Chairman C S Setty said the recruitment drive would help SBI replace retiring employees and meet business requirements. Junior associates and probationary officers will be part of the intake, with general banking positions receiving greater attention as the need for specialist IT recruits has eased.

The planned intake comes after SBI recruited more than 25,600 employees in 2025-26. That group included 1,500 officers specialising in IT. At the end of March 2026, the bank employed more than 2.45 lakh people. The report does not provide a breakdown of the proposed recruitment by cadre.

For its branch expansion, SBI is looking at locations where banking facilities are missing nearby. New residential developments and active business districts are among the areas being considered. The plan indicates that physical outlets remain part of the bank’s growth strategy alongside digital services.

Setty also outlined plans for SBI and SBI Capital Markets to sell a 1% holding in NSE through its proposed public offering. The issue is expected to be worth ₹30,000 crore. SBI is not currently planning stake sales in other subsidiaries; it previously sold a 10% holding in SBI Mutual Fund.