What is a Bank PO? Everything that you need to know!

The role of a Bank Probationary Officer (Bank PO) is one of the most respected jobs in the banking sector. A Bank PO is responsible for handling day-to-day banking activities such as customer service, loan processing and account management. Many students opt for this role for long-term growth and stability. But it is important to know about the role that this position has. This guide will cover everything that you need to know about Bank PO and why you should take this role.

What is the Full Form of the Bank PO?

Bank Probationary Officer is the full name of a Bank PO. It is one of the country’s most prestigious and well-known job titles. It is a managerial-level position that is available in both public and private sector banks throughout India. Aspirants interested in pursuing a career in this industry should be aware of the role of a Bank PO.

Who is a Bank PO?

A Bank PO (Probationary Officer) is a position in which individuals are immediately hired as officers in the country’s largest banks, like SBI PO, IBPS PO, etc. A bank PO can be regarded as an assistant manager during the prohibition period, managing all the major tasks in a particular bank branch. This officer is an entry-level position in the management of Banks. It is necessary for this personnel to undergo 2 years of probation training at the Institute of Banking Management in order to be eligible as an Assistant Manager or Scale I officer. A Bank PO plays a vital role along with powerful communication skills, in resolving conflicts and providing excellent services to customers

Also Read: Bank Exam Preparation Apps

Role of Bank PO

Being an officer is never an easy task, especially in places which require public dealings on a daily basis. This makes the role of a Bank PO much more diverse and intense. The Bank PO official has to manage varied tasks while working in the bank. The list given below showcases the role of a bank PO: 

• Handling of mortgage and loan departments. 
• Ensuring smooth administration in the bank.
• Redressing customer concerns with vivid interpersonal communication.
• PO acts as a Public relations officer at the branch. 
• Handing out financial activities like account preparation, billing, investment, marketing, statements, account drafting, cheque clearance, cash flow, ATM cards, demand drafts, bank management, etc. 
• Once a newly joined PO is accustomed to a banking environment, then the responsibility regarding issuance of loans, investment approvals, allotment of funds, and budgeting falls into their hands.  
• Getting the loans cleared by visiting the loan defaulters’ site and documenting loan activities. 
• Supervising the clerical work in the bank and making favourable decisions in favour of the bank.

Eligibility Criteria for becoming a Bank PO

To take any of the Bank PO examinations in India, applicants need to fulfil certain conditions. Given below is a list of the eligibility criteria that students need to fulfil to become a Bank PO: 

• Applicants must not be older than 30 years of age. 
• There is 5 5-year age relaxation for the SC/ST candidates.
• For OBC candidates, there is an age relaxation of 3 years. 
• Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or educational institute. 
• The candidate must be an Indian citizen.

Note: These are the basic conditions to become a Bank PO in India. Additional requirements might be there depending upon country and banks.

Bank PO Exam Details

Before moving forward with the Bank PO exam, you should know about the basic details of the exam. Here are the details related to the Bank PO exam by IBPS:

Name of the Exam	IBPS PO 2021 – Common Recruitment Process (CRP PO/MT-XI)
Conducting Body	Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
Name of Post	IBPS Probationary Officers
Mode of Application	Online
Mode of Exam	Online
Number of Stages	1. Prelims 2. Mains 3. Interview
Maximum Marks	Prelims- 100 marks, Mains- 225 marks, Interview- 100 marks
Time Duration	Prelims – 1 hour Mains- 3 hours 30 minutes
Medium of Exam	Bilingual (English and Hindi)
Negative Marking	1/4th mark deducted for every wrong answer

Exam Pattern of Bank PO

BP exam is divided into three sections: Prelims, Mains and Interview. Out of this, prelims and mains are theory-based and follow a certain exam pattern. Below, we have mentioned the exam patterns for the Bank PO exam Prelims and Mains.

Prelims:

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern – Section	Number of Questions	Marks Allotted	Time Allotted
English Language	30	30	20 min
Numerical Ability	35	35	20 min
Reasoning Ability	35	35	20 min
Total	100	100	60 minutes

Mains: 

IBPS PO Mains Pattern- Paper	Section	Number of Questions	Marks Allotted	Time Allotted
Objective Test	-Reasoning & Computer Aptitude -English Language -Data Analysis & Interpretation -General Awareness, Economy & Banking Awareness	45 35 35 40	60 40 60 40	60 min 40 min 45 min 35 min
Descriptive Test	English Language (Letter Writing & Essay)	2	25	30 min

Syllabus for Bank PO

While talking about a career in Banking in India, one must know that the process is time-consuming and full of challenges. In order to become a PO examiner, one needs to take a series of tests. Applicants must qualify for prelims and mains, as well as a group exercise and an interview. Below is a list of topics that might help you ace the exam: 

English Language	Numerical Ability	Reasoning Ability	General Awareness
Reading Comprehension	Number series	Puzzle and Arrangements	Banking Awareness
Cloze Test	Simplification/ Approximation	Inequality	Financial Awareness
Fillers	Quadratic Equations	Syllogism	Govt. Schemes and Policies
Spotting Errors	Data Interpretation	Coding-Decoding	Current Affairs
Sentence Improvement	Data Sufficiency	Input-Output	Static General Awareness
Fill in the Blanks	Miscellaneous	Data Sufficiency	–
Para Jumbles	Quantity Based Questions	Logical Reasoning	–
Paragraph Completion	–	Miscellaneous (Blood Relations, Direction sense, Order and Ranking, etc.)	–
Sentence Connectors	–	Computer Aptitude	–

Also Read: How to Make a Successful Career in Banking?

Scope of Bank PO

When a candidate is hired as a Probationary Officer in the banking industry, he or she has a number of options for advancement, including internal tests and qualifying interviews.

A Bank PO can easily advance to Managers, Assistant Managers, Assistant General Managers, and other positions. The Bank PO position is transferrable, and with each advancement, the employee will most likely be relocated from their present location.

Average Salary of Bank PO

For the thousands of applicants who apply for the Bank PO examinations every year, the salary is one of the most essential factors. The following is a summary of the Bank PO salary for applicants’ reference:

Bank Name	Average Salary (Basic Pay)
SBI PO	INR 27,620
IBPS PO	INR 23,700
RBI Grade B officer salary	INR 35,150

Note: The above-mentioned Bank PO pay figures do not include any bonuses, incentives, or other benefits that a Bank PO employee may receive

Popular Banks in India

There are considerable chances for a bank PO to become a successful bank manager or, deputy manager, director or chairman with time and promotions. Applicants might also get investment banking jobs in the future. There are various reputed banks in India that can be a suitable platform for you as an officer. The list is given below: 

1. SBI
2. Canara
3. Syndicate
4. Allahabad
5. HDFC
6. ICICI
7. Cooperative
8. Bank of Maharashtra
9. Punjab National Bank
10. Oriental Bank of Commerce

FAQs

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You need to have impeccable skills in communication, reasoning and financial activities in order to set your benchmark as Bank probationary officer. Are you willing to gain those skills by pursuing banking courses? The list of banking courses offered by universities abroad is limitless. If you can’t decide which one to pick, let Leverage Edu find a suitable course with their unique AI tool and skyrocket your career!