SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) and IBPS Clerk (now called Customer Service Associate) are the two biggest clerical exams in banking. The eligibility is almost the same and the syllabus overlaps by about 90%, so most aspirants write both. But there are real differences in the exam, the posting and the work. This guide puts them side by side.
Quick comparison
| Point | SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) | IBPS Clerk (Customer Service Associate) |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting body | State Bank of India (CRPD) | IBPS, for participating public sector banks |
| Which bank you join | Only SBI | One of the participating banks, allotted by IBPS |
| Age | 20 to 28 years | 20 to 28 years |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline | Graduation in any discipline |
| Stages | Prelims → Mains → Local language test | Prelims → Mains → Local Language Proficiency Test |
| Interview | No | No |
| Prelims sectional cut-off | No (aggregate only) | Yes (each section) |
| Mains | 190 Qs, 200 marks, 2 hr 40 min | 160 Qs, 200 marks, 125 min |
| Computer aptitude | Yes (with Reasoning in Mains) | Not a separate section |
| Negative marking | 1/4 mark | 1/4 mark |
Full patterns: SBI Clerk syllabus · IBPS Clerk syllabus
1. Salary: almost the same
Both posts are paid on the clerical pay scale of public sector banks set by the Bipartite Settlement:
₹24,050 – 1,340/3 – 28,070 – 1,650/3 – 33,020 – 2,000/4 – 41,020 – 2,340/7 – 57,400 – 4,400/1 – 61,800 – 2,680/1 – 64,480
- Graduates get two advance increments, so the starting basic pay is usually quoted as ₹26,730.
- On top of basic pay you get Dearness Allowance (revised every quarter), House Rent Allowance (depends on the city), transport allowance and special allowance.
- The in-hand salary in the first year is roughly ₹40,000–45,000 a month, depending on the city of posting and the current DA rate.
The in-hand figure is an estimate. It changes with DA revisions and city. Check the salary details in the official notification.
Verdict: pay is not the deciding factor. SBI staff often mention slightly better perks and a larger branch network, but the difference at the start is small.
2. Posting: the biggest practical difference
- SBI Clerk: you apply for one State/UT and are posted within that state’s circle of SBI. You join SBI and stay in SBI.
- IBPS Clerk: you apply for one State/UT, and IBPS allots you to one of the participating public sector banks in that state, based on your merit and preference. You do not choose the exact bank.
Both require you to know the official language of the state you apply for (tested in the language test, unless you studied it in school).
Verdict: if you want a guaranteed brand (SBI), apply for SBI. If you want more seats to compete for, IBPS usually has more vacancies spread across many banks.
3. Exam difficulty
Prelims
Both have the same structure: English 30, Numerical Ability 35, Reasoning 35, in 60 minutes with 20-minute sections.
- SBI has no sectional cut-off in Prelims, only an aggregate. A strong Quant and Reasoning can cover a weak English.
- IBPS has a sectional cut-off, so you must score the minimum in every section.
Mains
- SBI Mains is longer: 190 questions in 2 hours 40 minutes, and Reasoning comes with Computer Aptitude (computer basics, MS Office, networking, cyber security).
- IBPS Mains is 160 questions in 125 minutes, with General/Financial Awareness worth 50 marks in just 20 minutes.
Verdict: SBI Mains rewards stamina and computer knowledge; IBPS Mains rewards speed in General Awareness. Competition per seat is usually tougher for SBI because only one bank recruits.
4. Career growth
Both clerks can move up through internal promotion exams to officer level. In both, the first step up is to the officer cadre (Junior Management Grade Scale-I). The speed depends on the bank’s promotion policy and how quickly you clear the internal tests.
Which one should you target?
- Prepare for both together. 90% of the syllabus is common.
- Add Computer Aptitude to your plan only for SBI Mains (about 2–3 weeks of study).
- Fix your weakest section first if you are aiming at IBPS, because of the sectional cut-off.
- Choose your state carefully in both. Pick a state whose language you can read and write.
Practise free
- Bank Clerk full mocks and sectional tests
- Daily current affairs for General/Financial Awareness
- Banking history and RBI Governors for static banking GK
Details are from SBI JA 2026 (CRPD/CR/2026-27/17) and IBPS CRP CSA-XVI. Pay and allowances change with each Bipartite Settlement and DA revision. Always check the latest official notification.