How to Choose Preference Order for IBPS PO Exam 2017
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has invited applications to apply for 3562 vacancies for the post of Probationary Officer.. While registering online for the exam, you will have to provide a list of banks you want to work in post-selection. This list will be in decreasing order of preference, with the most preferred bank at the top and the least one at the bottom. We know that enlisting banks according to a preference order for IBPS exam can be very confusing for you. Especially if you don’t have enough information about each bank that is participating in the exam. Therefore, this post will help you understand the criteria you should consider while preparing a preference list for IBPS PO.
Note that once you qualify to the Final List, the Board will appoint you in one of the banks you choose now. Further, you will be working in this bank for the rest of your life. So make it a point to prepare this list very carefully.
Complete List Banks Participating in IBPS PO 2017 Exam:
Following is the list of all the banks who are participating in the IBPS exam. Depending upon your will to work with them, you have to enlist these banks in a preference order for IBPS PO exam.
| Allahabad Bank |
Canara Bank |
Indian Bank |
Syndicate Bank |
| Andhra Bank |
Central Bank of India |
Indian Overseas Bank |
UCO Bank |
| Bank of Baroda |
Corporation Bank |
Oriental Bank of Commerce |
Union Bank of India |
| Bank of India |
Dena Bank | Punjab National Bank |
United Bank of India |
| Bank of Maharashtra |
IDBI Bank | Punjab & Sind Bank |
Vijaya Bank |
Important Facts to Know before Filling the Preference Order for IBPS PO Exam:
- First of all, check out the bank-wise vacancy details for the IBPS PO exam. If there are ample vacancies in a bank that you don’t want to get into, then there is no point placing it high in your preference list.
- Your next step is to find out the locations of headquarters, work culture, etc. of various banks. The following list should give you a fair idea about choosing the right preference order for IBPS exam:
| Pref. order |
Bank | Work Culture | Headquarters & Branches |
| 1 | Bank of Baroda |
-Professional but friendly
environment.
-Organized workplace.
-Positive employees reviews.
|
HQ: VADODARA
Total Branches: 5361.
Rural Branches: 1974. Most Branches: Metros, urban & semi-urban areas. Foreign Branches: Yes (Major operator in overseas banking) |
| 2 | Canara Bank |
-Progressive work environment.
-Substantial opportunities
for professional as well as personal growth.
-Positive employees reviews.
|
HQ: BANGALORE
Total Branches: 6089
Most branches: Southern & South-Western India. Most branches: Metros, urban & semi-urban areas. Many branches in: Northern, Eastern & Western zones. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 3 | Corporation Bank |
-Supportive, friendly &
flexible environment.
-Good opportunities to learn & grow professionally.
-Positive employee reviews employees.
|
HQ: MANGALORE
Total Branches: 2440
Most branches: Southern India Many branches: Northern India. Some branches: North- Eastern states too. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 4 | Dena Bank |
-Encouraging higher management.
-Good professional & personal
growth opportunities.
-Positive reviews from employees.
|
HQ: MUMBAI
Total Branches: 1773.
Rural Branches: Very few Most Branches: Gujarat & Maharashtra. Remaining Branches: Spread evenly in country. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 5 | IDBI Bank |
-Substantial growth opportunities.
-Supportive higher management.
-Progressive work environment.
-Positive reviews from employees.
|
HQ: MUMBAI
Total Branches: 1996
Most branches: Maharashtra,
Gujarat, West Bengal, UP. Several branches: North-Eastern States as well. Remaining branches: Spread evenly across India. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 6 | Indian Bank |
-Friendly work environment.
-Organized way of working.
-Good opportunities to learn new things.
-Positive reviews from employees.
|
HQ: CHENNAI
Total Branches: 2594
Branches in Tamil Nadu: 990 Branches in NE: 36 in Assam, 10 in other NE states Many branches in: Kerala, Maharashtra & Uttar Pradesh Remaining branches: Spread evenly in both Rural & Urban India. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 7 | Indian Overseas Bank |
-Innovative & helpful work environment.
-Continuous learning opportunities.
-Positive reviews from employees
|
HQ: CHENNAI
Total Branches: 3700
Most branches: South India.
Many branches: Maharashtra, UP & Gujarat. Less branches: Rural areas. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 8 | Punjab National Bank |
-Professional & helpful work environment.
-Frequent training of employees
-Positive reviews from employees
|
HQ: NEW DELHI
Total Branches:6937
Most branches in: Punjab,
Bihar & Haryana. Most branches in: Urban & semi-urban areas. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 9 | Vijaya Bank |
-Work can get hectic
sometimes.
-Flexibility in work management.
-Positive reviews from employees.
|
HQ: BANGALORE
Total Branches: 2031
Most branches: Urban &
semi-urban areas. Most branches: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Gujarat. Some branches: North-eastern states too. Remaining branches: Spread evenly across other states. Foreign Branches: NO |
| 10 | Andhra Bank |
-Friendly & supportive co-workers.
-Progressive in terms of technology
-Good scope for personal growth
-Positive reviews from employees
|
HQ: HYDERABAD
Total Branches: 2803.
Rural Branches: 800. Remaining Branches: Metros, urban and semi-urban areas. Most branches in: Southern India. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 11 | Bank of India |
-Healthy work environment
& good growth opportunity.
-Positive reviews from employees.
|
HQ: MUMBAI
Total Branches: 5100
Branches spread: Across
rural & urban areas. Most branches: South-western India. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 12 | Oriental Bank of Commerce |
-Limited personal & professional
growth opportunities.
-Helpful colleagues & supportive management.
-Mixed reviews from employees.
|
HQ: DELHI
Total Branches: 1092
Most branches: UP,
Delhi, Punjab, Haryana & Rajasthan. Many branches: Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat & Rajasthan. Less presence: Southern & North-eastern states. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 13 | Punjab & Sind Bank |
-Supportive work environment.
-Limited opportunities
to learn & grow.
-Positive reviews from employees
|
HQ: DELHI
Total Branches: 1466
Most branches in: Punjab,
Uttar Pradesh & Haryana. Other branches: Spread across the country evenly. Fewer branches in: Southern & north-eastern India. Foreign Branches: NO |
| 14 | Syndicate Bank |
-Professional yet friendly work
environment.
-Scope for personal & professional growth.
-Positive reviews from employees.
|
HQ: MANIPAL
Total Branches: 4000
Branches in Karnataka: 826 Branches in UP: 590 Many branches: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra Delhi, Odisha, West Bengal, Haryana & Kerala. Several branches: North -eastern states too. Other branches: Spread evenly across India. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 15 | Union Bank of India |
-Supportive & innovative
work environment.
-Ample opportunities for personal
& professional growth.
-Positive reviews from employees
|
HQ: MUMBAI
Total branches: 4214
Branches in UP: 953 Branches in Maharashtra: 559 Many branches in: Kerala, Gujarat, Delhi, Bihar, Rajasthan & Karnataka. Remaining branches: Spread evenly across India. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 16 | UCO Bank |
-Healthy work environment.
-Challenging work.
-Good personal & professional
growth opportunities.
-Positive reviews from employees.
|
HQ: MUMBAI
Branches in NE states:
200 Most branches: West Bengal, UP, Bihar, Odisha & Rajasthan. Many branches: Maharashtra, Gujarat & Assam. Branches: Most states of the country. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 17 | Allahabad Bank |
-Not much scope for personal growth.
-Mixed reviews from employees.
|
HQ: KOLKATA
Total branches: 2500
Branches in Assam: 76.
Other NE states Branches: 36. Most branches: UP, Bihar, West Bengal & Madhya Pradesh. Many branches: Jharkhand & Maharashtra. Other branches: Spread evenly across the country. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 18 | Bank of Maharashtra |
-Helpful Management
-Good growth opportunities.
-Positive reviews from employees
|
HQ: PUNE
Total branches: 1897
Most branches:
Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh Fewer branches: Other states. Foreign Branches: NO |
| 19 | Central Bank of India |
-Growth opportunities.
-Unorganized way of working
-Mixed reviews from employees
|
HQ: MUMBAI
Total branches: 4730
Most branches:
Maharashtra & UP Many branches: Bihar, Gujarat & West Bengal Other Branches: Spread almost evenly in rural and urban areas. Foreign Branches: Yes |
| 20 | United Bank of India |
-Progressive work environment.
-Supportive higher management
-Mixed reviews from employees
|
HQ: KOLKATA
Total branches:2005
Most branches:
North India
Other Branches: Spread
almost evenly in rural and urban areas.
Foreign Branches: Yes
|
Note that the priority preference has been assigned to each bank keeping in mind the overall benefits of working with them. Your official preference order for IBPS exam may completely differ from that provided here, depending on factors more important to you. For example, you might not want to work in a bank that can transfer you abroad. In that case, you would not want to give preference to a bank with overseas branches.
- It’s favourable for female candidates to give more priority to banks having a good number of branches in their states. They can also consider the banks that don’t have branches in their states but are located comparatively closer.
- The states where a bank has maximum presence and headquarters, is most likely where it will post you.
- The more branches a bank has, the more frequently it transfers its employees. Therefore, if you are not looking for frequent transfers then prepare your preference order for IBPS paper accordingly.
- The work culture of all banks is almost similar. Although, it might vary slightly from branch to branch. Your job as a PO will anyway involve a lot of responsibility and hence, long working hours. Therefore, in any case the work environment will initially seem hectic to you.
- Most banks follow the same salary structure and promotion policies. Even work-related responsibilities, job rotation etc. don’t differ much. There is a minor difference in the allowances given, which too keep changing from time to time according to changing company policies.
- Also, keep in mind that the banks in rural areas provide lesser H.R.A than the ones in urban areas and metros. Since this impacts your gross salary, it is more fruitful to work in urban areas.
Since, all these banks are PSUs, their incentives like job security, scope, growth etc. remain the same. Thus, don’t go overboard with your research and give maximum time to your studies. Preparing the right preference order for IBPS exam is only going to materialize if you study well. Just doing the above-mentioned background checks would suffice. We hope that this post helps you choose the most beneficial preference order for IBPS PO exam.
If you are preparing for IBPS PO exam, go through the following study material before you sit for the exam:
Once you are done preparing your preference order for IBPS PO exam, check out some more study material & notes that can help you prepare for Exam:
For any questions and suggestions related to IBPS PO EXAM 2017-18, feel free to post in the comments.
Good luck & Keep Learning
Team AIMSUCCESS
