Make An Awesome Career In Banking! Must Know Banking Exams

Online Banking Exams –

Whenever it comes to choosing a career we all get confused. There are many opportunities around us but we always wonder which can best suit my personality or where my calibre will be best suited? Amongst all the opportunities, Banking is been considered as the most appropriate sector for career development and there is no other strong alternative for banking careers. So, the one who is looking forward to their career in the banking sector but are confused about how to go about it or what are banking exams which need to be cleared? This article will give insight into the importance of a career in banking and what all exams are conducted in banks.

Why Banking as a Career Option?

If we will find, banking career provides with lots of benefits rather than the private companies or other multi-national companies such as dignity, high career growth, good amount of money, gratuity, security, pension funds, provident fund and many other benefits. Banking career helps one to develop analytical skills which are useful in a company’s strategies and also teaches one how to utilize the funds efficiently and also provides knowledge about investment, trade, remittances etc.

There are some other reasons which help you to choose from the bank as a career option:

1. Growing sector of India

A number of changes have been observed in Indian banking sector after independence and even after liberalization of 1991 number of banks came into existence in India. As banking sector of India has relatively not expanded as compared to the international banking sector, and even if we see there are new amendments & regulations are coming into a picture which increase the chances of Indian banking sector to grow.

2. Better financial rewards

Indian banking industry offers best pay packages as compared to other industry. Even at an initial stage one with good qualification (graduate or postgraduate in management) can fetch more than Rs.3.5 lacs per annum and there are other perks & benefits are also offered by banks.

 3. Better working conditions

The banking sector is known to be having the most conducive environment amongst other corporate sectors. There are hardly any late night shifts or late hour shifts in the banking industry and thus also provides a better corporate and professional environment.

 4. Opportunities for various backgrounds

The banking sector is known to be amongst those few sectors that employ people from different backgrounds. It provides opportunities for marketing, operational background people too apart from the financial background.

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Various Type of Online Banking Exams

Following type of online banking exams are conducted in India:-

• To apply for 20 Public Sector Banks and 82 Regional Rural Banks, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts a series of Common Written Examinations (CWE) as a requirement for the selection of Probationary Officer (PO), Clerical job, Management Trainee, Office Assistants & Officers.
• Different online banking exams are conducted by State Bank of India (SBI) & SBI Associate for the position of officers & clerks.
• Similarly Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducts its own examination for different positions.
• Private Sector Banks also conducts their own examination for the recruitment of officers & clerks. But some private banks i.e. Karur Vysya Bank (KVB), Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), Federal Bank have started considering IBPS CWE score for the selection purpose.

 Online Banking Exams Eligibility Criteria

      I. Public Sector Banks

• Age:

For Probationary Officer (PO):-  between 20 – 30 years

For Clerical: – between 20 – 28 years

• Minimum Education Qualification:

PO: – From a recognized University a degree in any discipline or an equivalent degree or qualification recognized by Central Government.

Clerical: – A degree from recognized University in any discipline or an equivalent degree recognized as such by Central Government.

• Computer Literacy:

A candidate must possess minimum knowledge of computer proficiency. She/he must possess a valid diploma (basic applications) in computers.

• Language Proficiency:

For clerical department recruitment, the candidate must possess proficiency in Official Language of the State or Union Territory as its selection would be on a State-wise basis.

• How to Apply:

Eligible Candidates are required to Register online banking exams Application Form (Candidates Photograph and Signature Scanned Copy Required to Submit Online) by clicking on the below website:

   II. Regional Rural Banks

• Age:

For Office Assistant: – Between 18 – 28 years

For Officer Scale – I: – Between 19 – 27 years

For Office Scale-II: – Between 22 – 31 years

For Officer Scale – III: – Below 40 years

• Minimum Education Qualification:

1. Office Assistant: – From a recognized University a degree in any discipline or an equivalent qualification recognized by Central Government.
2. Officer Scale – I: – A degree from a recognized University in any discipline or its equivalent.
3. Officer Scale-II:- A degree with minimum 50% in any discipline from a recognized University or its equivalent & 2 years work experience in a Banking Institution as an Officer.
4. Officer Scale-III: – A degree with minimum 50% in any disciplines from a recognized University or its equivalent & work experience of 5 years in a Banking Institution as an Officer.

• Computer Literacy:

A candidate must possess minimum knowledge of computer proficiency. She/he must possess a valid diploma (basic applications) in computers.

• Language Proficiency:

For the position of Office Assistant and Officer Scale – I: A candidate must have passed in local language subject in 10^th standard or Matriculation and should also know Official Language of the State/Union Territory where regional rural banks are located.

   III. State Bank of India (SBI) or SBI Associates:

• Age:

For PO: – between 21 – 30 years

For Clerical: – between 18 – 28 years

• Minimum Education Qualification:

PO: – From a recognized University a degree in any discipline or its equivalent.

Clerical: – After 10^th standard, a diploma course with minimum 60% marks

OR   Minimum 12^th standard with minimum 60% marks or its equivalent

OR A degree in any discipline from a recognized University with minimum 40%    marks or its equivalent

• Computer Literacy:

A candidate must possess minimum knowledge of computer proficiency. She/he must possess a valid diploma (basic applications) in computers.

• Language Proficiency:

For clerical department recruitment, the candidate must possess proficiency in Official Language of the State or Union Territory as its selection would be on the State-wise basis.

• How to Apply:

Eligible Candidates are required to Register online banking exams Application Form (Candidates Photograph and Signature Scanned Copy Required to Submit Online) by clicking on the below website:

    IV. Reserve Bank of India (RBI):

• Age: For Assistant (Clerk):- Between 18 – 28 years

• Minimum Education Qualification:

A candidate must possess a graduate degree in any discipline with minimum 50% from a recognized University.

• Computer Literacy:

A candidate must have knowledge of word processing and also basic knowledge of computers.

• Language known:

He/she should know to read, write, speak & understand the local language of the state for which he/she is applying.

• How to Apply:

Eligible Candidates are required to Register online banking exams Application Form (Candidates Photograph and Signature Scanned Copy Required to Submit Online) by clicking on the below website:

 Selection Procedure of Banks

         1. Public Sector Banks:

a. Online Banking Exams:

• Common Written Examination (CWE) comprise of objective type of banking exams questions.
• Total 200 marks of the exam, 0.25 negative marking for each wrong answer and the duration of the online banking exam is 2 hours.
• In order to shortlist for an interview, each candidate has to clear each section by obtaining minimum marks and also minimum total marks
• The format of the written exam is as follows:

Sr. No.	Topics	Total Marks
1.	Reasoning	50
2.	Quantitative Aptitude	50
3.	English language	40
4.	General Awareness	40
5.	Computer Knowledge	20
	TOTAL	200

b. Common Interview:

• Shortlisted candidates after clearing written online banking exams will be called for an interview process.
• Interviews would be scheduled at selected centers. The interview consists of 100 marks
• Minimum 40% has to be scored in an interview by General category and for ST/SC/OBC/PWD candidates minimum 35%.
• Weightage of written exam & interview is 80:20.
• In order to select for allotment process, the candidate must qualify both written exam & interview.

c.  Allotment Process:

Based on total scoring and also depending on availability of vacancies, shortlisted candidates will be allotted.

         2.  Regional Rural Banks (RRB):

• RRB’s follows the same procedure as that of Public Sector of banks
• In case of selection in an RRB, a candidate must have good knowledge of local language.
• The whole online banking exams recruitment process is administered by the National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD).

         3.  State Bank of India (SBI):

a. Written Exams:

It consists of two parts:

• Objective Test

Sr. No.	Topics	Questions
1.	Reasoning	75
2.	Quantitative Aptitude	50
3.	English language	50
4.	General Awareness	50

 

• Descriptive Test

This test consists of argumentative or challenging questions

Total 4 questions – 45 marks

b. Group Discussion & Personal Interview (GDPI):

Candidates clearing written exams would be called for next round i.e. GDPI

c. Final Selection:

Candidates clearing both the tests i.e. written test & GDPI will be arranged category wise and thus will be placed depending upon the availability of the vacancy.

       4.  Reserve Bank of India (RBI):

a.  Online Banking Exams:

• Total time: 2 hours
• Negative marks for each wrong answer i.e. 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer
• The format of the written test:

Sr. No.	Topics	Total Marks
1.	Reasoning	40
2.	Quantitative Aptitude	40
3.	English language	40
4.	General Awareness	40
5.	Computer Knowledge	40

b. Final Selection:

• Final Selection is based on final scoring in both the exams written as well as an interview.
• In order of merit, candidates will be placed.

How to prepare for online banking exams?

       1. Early preparation for the common exam:

• By introduction of online banking exams, it has become quite competitive & challenging to clear the written test.
• Candidate must start practising to read articles, passages through PC or internet in order to score good marks in the English Language. As it consists of huge paragraphs which consumes time to read & articulate the answers.
• As Bank PO & clerical exams are conducted twice in a year, candidates have ample of time to plan for common exams.

        2. Make efforts:

• As limited time is been given to clear 4 – 5 sections, for that candidate must understand the online banking exams pattern, create or frame shortcuts & use easy methods to solve the questions in a given time.
• Keep a track on the upcoming online banking exams of the various banks that you wish to apply for.
• To increase your confidence level in clearing the common exam, keep practising the earlier test papers.
• Previous year’s solved banking exam question papers, guides & workbooks are available in a local bookstore and it costs around Rs.200 – Rs.400. It will help you to understand the difficulty level of common exams & also will help you to prepare well for your exams.

          3. Preparation for Interview:

• After clearing written test, Group Discussion & Personal interview is a deciding factor in the selection of a candidate for final allotment.
• For the interview process, questions related to banking sector & its amendments, policies, economy, general knowledge are expected to ask. So, prepare well on this part by daily reading newspapers, financial blogs etc.

 Online Banking Exams Infographic

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