SBI to Hire 16,000 Employees, Expands Branch Network in FY26

The country’s largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), is set to hire 16,000 employees in the current financial year, with plans to continue onboarding similar numbers annually to support its rapid business expansion and strengthen customer service.

Speaking to Business Line, Chairman C.S. Setty said that SBI will also add 200–300 new branches this fiscal as part of its strategy to “fill white spaces” across the country, ensuring presence in rapidly developing colonies and townships.

These initiatives align with SBI’s ambitious plan to double its business size from ₹100 lakh crore in Q2 FY26 to ₹200 lakh crore in the next 6–7 years.

Setty emphasised that the bank uses strong analytics to identify micro-markets with growing footfall to determine where new branches and ATMs are required.

Strategic Workforce and Network Expansion

Setty said that SBI’s recruitment process for this fiscal is nearing completion, with 16,000 fresh hires expected to join soon. “We add this number of people almost every year,” he said.

As of March 2025, SBI had a workforce of 2.36 lakh employees, comprising Officers, Associates, and Subordinate Staff. Women account for 28% of the total employee base.

The bank’s employee costs rose 11% year-on-year, reaching ₹36,837 crore in the first half of FY26, reflecting investments in talent and operational support.

On the physical infrastructure front, SBI continues to rely on detailed analytics to identify white spaces—areas where the bank’s presence is absent despite potential demand.

The bank also uses advanced models to identify ATM locations based on rising footfall, ensuring that customer requirements are promptly met.

Leveraging SBOSS for Rural and Semi-Urban Outreach

SBI is also expanding the role of its wholly owned subsidiary, State Bank Operations Support Services (SBOSS), to boost services in rural and semi-urban regions.

The subsidiary supports government scheme beneficiaries, sources applications in agriculture and small business segments, and manages over 60,000 ATMs nationwide.

SBI has introduced “ATM Mitras”, local residents employed through SBOSS to handle ATM availability, maintenance, and cleanliness.

With RBI permitting over 20 activities to be outsourced, SBI plans to deploy 6,000 personnel across branches for floor coordination to further enhance customer service.

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