State Bank of India organizes the bank PO exam every year for the selection of candidates for probationary officers posts. It is one of the most coveted posts in India owing to its salary, growth perspective, and work environment. Every year several candidates apply for this exam though only a few can clear it.
But do you know what is the work of a PO in a bank? In this article, you will find all about Bank PO works and functions in a bank.
Why is SBI Bank PO One of the Most Coveted Jobs of India?
SBI PO is the dream of millions of candidates owing to the following features:
# State bank of India is the largest bank of India and the jobs associated with it have their brand value.
# SBI offers lucrative salaries to its employees along with additional benefits.
# SBI PO officers can even grow as Chairperson.
# SBI offers a satisfying work environment to its employees.
Also Read: SBI PO Exam Date 2022: Get the Latest Notifications and Upcoming Dates of SBI PO Exam
Phases of SBI PO Exam
SBI PO exam is conducted in three phases:
#1. Preliminary Exam:
Preliminary Examination is an MCQ type of question that carries 100 marks. This exam will be conducted online and a total of 1 hour is allotted to solve 100 questions.
S.No. | Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
1. | English Language | 30 | 30 | – |
2. | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | – |
3. | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | – |
Total | 100 | 100 | Total of 1 hour |
#2. Main Exam
The Main Examination consists of both objective and descriptive types of questions. This exam will be conducted online. The objective type of questions carries 155 questions for 200 marks and the descriptive type consists of letter writing and essay and carries 50 marks.
#1. Objective Questions: The objective test carries 200 marks and consists of 4 different sections: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General Awareness about Economy/Banking, and English Language.
Test | Section | No. of Question | Max. Marks | Duration |
1. | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes |
2. | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes |
3. | General Awareness about Economy/ Banking | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
4. | English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
Total | 155 | 200 | 3 hours |
#2. Descriptive Questions: This type of test contains 2 questions i.e. Letter writing and essay for 50 marks. These papers are qualifying in nature.
#3. Group Discussion & Interview
Those who qualify in the mains examination can appear for this phase.
Sl. | Section | Max. Marks |
1. | Group Discussion | 20 |
2. | Interview | 30 |
Total | 50 |
Also Read: SBI PO Exam Eligibility Criteria 2021: Things to Know for SBI PO Aspirants
Probation Period
The recruits Probationary officers undergo two years of probation periods during which they are trained. The recruits will be trained under various departments like finance, marketing, bilin, accounting & investment. They are also trained for various other duties such as looking into complaints, issuing ATM cards, demand drafts, and many others.
During this period probationary officer’s work in bank are as follows:
# Supervising banks work
# Handling customer queries
# Solvin complaints
# Issuance of ATM cards
# Demand drafts
# Cheque books
# Supervising the work of Bank clerks
# Verifying documents
# Mananin cash balance
After some time they are allotted more tasks such as:
# Budgeting
# Loan processing
# Loan approvals
# Marketing
# Planning and Managing
investments
Posts Allocated during Probation Period
# Local head office
# Regional Business office
# SME Branch
# General Banking Branch
# Special Branches
# Corporate Office
# Zonal Office
# Specialized branches such as Cheque clearing, pensions, etc.
Post Probation Period
After the probation period, the candidates are appointed as Assistant Bank Managers in various branches.
As Assistant Bank Managers they are responsible for various tasks such as:
# Cash Management
# Draft Issuance
# Pasin Cheques
Also Read: Bank PO Exam Eligibility Criteria: SBI/ IBPS Bank Exam Details for 2021
Functions and Responsibilities of Bank PO
# For the first two periods i.e. Probation period recruits are assigned jobs of clerks and assistants. The main motive is to acquaint them with the normal working of bank procedures.
# During probation period they are trained to have practical knowledge in finance, marketing, bilins, investments, etc by allowing them works such as scrolling, postin, accounting, etc.
# After the probation period, they are promoted as Assistant managers where they have to handle daily work such as handling daily customer transactions.
# The PO is responsible to expand the banking network and manage the overall cash flow, loans, and other finances of the bank.
# Other responsibilities include work as a public relations officer, listening and handling customer complaints, addressing their issues, and improve the services offered by the Bank.
# Afterwards as per their qualifications and capabilities they are assigned different works such as planning, budgeting, marketing, loan processing, etc.
# The bank PO are supervisors of all clerks and it’s their responsibility to supervise and check all their works.
# A Bank PO issues ATM cards, DDs, and many other things.
# A Bank PO needs to be fully aware of the latest development of the bank.
Job Prospect
The career growth of SBI Bank PO is higher than that of government jobs. There are a lot of opportunities to climb higher stairs. And if you are a capable and skilled person then you will soon grab the highest position i.e. Chairperson post.
Salary Prospects of SBI PO
SBI offers lucrative salaries to their employees i.e. Basic pay of 27,620/-. Also, it gives increments in 4 stages.
Pay Scale:
Basic Pay | Annual Increment | Number of years |
27,620 | 980 | 7 |
30,560 | 1145 | 2 |
32,850 | 1310 | 7 |
42,020 | – | – |
The salary will look like this:
Period | SBI PO Basic Salary | Increment |
For the first 7 years | Rs. 23700/- | 980 |
For the next 2 years | Rs. 30560/- | 1145 |
Another 7 years | Rs. 32850/- | 1310 |
Perks and Allowance
Basic Pay | INR 27,620 |
Pay Scales Applicable | 27, 620 (23700-980/7 – 30,560 – 1,145/2 – 32,850 – 1,310/7 – 42,020) |
Dearness Allowance | Currently, DA is 46.9% of Basic Pay |
City Compensatory Allowance | 3% – 4% (varies according to the city) |
House Rent Allowance | 7% – 9% (depending on City) |
Furniture Allowance | INR 1,20,000 |
Medical Insurance | 100% medical covered for employees and 75% covered for family members |
Travelling Allowance | AC 2-tier fare is reimbursed for official travels |
Petrol Allowance | INR 1,100 – 1,250 |
Newspaper Allowance, Entertainment Allowance, Books Allowance, etc. | Varies based on Cadre |
Gross Compensation | 8.20 Lakhs to Rs. 13.08 lakhs per annum. |
Also Read: Bank PO Exam Syllabus 2021: Things You Should Not Miss about the Bank Exam
Conclusion
The SBI Bank PO is an entry-level position and the selected candidates have a bright future. It has great growth responsibilities and if you are capable and skilled you can climb to the top level soon. Generally, a bank PO undergoes 2 years probation period and then is posted as Assistant manager.
Boost your Bank PO preparation with the single course offered by UPSC Pathshala. Also look on the website for more information, preparation materials, and notes.
Thanks to this article, it gave a full explanation of what the PO job is. The info was very helpful