SBI plans to hire 13,000 staff during current fiscal

The country's largest lender, State Bank of India, plans to recruit 13,000 persons at various levels during the current fiscal.

"During 2008-09, the bank absorbed 33,703 new employees and this year we have plans to induct 13,000 into the SBI system," a top official of the bank told PTI.

The new recruits will be deployed across various businesses with objective to drive productivity, he said.

There is also need to groom leaders for the future at all levels, the official added.

It is to be noted the bank last fiscal recruited 20,000 clerks across the country. SBI is currently in the process of recruiting officers, marketing and recovery (Rural), and technical officers (farm sector).

Both the jobs, though contractual in nature, will provide employment opportunity to about 481 persons.

According to an initial estimate public sector banks are set to hire 30,000 personnel during 2009-10.

"As per the preliminary estimates, public sector banks are expected to hire over 30,000 people during 2009-10," Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Director M Balachandran said.

Thus, SBI alone would hire close of 50 per cent of the total estimated number.

The institute, promoted by PSU banks and the Reserve Bank, has been rendering assistance to financial sector in the activities of employees' selection, promotion and placement.

A large number of employment opportunities have emerged in the banking sector owing to branch expansion by various lenders, business growth and aggressive marketing, Balachandran said.

Balachandran, former Chairman and Managing Director of the Bank of India, said recruitment would also fill the gap created due to large scale of superannuation in many banks.

At the same time, in bid to increase fee-based income banks have started activities like distribution insurance policies, mutual fund schemes and other financial products.

This has created need to recruit some specialised manpower in those segment, he added.

Many lenders, including the United Bank of India and the Indian Bank, have already issued advertisement for recruitment. For example, Kolkata-based UBI is hiring 900 probationary officers and 500 clerks. Besides, it is also hiring 100 specialised officers across various departments.

Indian Bank has invited applications for 700 posts of clerks to be recruited during the course of year while Hyderabad-based Andhra Bank is planning to recruit 550 clerks.

Andhra Bank will also hire 295 Probationary Officer and 150 officers in other category.