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Are you planning to start your career in banks? Do you have questions like Am I eligible for bank exams? How can I crack the exams? How much time is sufficient for me to complete the syllabus? How should I prepare my study plan?

Do not worry!!! We have answered all your queries below. This is a prefect roadmap that would help you build a strategy for cracking the banking exams. This roadmap will cover below topics:

1. BANK EXAMS KNOWHOW

2. PREPARATION GUIDE

3. FUTURE IN BANKS

BANK EXAMS KNOWHOW

Bank exams are conducted to hire candidates for below mentioned posts in public sector banks.

• Probationary Officer (PO)

• Clerk

• Specialist Officer (SO)

Anyone with or without working experience can apply for PO and Clerk posts. However, to   apply for SO post, a minimum of 2 years of working experience is required. State Bank of India conducts separate exams for all 3 posts, however hiring in rest all public sector banks for above posts are done through IBPS examinations. Apart from above mentioned posts IBPS RRB and RBI conduct separate exams for below posts.

• INSTITUTE OF BANKING PERSONNEL SELECTION REGIONAL RURAL BANKS (IBPS RRB)- OFFICER, ASSISTANT

• RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (RBI)- GRADE B OFFICER AND ASSISTANT

BANKS COVERED UNDER IBPS EXAMS

The public sector banks are as follows:

• Bank of Baroda

• Canara Bank

• Indian Overseas Bank   

• UCO Bank

• Bank of India     

• Central Bank of India

• Punjab National Bank    

• Union Bank of India

• Bank of Maharashtra     

• Indian Bank 

• Punjab & Sind Bank

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO APPLY FOR BANK EXAMS

It is mandatory to fulfil the eligibility criteria of banking exams you are planning to prepare for. Here are the common eligibility criteria:

• Graduation from recognised university

• Age- 20 years TO 30 years (Age relaxation - 3 years for OBCs, 5 years for ST/SC )

• Eligibility for SO – Age- 21 TO 45 years. Must be a graduate. However, the educational qualification may vary according to the post. Candidate should have minimum of 2 years of experience.

EXAM PROCESS

There are 3 levels to clear the bank exam. The 3 levels are:

• PRELIMS: This is the first level of the process. In this analytical capability of the candidate is tested through online examination.

• MAINS: This is the second level of the process. Candidates who clear prelims are eligible to appear the mains exam.

• INTERVIEW: Candidates who clear both prelims and mains will be called for the interview process. This is the final step of the exam process. After clearing the interview round, candidate will be offered job in the bank.

REGISTRATION ALERT FOR BANKING EXAMINATION

Registration date of prelims and mains examination of PO and Clerk may not be same for every year. For SO, the process of filling out the application form is the same as that of the other Bank Exams. The examination conducting authority announces registration date on the official website of IBPS and SBI respectively. Below are the tentative registration dates for the banking examinations. It will help you to plan your preparation accordingly.

TENTATIVE MONTHS ON WHICH BANKING EXAMINATIONS ARE CONDUCTED

Examination dates are also announced on the official website as mentioned above. Below are the tentative dates of the examinations.

CHARGES FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM

VACANCY AND CUTOFFS

• Vacancy and cut-offs of any exams keeps changing every year as well as it differs from state to state. You can give the exam from any state which is preferable to you. Larger states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra have more vacancies compared to other states.

• You can go through the state wise vacancy list before choosing the city for giving the exam. You can check the vacancy list once it is updated on the official website of IBPS and SBI.

• The state from where you are giving the exam is where you will get your first posting. So you have to choose the location accordingly.

2. PREPARATION GUIDE

Usually all banking exams have similar syllabus and exam pattern to maintain uniformity. Thus, candidates preparing for one bank exam can also appear for other bank exams.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF EXAMS 

• SBI/IBPS CLERK- easy to moderate

• SBI/IBPS PO- moderate (Prelims exams for both PO and Clerk post are generally easier than that of mains exams)

• SO- moderate to high

BANKING EXAMINATIONS PAPER PATTERN

In prelims all questions are of MCQ pattern. Mains exam is conducted in 2 parts. Part A is of MCQ pattern and Part B is of written test. For both prelims and mains there will be 0.25 marks deduction for each wrong answer.

PRELIMS:

MAINS:

Part A:

Part B:

CLASSES

• There are various classes available in all cities around the country. The success rate of each class varies from city to city. So it is advisable for you to first research about the classes and then take the admission.

• T.I.M.E and Mahindra’s are some of the classes which are available in every city.

• YouTube channels- adda247, wifistudy, bankerspoint, oliveboard, etc.

• There are many online classes/ apps available you can take demo lectures and decide which is suitable for you. Few recommendations are wifistudy, adda247, testbook

CHARGES FOR CLASSES

AROUND Rs.17000 to 25000 varies from classes to classes.

TIME REQUIRED FOR PREPARATION OF BANKING EXAMINATIONS

• If one studies for 5 hours daily then you can cover the syllabus for prelims in 3 to 4 months and further keep on doing self-study to increase the accuracy and time management. 

• If you can’t study for 5 hours daily then hours can be minimized and months can be increased accordingly.

• You need to practice the tricks and shortcuts and focus more on the topics with higher weightage and give mock tests as much as possible. After giving the mock tests students must analysis their mistakes and try to not repeat the same.

• After the syllabus of prelims is completed, one should start practicing tough questions which is associated with the mains exam.

• Daily study of current affairs is very important.

MUST DO TECHNIQUES TO CLEAR BANKING EXAMINATIONS

1. English

• Learn the basics and proper usage of grammar.

• Should avoid spelling mistakes.

• Make sure that the sentence formations are clear and concise.

• Try to learn at least 10 words daily with its synonyms and antonyms.

•  Read novels and newspapers (this would also be helpful for your current affairs).

2. Quantitative aptitude

• Daily practice questions of quantitative aptitude for 1 hour minimum.

• If you are learning new shortcuts or tricks try to practice 10 to 20 questions of the same type so that you do not forget or else you can also maintain a dairy with all your formulas and shortcuts so that you need not have to keep looking for them in different books.

• Focus on reducing time to solve the questions rather than practicing complex or time consuming questions.

• It is advisable to leave complex questions during exam time and focus more on simple questions.

• If you are solving one complex question, you are leaving 5 simple questions as it consumes your time and you are left with very less time for other questions during the exam.

3. Reasoning

• You need to be a quick logical thinker who can answer the questions in minimal time by maintaining the accuracy as well.

• You have to practice more questions of the topic that have higher weightage.

• In order to solve maximum questions in minimal time limit, you must solve less time taking questions at first because no matter they are short or long, they’ll benefit you with equal marks if answered correctly.

• Then go for the questions which involve 5-7 sub-questions based on a single solution like puzzles and seating arrangements.

3. FUTURE IN BANKS

After cracking the exam here is a glimpse of how your future would look like and what will be the roles and responsibilities.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• CLERK- Keep records of deposits, withdrawals, loan and mortgage payments, cheques and securities sales. Process loan and mortgage applications and payments, retirement savings plan applications and contributions, term deposits, drafts and money orders.

• PO - Identify customer needs and refer customers to appropriate banking services and specialists. Accept money or cheques deposited by customers, verify records and receipts, and credit customers' accounts. Pay money to customers according to advice slips, cheques or negotiable documents, and debit customers' accounts.

• SPECIALIST OFFICER - Specialist Officers in various public sector banks offer posts in cadres like IT, Agriculture Field, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law, HR, Marketing. The required work experience varies according to the posts. Role of each specialist officers is to handle all the operations falling under their respective departments.

HOW WOULD YOUR FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

Future in the bank differs according to the exam that you have cleared.

1. AS A CLERK

• Salary of a clerk is around Rs.30000/- per month in hand.

• It is a profession with permanent nature of employment. No major work pressure environment.

• The working hours are limited till evening; there is no need to work for longer or overtime.

• There is an opportunity to gain promotions in further years.

• Apart from salary, different types of allowances are provided to the employees i.e., newspaper bills, mobile expenses, conveyance charges, health insurance, house rent etc.

• Sufficient holidays are available.

• Also after 2-3 years you are eligible to apply for PO through internal exams which are not that tough. And gradually you can keep taking further promotions as well.

• If you are not considering for promotions still your salary will keep increasing gradually.

2. AS A PO

• Salary of a PO is around Rs.52000/- per month in hand.

• All the allowances and benefits are similar to that of the clerk but with a better hike %.

• Work hours are bit extended but with no pressure or late night hours.

• Promotion opportunity can be gained at faster pace. For the promotion, you have to give internal exams for the assistant manager’s post and so on.

3. AS A SO

• Salary of SO is around Rs42000/- per month in hand

• All the allowances are relevant to that of PO. However, do note that since the scope of growth is limited within the single department, the salary increment will also get limited to a certain point.

• The location of your posting and whether you are located in a rural, semi-rural, urban or metropolitan region. Generally, only the agricultural field officers are posted in the rural and semi-rural areas while all other posts are more needed in branches in urban and metropolitan locations. The lower the cost of living in the region you are posted in, the lower will be the percentage of the benefits that you get.

• The performance and flexibility of the employee and the ability to adapt to the services and culture of the bank faster and skilfully. The performance will also mean their ability to bring more profit and revenues for the bank.

• The opportunities for promotions solely depend on your performance and the years of experience that you accumulate.

OTHER CAREER BACKUPS

• If the student is not able crack the exams then still they have the option to work in any private banks.

• You can apply either from the private bank’s official website or through job providing portals like LinkedIn, shine.com, naukari.com, etc. as well.

• The positions available differ from bank to bank. Some offer jobs as relationship manager, customer executive, in sales field or HR also the eligibility and work experience required varies.

• First you have to apply for the job by providing your resume, if your resume gets shortlisted for the applied post you will be called for the interview and further process is followed.

ALL THE BEST!!!