India’s largest lender, State Bank of India, plans to hire 13,000 people across various levels in 2009-10. The new appointees will be deployed across various business verticals with an aim to improve productivity. Leaders have to be nurtured for the future as well.

The bank hired 20,000 clerks in the last fiscal. SBI is at present in the process of hiring technical officers, and marketing & recovery officers.

M Balachandran, the Director of Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), said that according to the estimates, public sector banks would hire around 30,000 people in 2009-10. Hence, SBI would hire almost 50% of the total number. The IBPS is promoted by PSU banks and the reserve Bank. The institute assists the financial sector in selecting, placing, and promoting the employees. A large number of opportunities in the banking sector are created due to branch expansion, aggressive marketing, and business growth. The gap created by superannuation in many banks has to be filled.

To increase fee-based earnings, banks have come up with activities like insurance, mutual funds, etc. This segment has created employment opportunities.

Many banks have issued job advertisements. UBI is hiring 900 probationary officers and 500 clerks. Indian Bank is hiring 700 clerks. Andhra Bank is planning to hire 295 probationary officers and 550 clerks.