If you’ve been searching frantically for the sbi cbo exam date, here’s the straight answer: the State Bank of India Circle Based Officer (CBO) 2025 online exam is scheduled for 20 July 2025. In this deep-dive guide, you’ll find verified exam date sources, full recruitment timeline, exam pattern, eligibility, documents to carry, last-week strategy, and SEO-ready meta details for your blog. Bookmark this—everything you need for the SBI CBO 2025 cycle is right here.
Why the SBI CBO Exam Matters (Quick Intro & Focus Keyword Placement)
The SBI Circle Based Officer role targets experienced banking professionals and places them directly into responsible officer roles within SBI’s regional “Circles,” giving lateral entrants a faster path to stable careers with India’s largest bank. With thousands of vacancies and statewide placement, the sbi cbo exam date is one of the most searched competitive exam deadlines each year—missing it can cost you a valuable career opportunity
Latest Update – Official SBI CBO Exam Date Confirmed: 20 July 2025
After the original notification listed July 2025 as a tentative test window, SBI has now formally fixed the CBO online exam for 20 July 2025, and call letters have been released. The confirmation appears in the official SBI “Acquaint Yourself Booklet” (header: Online Exam on 20.07.2025), and the date is reiterated in admit card coverage across leading education and news portals.
Where the Date Comes From (Official SBI Materials & Call Letter)
Candidates downloading their call letters through the SBI Careers → Current Openings → Recruitment of Circle Based Officers (CRPD/CBO/2025-26/03) path are provided exam reporting details tied to the 20 July schedule. SBI’s official resources (advertisement + booklet + call letter download link) confirm the live test date.
News & Education Portals Echo the Date
Multiple high-traffic exam prep and national news outlets—including Times of India, JagranJosh, and CareerPower—have published alerts confirming the SBI CBO online examination on 20 July 2025 for 2,964 vacancies. These reports surfaced immediately after the admit card release and have helped reduce confusion from the earlier tentative timeline.
SBI CBO 2025 Recruitment Timeline at a Glance
SBI recruitment cycles often include an initial application window, occasional reopening for late applicants, and a gap before exam-day logistics finalize. The 2025 CBO cycle followed that familiar pattern—applications opened in May, reopened in June, admit cards dropped in July, and the exam is locked in for 20 July 2025.
Key Dates Table (Notification, Application, Admit Card, Exam, Result)
| Event | Date | Status/Notes |
| Notification Release (Adv. No. CRPD/CBO/2025-26/03) | 09 May 2025 | Published on SBI Careers. |
| Online Registration & Fee Payment (Initial Window) | 09 May – 29 May 2025 | Closed. |
| Apply Online Reopened Window | 21 June – 30 June 2025 | Final chance; now closed. |
| Admit Card / Call Letter Release | 10 July 2025 | Download via SBI Careers. |
| SBI CBO Exam Date (Online Test) | 20 July 2025 | Confirmed. |
| Result (Written) | Expected Aug 2025 (Tentative) | Await official notice. |
Dates compiled from official SBI communication and leading exam update portals following the admit card release.
Eligibility Snapshot (Age, Education, Experience, Local Language)
Age: 21–30 years as on 30 April 2025 (category relaxations apply).
Education: Graduation in any discipline (professional degrees like CA, Engineering, Medicine also valid).
Experience: Minimum 2 years as an officer in a Scheduled Commercial Bank or RRB (post-qualification).
Local Language: Must be proficient in one of the listed languages for the Circle applied; proof via 10th/12th marksheet can waive the language test.
Experience Requirement Explained
SBI is not hiring freshers under the CBO route. Your 2-year post-qualification officer experience in a Scheduled Commercial Bank or RRB must be documented and substantially match the job profile of a Scale-I generalist officer; mismatched profiles can be rejected during screening—even after the exam.
Local Language Proof vs Language Test
If your 10th or 12th certificate shows that you studied the Circle’s specified local language, you are typically exempt from the post-selection language proficiency test. Otherwise, you’ll need to clear a language test before appointment; failure leads to disqualification despite qualifying earlier stages.
SBI CBO Exam Pattern 2025 (Objective + Descriptive)
The SBI CBO selection begins with a single-day online examination combining an Objective Test (120 marks, 2 hours) and a Descriptive Test (50 marks, 30 minutes) administered immediately afterward. Sectional timings apply in the objective portion; the descriptive portion requires typing an English letter and essay.
Section-Wise Marks, Questions & Timing
| Section | Qs | Marks | Time | Medium |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 30 min | English |
| Banking Knowledge | 40 | 40 | 40 min | Bilingual |
| General Awareness / Economy | 30 | 30 | 30 min | Bilingual |
| Computer Aptitude | 20 | 20 | 20 min | Bilingual |
| Objective Total | 120 | 120 | 2 hrs | — |
| Descriptive (Letter + Essay in English) | 2 Qs | 50 | 30 min | English |
Structure as per SBI Acquaint Yourself Booklet; timing & marks echoed across major exam prep portals.
No Negative Marking – Strategic Implications
A major tactical edge in the CBO exam: there is no penalty for wrong answers in the Objective Test, so attempt every question—educated guesses can materially lift your score ceiling. This has been repeatedly highlighted in 2025 cycle prep advisories from JagranJosh, BankersAdda, and CareerPower summarizing the exam-day briefing.
Admit Card, Acquaint Yourself Booklet & What to Carry
SBI released the CBO 2025 admit card on 10 July 2025. Candidates must download it, affix a recent photo, and carry it with original and photocopy of valid photo ID. SBI also issued an “Acquaint Yourself Booklet” that explains test format, reporting, permissible items, and biometric capture—read it in full before traveling.
Documents Checklist for Exam Day
Printed SBI CBO Call Letter with photo affixed.
Original valid photo ID + photocopy (as specified in call letter; ration card/learner’s license not accepted in many SBI exams—check instructions).
Additional passport photos (recommended).
Stationery: pencils, ballpoint pen, eraser, blue ink stamp pad (thumb impression).
Acquaint Yourself Booklet (print or digital reference if allowed; check local instructions).
Photo/IRIS Capture & Biometric Rules
At the venue, SBI captures your photograph and IRIS scan (or thumb impression for certain PwBD categories) and cross-matches with the application photo; appearance changes may trigger mismatch flags. Candidates using scribes must submit prescribed declarations and medical certification per SBI instructions.
Previous SBI CBO Exam Dates – Trend Insights
Earlier SBI CBO cycles have tended to cluster main online exams a few weeks after admit card release and within the June–December hiring window, depending on SBI’s broader recruitment load (PO, Clerk, SCO). The 2025 cycle tightened the gap—notification in May, live exam in July—so future cycles may also move faster once applications close.
Why SBI Tends to Test in Q2–Q3
SBI frequently schedules large officer recruitment drives before the busy festive lending season and ahead of year-end business cycle pushes; aligning CBO onboarding to Circle-specific manpower forecasts allows operational ramp-up. The May-to-July pipeline seen in 2025 reflects that prioritization and has been noted in recruitment commentary across exam prep outlets
Expected Result & Next Stages (Screening, Interview, Local Language)
After the online exam, SBI conducts Screening of experience documents, followed by Interview, and—where required—a Local Language Proficiency Test before appointment. Written exam scores and interview performance jointly influence final merit; documentation consistency is critical during screening. Written result is tentatively expected in August 2025, but await official confirmatio
Weightage & Final Merit
While SBI has historically balanced online performance with interview outcomes, CBO selection specifically integrates experience screening to ensure candidates meet the 2-year officer criterion; final selection emerges after all three stages (plus language where applicable). Monitor official SBI updates for any published score-weightage details; interim prep reports flag that both written and interview matter materially.
Salary, Perks & Career Growth for SBI CBO
The starting basic pay is ₹48,480 (pay scale aligned with JMGS-I officer level), with allowances varying by posting location (HRA, DA, special allowances) and progression based on SBI’s officer promotion channels. Lateral entrants with hands-on branch banking experience may find faster responsibility allocation versus entry-level PO tracks; long-term, promotion to higher scales unlocks mobility beyond the initial Circle lock.
Basic Pay ₹48,480 & Progression
CBO salary enters at the standard junior management scale but grows with periodic increments and performance-based elevation; once promoted to higher scale grades (e.g., SMGS-IV), the inter-circle mobility restrictions ease and broader career tracks—including specialized or corporate roles—open up.
Conclusion – Make 20 July Count
The sbi cbo exam date is no longer a moving target—it’s 20 July 2025. With the pattern fixed (Objective + Descriptive), no negative marking, a substantial 2,964-vacancy pool, and a professional-grade officer track locked to your Circle, this recruitment is tailor-made for experienced bankers ready to step up. Download your admit card, learn the rules in the Acquaint Yourself Booklet, revise high-yield sections, and walk into the exam hall prepared. Good luck earning your place in India’s largest bank.
Read also: UPSC ACS Exam Date 2025
