The bank clerk exams are conducted for the recruitment of clerks in the banking sector. There are two major exams that take place every year for this purpose. These exams are the SBI clerk exam and the IBPS clerk exam.

While both these exams are conducted for the post of bank clerk, the main difference between them is that through the SBI clerk exam, clerks are appointed to the State Bank of India (SBI) only, while through the IBPS clerk exam, clerks are appointed in 19 public sector banks.

As both the SBI clerk and IBPS clerk exams are fairly similar and are for the similar posts, many candidates get confused between them. This confusion has led to the question—which is better? SBI clerk or IBPS clerk? Through this article we will go through both SBI clerk and IBPS clerk by comparing them using some common parameters.

SBI Clerk Vs. IBPS Clerk

There are many parameters like job profile, responsibilities and salaries on which the SBI clerk and IBPS clerk can be compared. We will use some of these common parameters to compare the SBI clerk and IBPS clerk, which will help you decide which one is the better option for you.

1. Job Profile and Responsibilities

The job profile and responsibilities for both SBI Clerk and IBPS clerk are similar and they are responsible for the following duties:

• The main task of a clerk is to handle cash transactions including the deposits and withdrawals of cash. A clerk needs to keep a daily, weekly and monthly report of all the cash transactions.
• The clerk also works as a window operator at the bank and deals with customers regarding their queries and other activities like clearing cheques, providing receipts, etc.
• Other duties of clerks include, document verification, updating passbooks, etc.

2. Salary and benefits

The salary structure and other added benefits are also quite similar when it comes to SBI clerks and IBPS clerks. However, the SBI offers four increments in the salaries of the clerks which is more than most public sector banks. This makes the SBI clerk salary slightly higher than the IBPS clerk salary.

The SBI clerk salary after the allowances and increments may range up to 24,000 to 29,000 rupees per month, whereas the IBPS clerk salary ranges between 22,000 to 26,000 rupees per month.

3. Career growth

As far as career growth goes, the SBI clerk experiences quicker growth than the IBPS clerk. It may take only three to four years for a SBI clerk to get promoted to the position of probationary officer. However, it takes many more years for an IBPS clerk to get promoted to that position.

4. Work Pressure

Although the job profile and responsibilities of both SBI clerk and IBPS clerk are similar, the work pressure definitely differs. As SBI is the largest bank of the country, the work pressure of a SBI clerk is much higher than an IBPS clerk who has to work in a public sector bank.

5. Job Security

Once recruited as an IBPS clerk, the chances of losing the job are almost none as the job security in the public sector is very high as compared to the private sector. As a SBI clerk, the job security is comparatively less as the SBI can terminate its employees on the basis of underperformance.

Which is Better?

Now that we have compared SBI clerk and IBPS clerk based on some similar parameters, it is time to discuss which the better option is. Well, it completely depends on your goals and priorities. If you are looking for a job with higher salary and quicker career growth then SBI clerk is definitely a better choice.

However, if you are looking for long term job security, having a job in the public sector will always be better. Hence, making IBPS clerk the better choice.