 + Interview 30 = 50 |
| Psychometric / personality test | Personality Test (self-report, compulsory, not scored) | Psychometric test (part of Phase III) |
| Final merit | Mains (out of 225) and interview combined 80:20 | Mains (out of 230) converted to 75, GE + Interview (50) converted to 25 |
| Prelims marks in merit? | No | No |
Salary: IBPS PO vs SBI PO Pay Scale and In-Hand
| Point | IBPS PO | SBI PO |
|---|---|---|
| Pay scale (JMGS-I) | ₹48,480-2,000/7-62,480-2,340/2-67,160-2,680/7-85,920 | Same |
| Starting basic | ₹48,480 | ₹48,480 + 4 advance increments (= ₹56,480 by the printed scale) |
| Allowances | DA, HRA/lease, CCA and others as per the allotted bank's rules | DA, HRA/lease rental, CCA, PF, NPS, LFC, medical and others |
| Official CTC | Not printed | About ₹21.97 lakh a year at the Mumbai centre |
Why SBI pays more at the start: the 4 advance increments add about ₹8,000 to basic pay, and DA and some allowances are percentages of basic, so they rise too. The ₹21.97 lakh figure is cost to company, not monthly take-home. See SBI PO salary 2026 and IBPS PO salary 2026.
Bond, Probation and Posting
- SBI PO: a ₹2 lakh bond for at least three years of service, and probation of up to two years. Postings are anywhere in India in SBI's network.
- IBPS PO: the IBPS notice does not set a bond. Some participating banks ask for their own service bond or indemnity; read your bank's offer letter. Posting is anywhere in that bank's network.
Difficulty and Competition: IBPS PO vs SBI PO
- Seats: IBPS PO has about 4.5 times as many indicative vacancies (6,715 vs 1,500).
- Paper level: SBI PO Mains is generally considered the tougher of the two, especially DI and puzzles. IBPS Prelims now has unequal marks per question, which changes attempt strategy.
- Attempts: SBI's limit (6 for General) matters if you plan to try for several years; IBPS has none.
IBPS PO or SBI PO: Which Should You Choose?
Write both: the syllabus is about 90% the same. Choose SBI as the first preference if you want the higher starting basic, SBI's brand and a single-bank career. IBPS gives a better chance of selection because of more vacancies, and a final-year student can only try SBI in the same year.
IBPS PO vs SBI PO MCQs (Quick Check)
- What is the minimum age for SBI PO 2026? Answer: 21 years.
- What is the minimum age for IBPS PO 2026? Answer: 20 years.
- How many advance increments does an SBI PO get at joining? Answer: 4.
- What is the Mains-to-interview weightage in IBPS PO? Answer: 80:20.
- How many marks is the SBI PO descriptive test in 2026? Answer: 30.
- How many attempts does a General category candidate get in SBI PO? Answer: 6.
- What is the SBI PO service bond? Answer: ₹2 lakh for 3 years.
- How many indicative vacancies did IBPS announce for PO 2026 (2027-28)? Answer: 6,715.
IBPS PO vs SBI PO FAQs
Is SBI PO better than IBPS PO?
On pay, yes: both use the same JMGS-I scale, but SBI adds 4 advance increments and states a CTC of about ₹21.97 lakh at Mumbai. IBPS PO has more vacancies and no attempt limit.
Is the syllabus of IBPS PO and SBI PO the same?
Mostly. Both test English, Quant/DI, Reasoning and banking/economy awareness. The section sizes and marks differ (SBI Prelims has 40 English questions; IBPS has 30), and SBI adds Computer Aptitude to Reasoning in Mains.
Can final-year students apply for IBPS PO?
No. The 2026 IBPS notice requires the graduation result to be declared by 21.07.2026. SBI PO allows final-year students to apply provisionally.
Is there a limit on attempts in IBPS PO?
No. The IBPS notice sets no limit on attempts; only the age limit applies. SBI PO limits attempts to 6 for UR/EWS and 9 for OBC and PwBD (UR/EWS/OBC), with no limit for SC/ST.
What is the starting basic pay of IBPS PO and SBI PO?
₹48,480 for IBPS PO. For SBI PO it is ₹48,480 plus 4 advance increments, which is ₹56,480 by the printed scale.
Practice Next
- Mocks: IBPS PO Prelims Full Mock Test 13, IBPS PO Prelims Full Mock Test 14, SBI PO Prelims Full Mock Test 11 and SBI PO Prelims Full Mock Test 12.
- Related notes: banking awareness for bank exams, repo rate history and bank merger list 2026.
- Related comparisons: SSC CGL vs IBPS PO and SSC CGL vs CHSL.
- Browse all study notes.