To be eligible for the Circle Based Officer (CBO) 2026 recruitment in the State Bank of India, candidates must have a graduation degree and be between 21 and 30 years of age as of 30 April 2025. They must also possess a minimum of 2 years of officer-level experience in a Scheduled Commercial Bank or Regional Rural Bank. Proficiency in the local language of the applied state is mandatory. As per the latest corrigendum, the earlier ₹9.50 lakh minimum salary requirement has been removed.
- Age Limit: 21 to 30 years as of 30 April 2025 (age relaxation applicable for reserved categories).
- Educational Qualification: Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Work Experience: Minimum 2 years as an officer in a Scheduled Commercial Bank or RRB.
- Salary Clause Update: The ₹9.50 lakh minimum annual salary requirement has been removed.
- Language Requirement: Proficiency in the local language of the applied state is required.
What is the eligibility criteria for SBI CBO 2026?
The SBI CBO Eligibility Criteria 2026 specify that candidates must possess a graduation degree, fall within the age limit of 21 to 30 years, have at least two years of post-qualification experience as a bank officer, and be proficient in the local language of the circle applied for. In addition to these core requirements, SBI also verifies candidates' loan repayment status, character antecedents, and PwBD eligibility before final appointment. Only those fulfilling all conditions as per the cut-off date mentioned in the SBI CBO Notification (31st December 2025) are considered for selection.
What are the required educational qualifications for SBI CBO?
To apply online for SBI CBO 2026, candidates must have completed graduation in any discipline from a recognized university or institution approved by the Government of India. This basic qualification is mandatory for all categories, and the degree must be obtained on or before the cut-off date specified in the official notification. The following qualifications are considered acceptable:
- Bachelor's degree in any stream
- Integrated Dual Degree (IDD)
- Professional degrees such as Engineering, Medical, Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost Accountant, Company Secretary, etc.
Note: The date mentioned on the final mark sheet or provisional certificate will be treated as the official date of passing. If the result has been published online, candidates must produce a certificate issued by the university clearly stating the date of declaration of results at the time of verification.
What is the age limit for SBI CBO?
For SBI CBO 2026, candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age as on 31st December 2025, as specified in the official notification. This means applicants should have been:
- Born not earlier than 1st January 1996, and
- Born not later than 31st December 2004 (both dates inclusive).
SBI CBO Age Relaxation
The State Bank of India is also known to provide certain age relaxations to candidates. Given below are the details of SBI CBO age relaxations for candidates:
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|
| Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) | 5 Years |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 3 Years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 Years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 Years |
| PwBD (General / EWS) | 10 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen/ECOs/SSCOs (5 years service) | 5 Years |
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Does SBI allow category changes after registration?
No. Once the online application is submitted, no changes to category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) are allowed. Candidates must verify their category, certificate validity, and details before submitting the application.
What work experience is required for SBI CBO 2026?
For SBI CBO 2026, candidates must have a minimum of two years' post-qualification experience as an officer in a scheduled commercial bank or a regional rural bank listed in the Second Schedule of RBI. The experience must align with the responsibilities of a Scale-I Generalist Officer, and SBI may reject applications if the submitted job profile does not match the prescribed role at any stage of recruitment. Candidates must submit the following as proof of experience:
- Certified job profile from current or previous employer
- Experience certificate mentioning designation and period of service
- Appointment letter or relieving letter.
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Is work profile verification mandatory for SBI CBO 2026?
Yes, work profile verification is compulsory for SBI CBO recruitment. SBI verifies whether candidates have handled duties similar to those of a Scale-I Officer, such as customer handling, branch operations, loan processing, audit and compliance work, and routine banking transactions. If SBI finds any mismatch between the declared duties and the actual role performed, the candidature can be cancelled even after the candidate clears the online examination.
What are the loan repayment and character verification rules for SBI CBO 2026?
Apart from academic and experience requirements, SBI also checks a candidate's financial discipline and background record before issuing the final appointment.
- Candidates who have defaulted on loans or credit card payments must clear all dues before the offer letter is issued and submit updated CIBIL status or NOC from lenders.
- Applicants with adverse records related to moral turpitude or police cases are not considered eligible for appointment.
Check SBI CBO Exam Date 2026
Why is local language proficiency important for SBI CBO 2026?
Since SBI CBO recruitment is conducted on a circle-wise basis, candidates must be able to read, write, and understand the local language of the circle they apply for. The language test is conducted only for provisionally selected candidates, and failing to qualify can lead to cancellation of candidature. However, candidates who studied the specified local language in Class 10 or 12 are exempted from appearing for this test.
Also Check: SBI CBO Exam Syllabus for 2026
Key Takeaways
Here are the most important eligibility-related points candidates should remember for the SBI CBO 2026 recruitment:
- SBI has released 2,050 regular vacancies and 223 backlog PwBD posts for the CBO recruitment in 2026.
- Applicants must hold a graduation degree, be aged 21–30 years as on 31st December 2025, and meet all cut-off conditions.
- A minimum of two years' post-qualification experience as an officer in SCB or RRB is mandatory.
- Local language proficiency of the applied circle is compulsory unless exempted through Class 10 or 12 proof.
- SBI conducts strict work profile verification, and a mismatch in duties can lead to rejection at any stage.
- Candidates must maintain a clean loan repayment record and clear all dues before appointment.
- Character verification is carried out, and adverse records may disqualify a candidate.
- Category changes are not allowed after final submission of the application form.
- Age relaxation is provided to reserved categories as per government norms, including PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates.
