SBI to Hire 12,000 Employees and Open 250 New Branches in FY27, Chairman Setty Says
State Bank of India (SBI) plans to recruit around 11,000 to 12,000 employees and add between 200 and 250 branches during the 2026–27 financial year, Chairman C.S. Setty said.
The expansion will strengthen SBI’s workforce and physical network as the lender continues to invest in digital banking.
The recruitment programme will cover clerical and officer-level positions, with the final number expected to depend partly on staff retirements and the bank’s operational requirements.
SBI recruited more than 25,000 employees in FY26, including officers, associates and contractual staff. The latest plan represents a smaller recruitment programme compared with the previous year.
The bank had more than 245,000 employees as of March 2026, according to its annual report.
Setty said SBI is also unlikely to repeat the large technology-focused recruitment drive carried out in FY26. The lender hired about 1,500 specialist IT officers during that period, covering areas including artificial intelligence, data science and cybersecurity.
For FY27, recruitment is expected to focus more heavily on conventional banking roles while maintaining selective hiring for specialised positions.
SBI to Add Up to 250 Branches
SBI also expects to increase its branch network by about 200 to 250 locations during FY27.
The additions will come alongside the rationalisation of some existing outlets, meaning the bank’s overall network is expected to record a net increase within that range.
The expansion is intended to support customers in developing residential and commercial areas where demand for banking services remains strong.
SBI’s branch strategy comes as India’s banking sector continues to move towards digital services. However, the lender still sees physical outlets as an important part of customer service, particularly when combined with its digital platforms.
The bank had 23,265 outlets at the end of FY26.
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What the Expansion Means for SBI
The recruitment and network expansion form part of SBI’s broader growth strategy.
The lender is targeting credit growth of between 13% and 15% in FY27, with lending across retail, small and medium-sized businesses and other segments expected to support that expansion.
Adding employees while extending its branch footprint gives SBI more capacity to serve customers as its loan book and deposit base grow.
The strategy also shows that SBI is not treating digital banking as a replacement for branches. Instead, the bank is combining its physical network with online services to reach customers through multiple channels.
For job seekers, the planned recruitment makes SBI one of the major public-sector banking employers to watch during FY27. For customers, the additional outlets could improve access to banking services in locations experiencing population and commercial growth.
SBI’s approach reflects a broader shift in banking: technology is reducing dependence on traditional branches, but large lenders continue to maintain a physical presence where it adds value to their business and customers.
Source: SBI
