Central Bank of India Recruitment 2026: 350 Specialist Officer Vacancies

Post Summary
Date: 20-01-2026
Total Posts: 350

Central Bank of India Specialist Officer Recruitment 2026: Full Details on Dates, Eligibility, and How to Apply

Looking for specialist jobs in banking? The Central Bank of India has just launched its Specialist Officer Recruitment 2026 for 350 vacancies. Applications opened today, 20 January 2026, and you have until 03 February 2026 to apply online. No corrections allowed after submission, so double-check everything.

They need two types of specialists:

  • Foreign Exchange Officer (Scale III): Age 25-35 years (as of 01-01-2026). You need 5 years experience in Forex operations at a bank, plus the IIBF Forex certificate. Must be working in Forex currently.
  • Marketing Officer (Scale I): Age 22-30 years. Full-time MBA in Marketing required, with 2 years total experience (at least 1 year in banking/finance/insurance). Currently employed.

Standard age relaxations apply for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD categories. Only experienced professionals currently working in relevant roles need apply for this Central Bank of India SO recruitment 2026.

Complete Vacancy Breakdown, Salary Structure, Application Fees, and Documents Checklist

The 350 vacancies break down like this:

Post Total Vacancies
Foreign Exchange Officer (Scale III) 50
Marketing Officer (Scale I) 300
Total 350

Salary details look solid:

  • Scale III starts at ₹85,920 basic pay + allowances
  • Scale I starts at ₹48,480 basic pay + allowances

Application fees (non-refundable):

  • ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates
  • ₹850 for all other categories

Must-upload documents during online application:

  • Recent passport photo (not older than 6 months)
  • Signature scan
  • Left thumb impression scan
  • Handwritten declaration scan
  • Live photo capture via webcam (mandatory)

Step-by-Step Guide to Apply Online + Selection Process and Exam Pattern

How to apply for Central Bank of India Specialist Officer 2026:

  1. Visit the official IBPS application portal
  2. Click "New Registration" or use existing login
  3. Fill personal, educational, and experience details carefully
  4. Upload all required documents (photo, signature, etc.)
  5. Complete live photo capture using webcam
  6. Pay application fee online
  7. Preview, verify, and submit final application
  8. Take printout of submitted application + fee receipt

Selection Process: Online Exam (70%) + Personal Interview (30%)

Online Exam Pattern:

  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Total Marks: 100
  • No negative marking
  • Section 1: Professional Knowledge - 70 marks
  • Section 2: Banking/Economy/General Awareness - 30 marks
  • Qualifying Marks: 50% for UR/EWS, 45% for others

Start preparing now for this excellent opportunity in public sector banking! Keep checking the official website for any updates on Central Bank of India SO Recruitment 2026.

Important Dates & Age Eligibility for Central Bank Officers 2026

Event Date/Detail
Application Start Date 20 January 2026
Application Last Date 03 February 2026 (Online only)
Online Exam (Tentative) February / March 2026
Interview (Tentative) March / April 2026
Correction/Edit Window NOT PERMITTED after final submission
Criteria Details
Eligibility Cut-off Date 01 January 2026
Foreign Exchange Officer (Scale III) 25 to 35 years
Marketing Officer (Scale I) 22 to 30 years
Age Relaxation (SC/ST) +5 years
Age Relaxation (OBC NCL) +3 years
Age Relaxation (PwBD) +10 years
Absolute Upper Age Cap for PwBD 56 years

Your Application Timeline and Age Eligibility Decoded

Mark Your Calendar: Key Recruitment Deadlines

The application window for Central Bank of India's specialist officer recruitment is fairly tight, opening on 20th January 2026 and closing sharply on 3rd February 2026. You must apply online within this period as there is no offline option. The bank has tentatively scheduled the online examination for February or March 2026, followed by interviews in March or April 2026. A critical point to remember is that no correction or edit of your application is permitted after final submission, so review everything carefully before hitting submit.

Understanding Age Limits and Relaxation Policy

Your age eligibility is calculated as of 1st January 2026. For the Foreign Exchange Officer in Scale III, you must be between 25 and 35 years. For Marketing Officer in Scale I, the range is 22 to 30 years. The notification provides substantial age relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST candidates, 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), and a significant 10 years for PwBD (Divyangjan) candidates. For PwBD candidates belonging to SC/ST, the relaxation extends to 15 years, and for OBC PwBD, it's 13 years. However, there's an absolute upper age cap of 56 years for all PwBD candidates, regardless of category.

Post Names & Core Eligibility Criteria

Post Name Scale Key Mandatory Requirements
Foreign Exchange Officer III (Senior Manager)
  • Full-time Graduation (AICTE/UGC recognized)
  • Mandatory IIBF Certificate in Foreign Exchange Operations
  • Min. 5 yrs as Officer in Scheduled Commercial Banks
  • 3 yrs in Trade Finance/Forex/IBU-GIFT City
  • Must be currently working in Forex
Marketing Officer I (Assistant Manager)
  • Graduation + 2-year full-time MBA/PGDM/PGDBM/PGPM
  • Major Specialization: Marketing
  • 2 years post-qualification experience
  • 1 year continuous BFSI marketing experience
  • Must be currently employed
Critical Experience & Domain Filters What Counts What Does NOT Count
Foreign Exchange Officer Scheduled Commercial Bank Officer experience in Trade Finance, Forex, LC, BG, FEMA compliance. NBFC, RRB, Cooperative Bank, Insurance Company experience.
Marketing Officer Post-qualification marketing experience, specifically 1 year in BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, Insurance). Experience in non-BFSI sectors for the mandatory 1-year requirement.
Common Mandate: Candidates must be currently employed at the time of application.

Specialist Roles Demanding Specialized Credentials

Foreign Exchange Officer – A Niche Expertise Role

This is not a generic banking job. The Foreign Exchange Officer role in Scale III demands highly specialized and current expertise. Beyond a regular graduation, you must possess the IIBF's Certificate in Foreign Exchange Operations. Your experience is scrutinized: a minimum of 5 years as an officer exclusively in Scheduled Commercial Banks, with at least 3 dedicated years in Trade Finance, Forex, or GIFT City operations. Experience in NBFCs, Cooperative Banks, or Insurance is explicitly considered not eligible. Crucially, you must be currently working in the Forex department; past experience is insufficient if you've moved to another vertical.

Marketing Officer – The Field Force for Business Growth

The Marketing Officer in Scale I is a field-based role focused on business mobilization. The educational bar is set at a full-time two-year postgraduate degree in Management (MBA/PGDM) with a major in Marketing. The experience criterion is twofold: two years of post-qualification experience overall, within which one year must be continuous experience in marketing within the BFSI sector. Like the Forex role, you need to be currently employed. This role is designed for professionals who are on the ground, acquiring customers and building business relationships for the bank.

Vacancy Distribution & Salary Structure

Post & Scale SC ST OBC EWS UR Total
Foreign Exchange Officer (Scale III) 7 3 13 5 22 50
Marketing Officer (Scale I) 45 22 81 30 122 300
Grand Total 52 25 94 35 144 350
PwBD Horizontal Reservation: HI: 4 | OC: 4 | VI: 3 | ID: 3. These reservations are adjusted within the category-wise vacancies above.
Post & Scale Pay Scale (Basic Pay) Approx. Initial CTC*
Foreign Exchange Officer ₹85,920 – 2,680/5 – 99,320 – 2,980/2 – 1,05,280 ₹14-16 Lakhs p.a.
Marketing Officer ₹48,480 – 2,000/7 – 62,480 – 2,340/2 – 67,160 – 2,680/7 – 85,920 ₹9-11 Lakhs p.a.
*Note: CTC includes Basic Pay, Dearness Allowance, Special Allowance, HRA, other perks & benefits as per bank policy. The figures are indicative.

350 Specialist Opportunities: Your Premier Banking Career Awaits

A Substantial Recruitment Drive

Central Bank of India is recruiting for a total of 350 provisional vacancies across two specialist cadres. The majority of opportunities, 300 posts, are for Marketing Officers in Scale I, indicating a major push for business growth. The more senior and niche Foreign Exchange Officer in Scale III has 50 posts. The vacancies are distributed across all reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC, EWS) and Unreserved (UR) as per government norms. Additionally, there is a horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) across four categories: Hearing Impaired (4), Orthopedically Challenged (4), Visually Impaired (3), and Intellectual Disability (3).

Competitive Compensation and Growth Path

The roles offer a structured and attractive pay scale. The Foreign Exchange Officer (Scale III) starts at a basic pay of ₹85,920, with increments leading to over ₹1.05 lakh. The Marketing Officer (Scale I) starts at ₹48,480, with a clear progression up to ₹85,920. When you add Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Special Allowance, and other perquisites like leave fare concession, medical benefits, and provident fund, the Cost to Company (CTC) becomes highly competitive in the banking sector. It's a government job with stability, defined career progression, and all the benefits of working in a Public Sector Bank.

Application Fees & Documents Required

Category Application Fee
SC / ST / PwBD / Women Candidates ₹175 (Non-Refundable)
All Other Candidates ₹850 (Non-Refundable)
Note: Bank transaction charges are extra and must be borne by the candidate.
Mandatory Uploads (During Application) Format & Specifications
Recent Photograph JPEG, 4.5cm × 3.5cm, 200x230 pixels, White Background.
Signature JPEG, on white paper with black ink.
Left Thumb Impression JPEG, on white paper with black or blue ink.
Handwritten Declaration JPEG, in English: "I, _______ (Name), hereby declare..."
Live Photo Capture: A mandatory live photograph will also be captured via webcam during application.

Fee Concessions and Document Precision are Key

Structured and Concessional Application Fee

The application fee structure provides a significant concession for candidates from SC, ST, PwBD categories and all women candidates, who need to pay only ₹175. For all other candidates (General, OBC, EWS), the fee is ₹850. It is crucial to remember that this fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. Additionally, any online banking or payment gateway transaction charges incurred during the payment process will be over and above this fee and must be paid by you. Choose your payment method wisely to minimize these extra charges.

Getting Your Scans and Declarations Right

A major reason for application rejection is incorrect document uploads. You need to prepare and scan four items: a recent passport-size photo with a white background, your full signature, a clear left thumb impression, and a handwritten declaration in English as per the prescribed text. The file format must be JPEG, and the size/dimensions must be strictly adhered to. Most importantly, during the application process, the system will prompt you for a live photo capture via your webcam. This is mandatory for verification and cannot be skipped. Applications without this live capture will be rejected.

Selection Process & Exam Pattern

Stage of Selection Nature & Key Components
Stage 1 Online Written Examination (Common for all)
Stage 2 Personal Interview
Stage 3 Document Verification
Stage 4 Medical Examination
Final Stage Final Appointment Offer
Section No. of Qs Marks Duration (Composite)
Stream / Category Specific Knowledge 70 70 60 Minutes
Banking, Economy & General Awareness 30 30
Total 100 100 60 Min
Marking Scheme: NO NEGATIVE MARKING. Qualifying Marks: UR/EWS - 50%; SC/ST/OBC/PwBD - 45%.

The Two-Tier Selection: Test Your Knowledge and Personality

Cracking the Online Exam: Strategy with No Negative Marking

The online exam is a single paper of 100 marks to be completed in 60 minutes. It has two sections: the major chunk (70 questions for 70 marks) tests your specialist knowledge (e.g., Forex operations for Forex Officer, Marketing for Marketing Officer). The remaining 30 questions cover Banking Awareness, Economy, and General Awareness. The biggest advantage is that there is NO NEGATIVE MARKING. This allows you to attempt all questions without fear of penalty. However, you must score the minimum qualifying marks: 50% for UR/EWS and 45% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD. The final merit is calculated with a 70:30 weightage for the online exam and interview, respectively.

Critical Warnings & Compliance Notes from this Notification

  • Service Bond of ₹3 Lakhs: Upon joining, you will be required to execute a service bond of ₹3,00,000 (Three Lakhs). You must serve the bank for a minimum period of 3 years from the date of joining. Leaving before this period will make you liable to pay the bond amount.
  • Hidden Credit Score Mandate (CIC Score): This is a critical and often overlooked filter. You must have a minimum credit score of 650 as per CIC (Credit Information Companies) records. Any history of loan default, credit card overdue, or a score below 650 will lead to direct disqualification at any stage, even after appointment.
  • Probation Period: Your appointment will be subject to a probation period of 2 years. For Scale II and above, this period can be reduced at the bank's discretion, but for these Scale I and III posts, the 2-year probation is standard.
  • Strict Rejection Triggers: Your candidature will be rejected for: Multiple applications, providing false information, experience from ineligible institutions (like NBFCs for Forex post), mismatch in uploaded photo/signature, credit score below 650, failure to produce originals at interview, or any form of canvassing.
  • All-India Transfer Liability: You can be posted or transferred anywhere in India, including to the bank's subsidiaries, as per administrative requirements.
  • Legal Jurisdiction: In case of any legal dispute arising from this recruitment process, only courts at Mumbai will have the jurisdiction.
  • Post-Employment Conduct: Even after appointment, if you are found guilty of any misconduct or suppression of facts, the bank has the right to terminate your services.

Disclaimer: This guide is a simplified analysis for aspirants. The official PDF notification released by Central Bank of India and hosted on centralbank.bank.in is the only authentic and binding document.

Frequently Asked Questions

The online application last date is 03 February 2026. The process starts on 20 January 2026. No corrections are allowed after final submission, so fill the form carefully before this deadline.

For Foreign Exchange Officer in Scale III, you must be between 25 and 35 years old. For Marketing Officer in Scale I, the age range is 22 to 30 years. Your age is calculated as of 01 January 2026.

There are a total of 350 provisional vacancies. This includes 50 posts for Foreign Exchange Officer (Scale III) and a much larger pool of 300 posts for Marketing Officer (Scale I).

The Scale III (Senior Manager) salary starts at a basic pay of ₹85,920. With annual increments and allowances like DA, HRA, and special allowance, the total Cost to Company (CTC) can be around ₹14-16 lakhs per annum.

Yes, there is a mandatory service bond of ₹3,00,000 (Three Lakh Rupees). You must serve the bank for a minimum period of 3 years from your joining date. Leaving before this term requires you to pay the bond amount.

You need a minimum of 5 years of experience as an Officer in Scheduled Commercial Banks. Crucially, you must have 3 years of specific experience in Trade Finance, Forex, or IBU-GIFT City operations and must be currently working in a Forex department.

You need a graduation degree plus a full-time 2-year MBA/PGDM/PGDBM/PGPM with a major specialization in Marketing. Additionally, you require 2 years of post-qualification experience, with 1 year of continuous experience in BFSI marketing.

Yes, this is a critical hidden filter. You must have a minimum CIBIL/CIC credit score of 650. Any loan default, credit card overdue, or a score below this threshold will lead to direct disqualification, even after selection.

Candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwBD categories and all women candidates have to pay a reduced fee of ₹175. All other candidates (General, OBC, EWS) must pay ₹850. Bank transaction charges are extra.

Selection involves an Online Written Exam followed by a Personal Interview. The exam is 100 marks in 60 minutes with NO negative marking. It has 70 marks for professional knowledge and 30 marks for Banking, Economy & GA. Final merit uses a 70:30 weightage for exam and interview.

No. Experience from NBFCs, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Cooperative Banks, or Insurance companies is NOT eligible for the Foreign Exchange Officer post. Only experience as an officer in Scheduled Commercial Banks counts.

You must upload scanned copies of your recent photograph, signature, left thumb impression, and a handwritten declaration in English. A live photograph capture via webcam is also mandatory during the application process.

The appointment is subject to a probation period of 2 years. For these Scale I and III posts, this period is standard and cannot be reduced, unlike for higher scales where the bank has discretion.

Selected officers can be posted or transferred anywhere in India, including to the bank's subsidiaries. This is a condition of service, and you must be willing to serve at any location as per the bank's administrative needs.

The only official portal to apply is the IBPS registration website: https://ibpsreg.ibps.in/cbidec25/. Do not use any third-party sites. All exam-related information will also be hosted here.

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