Bank Exam Calendar 2025: Key Dates You Need to Plan Your Preparation Around
The Bank Exam Calendar 2025 is an essential tool for aspirants aiming to secure a job in India’s prestigious banking sector. With exams conducted by major organizations like the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), State Bank of India (SBI), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and others, 2025 promises a busy year for banking aspirants. This guide highlights the key dates for major bank exams, including IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS RRB, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, RBI Assistant, and more, helping you strategize your preparation effectively. All dates are based on official announcements (e.g., IBPS Calendar 2025 released on January 15, 2025) and tentative schedules from past trends, accurate as of March 23, 2025.
Why Plan Around These Dates?
Bank exams in India are highly competitive, attracting lakhs of candidates for roles like Probationary Officer (PO), Clerk, Specialist Officer (SO), and Office Assistant. Knowing the exam timeline allows you to:
- Allocate study time for prelims, mains, and interviews.
- Prioritize mock tests and revision.
- Avoid overlapping preparation for multiple exams.
Below is a detailed calendar of key dates for 2025 bank exams, focusing on notification releases, application windows, and exam schedules.
Key Bank Exams and Dates for 2025
1. IBPS RRB 2025 (Regional Rural Banks)
- Purpose: Recruitment for Officer Scale I, II, III, and Office Assistants in Regional Rural Banks.
- Notification Release: Expected in June 2025 (based on past trends; 2024 notification was June 7).
- Application Window: June 2025 to July 2025.
- Exam Dates:
- Prelims (Officer Scale I & Office Assistant): July 27, August 2, 3, 2025 (per IBPS Calendar 2025).
- Prelims (Office Assistant Additional Dates): August 30, September 6, 7, 2025.
- Single Exam (Officer Scale II & III): September 13, 2025.
- Mains (Officer Scale I): September 13, 2025.
- Mains (Office Assistant): November 9, 2025.
- Preparation Tip: Start early (April-May) with quantitative aptitude and reasoning, as prelims are just 3-4 months after the notification.
2. IBPS PO 2025 (Probationary Officer)
- Purpose: Recruitment of Probationary Officers/Management Trainees (CRP PO/MT-XV) in public sector banks.
- Notification Release: Expected August 2025 (2024 was August 1).
- Application Window: August 2025 to September 2025.
- Exam Dates:
- Prelims: October 4, 5, 11, 2025 (confirmed in IBPS Calendar 2025).
- Mains: November 29, 2025.
- Preparation Tip: Focus on English, reasoning, and data interpretation from June onward; intensify mains prep (banking awareness, GK) post-prelims.
3. IBPS Clerk 2025 (Customer Service Associate)
- Purpose: Recruitment for clerical posts (recently renamed Customer Service Associates) in public sector banks.
- Notification Release: Expected October/November 2025 (2024 was July, but trends suggest a shift).
- Application Window: October/November 2025.
- Exam Dates:
- Prelims: December 6, 7, 13, 14, 2025 (confirmed in IBPS Calendar 2025).
- Mains: February 1, 2026.
- Preparation Tip: Begin prep in August with a focus on speed and accuracy for prelims; reserve December-January for mains-specific topics like computer aptitude.
4. IBPS SO 2025 (Specialist Officer)
- Purpose: Recruitment for Specialist Officer posts (IT, HR, Law, Marketing, etc.) in public sector banks.
- Notification Release: Expected August 2025 (2024 was November, but IBPS adjusts annually).
- Application Window: August 2025 to September 2025.
- Exam Dates:
- Prelims: November 2025 (tentative; exact dates pending).
- Mains: December 2025 (tentative).
- Preparation Tip: Start professional knowledge prep (specific to your stream) by May; combine with prelims subjects from August.
5. SBI PO 2025 (Probationary Officer)
- Purpose: Recruitment of Probationary Officers in the State Bank of India.
- Notification Release: Expected February 2025 (2024 was September 2023; SBI Calendar 2025 suggests March exams).
- Application Window: February to March 2025.
- Exam Dates:
- Prelims: March 8, 15, 2025 (per SBI Calendar 2025).
- Mains: April-May 2025 (tentative).
- Preparation Tip: Kick off prep in November 2024 with emphasis on high-level reasoning and data analysis; refine interview skills post-mains.
6. SBI Clerk 2025 (Junior Associate)
- Purpose: Recruitment for clerical cadre (Junior Associates) in SBI.
- Notification Release: Expected April 2025 (2024 was November 2023).
- Application Window: April to May 2025.
- Exam Dates:
- Prelims: June 2025 (tentative).
- Mains: July 2025 (tentative).
- Preparation Tip: Start in January 2025 with basic math, English, and reasoning; focus on speed for prelims by April.
7. RBI Assistant 2025
- Purpose: Recruitment of Assistants in the Reserve Bank of India.
- Notification Release: Expected September 2025 (2024 was October).
- Application Window: September to October 2025.
- Exam Dates:
- Prelims: November 2025 (tentative).
- Mains: December 2025 (tentative).
- Preparation Tip: Begin in June with GK (financial awareness) and reasoning; intensify prep post-notification.
8. RBI Grade B 2025
- Purpose: Recruitment of Grade B Officers in RBI.
- Notification Release: Expected May 2025 (2024 was May).
- Application Window: May to June 2025.
- Exam Dates:
- Phase I: July 2025 (tentative).
- Phase II: August 2025 (tentative).
- Preparation Tip: Start in March with economics, finance, and management; dedicate June-July to Phase II essay writing.
9. NABARD Grade A 2025
- Purpose: Recruitment of Assistant Managers in the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
- Notification Release: Expected July 2025 (2024 was July).
- Application Window: July to August 2025.
- Exam Dates:
- Prelims: September 2025 (tentative).
- Mains: October 2025 (tentative).
- Preparation Tip: Begin in April with agriculture and rural development topics; align with prelims prep for IBPS RRB.
Tentative Calendar Overview
| Exam | Notification | Prelims | Mains |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS RRB | June 2025 | July-Aug-Sep 2025 | Sep-Nov 2025 |
| IBPS PO | Aug 2025 | Oct 4, 5, 11, 2025 | Nov 29, 2025 |
| IBPS Clerk | Oct/Nov 2025 | Dec 6, 7, 13, 14, 2025 | Feb 1, 2026 |
| IBPS SO | Aug 2025 | Nov 2025 (tentative) | Dec 2025 (tentative) |
| SBI PO | Feb 2025 | Mar 8, 15, 2025 | Apr-May 2025 |
| SBI Clerk | Apr 2025 | Jun 2025 (tentative) | Jul 2025 (tentative) |
| RBI Assistant | Sep 2025 | Nov 2025 (tentative) | Dec 2025 (tentative) |
| RBI Grade B | May 2025 | Jul 2025 (tentative) | Aug 2025 (tentative) |
| NABARD Grade A | Jul 2025 | Sep 2025 (tentative) | Oct 2025 (tentative) |
How to Use This Calendar for Preparation
- Early Start (Now – May 2025):
- Build a foundation in quantitative aptitude, reasoning, and English for prelims across all exams.
- Focus on SBI PO prep (March exams are early).
- Mid-Year Push (June – August 2025):
- Intensify IBPS RRB prep (July-Sep exams).
- Begin mains-specific topics (GK, banking awareness) for IBPS PO and RBI Grade B.
- Peak Season (September – December 2025):
- Tackle IBPS PO, Clerk, SO, and RBI Assistant with overlapping prelims and mains prep.
- Prioritize mock tests and time management.
- Wrap-Up (January – February 2026):
- Focus on IBPS Clerk Mains and interviews for earlier exams (e.g., IBPS PO, SBI PO).
Where to Check Updates
- IBPS: www.ibps.in (Calendar released January 15, 2025).
- SBI: www.sbi.co.in (SBI Calendar 2025 for PO/Clerk).
- RBI: www.rbi.org.in.
- NABARD: www.nabard.org.
Conclusion
The Bank Exam Calendar 2025 offers a clear roadmap for your preparation journey. With exams spread across the year—starting with SBI PO in March and ending with IBPS Clerk Mains in February 2026—strategic planning is key. Start now, align your study schedule with these dates, and stay updated via official websites. A disciplined approach around these key dates will maximize your chances of landing a coveted bank job in 2025!