SBI Gears Up for Massive Hiring; 12,000 New Employees to Join by 2027

SBI Chairman CS Setty stated that the bank could recruit approximately 11,000 to 12,000 personnel across the clerical and officer cadres this year. The final number of recruitments may vary based on the bank's requirements.

The State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest public sector bank, is preparing to recruit around 12,000 new employees in the 2026-27 financial year. SBI Chairman CS Setty indicated that the bank might make about 11,000 to 12,000 appointments in the clerical and officer cadres. However, the final recruitment figures could change depending on retirements and the bank's operational needs. Setty stated that the bank expects to complete these recruitments by the end of the financial year. In the previous financial year, SBI undertook large-scale hiring, which included approximately 1,500 specialist IT officers; however, there is no requirement for such a large number of IT recruitments this time around.

Over 2.45 Lakh Employees at SBI

As of March 2026, SBI's workforce exceeded 2.45 lakh employees. According to the bank's annual report for the 2026 financial year, SBI recruited a total of 25,633 individuals during 2025-26. This figure comprised 4,640 officers, 19,340 associates, and 1,653 contractual employees. Recruitment efforts this year are expected to focus primarily on the clerical and officer cadres, although the bank has not yet disclosed the specific breakdown of vacancies across these categories.

250 New Branches to Join SBI's Network

Alongside staff recruitment, SBI will also expand its branch network. The bank plans to add approximately 200 to 2,500 new branches on a net basis in the 2026-27 financial year. According to CS Setty, while SBI already possesses an extensive network, there remains scope to expand its presence in certain areas. The bank aims to strengthen its reach in districts witnessing the development of new residential colonies and increased commercial activity. Simultaneously, work is underway to rationalize some existing branches.

SBI to Sell About 1% Stake in NSE IPO

The SBI Chairman also provided details regarding the National Stock Exchange's (NSE) proposed IPO. SBI and its subsidiary, SBI Capital Markets Limited, plan to jointly sell a stake of approximately 1 percent in the NSE. SBI may sell around 0.65 percent, while SBI Capital Markets could sell about 0.35 percent; however, this stake size could decrease if other shareholders also participate in the sale. Currently, SBI holds a 3.23 percent stake in the NSE, and SBI Capital Markets holds 4.33 percent. The NSE has received regulatory approval for the proposed ₹30,000 crore IPO. This IPO has the potential to become India's largest ever, surpassing issues such as Hyundai Motor India (₹27,858.75 crore), LIC (₹20,557.23 crore), Paytm (₹18,300 crore), Tata Capital (₹15,511.87 crore), and Coal India (₹15,200 crore).