Banking Interview Tips

First gather the complete information of the Bank from which you have got the interview
call. Just go to the Bank's website and gather the basic information of that bank. This will
help you to get the complete Gather information about the bank or organization that has
invited you for the interview. This will give you a clear idea about the philosophy, work
environment and reputation of the Bank. And it will give you the required stuff to answer
the question what do you know about our bank? (or) why you want to be a part of this
bank? type of questions.
Your posture and ability to maintain eye contact are part of your appearance. So, Before your
interview, practice your posture while sitting in a chair, while leaning on a desk or table, and while
standing. Ask a friend to help you practice maintaining eye contact and shaking hands. Why is
your appearance important? Because great credentials are not enough. Employers are looking for
the whole package.
If you are not 100% sure of where your interview is located, do a dry run the day before. You
NEVER want to be late for an interview. It leaves a very bad first impression! So, start lil earlier
on the day of Interview and try to reach the venue 1 hour before the Specified Time.

What to prepare for Banking Interviews ?

- Bank Interview Tips
Here are some basic topics you should prepare before going for the Bank Interview. Better
make your own shortnotes on the following topics and practice saying them by looking
into the mirror.

Basic details of your state (Or the state from which you are appearing if its different from your
state)
Basic details about the bank for which you are giving The Interview .
Questions from your Family and Educational Background.
Basic Financial Terms ( Bill of Exchange, Cut Motion, SLR, CRR, banking Regulation Act,
Money Laundering, Financial Inclusion Etc.)
Important People of India (Chief of Planning Commission and Election Commission Etc. CM
and Governors of All States.)
Inflation / Current Slowdown in the economy and Your ideas on how to tackle them etc..
RBI's Role in Economy.
Read last 5 days newspaper (before the day of the Interview) preferably "The Hindu" or
"Economic Times" .....
Get the Basic Knowledge about the Rrecent Political Scenarios.
Prepare the subjects related to your Qualification as they may ask number of questions from the
subjects related to your Qualifications only ... Like if you are a Commerce graduate then frm
Ratios, Balance Sheet, .... if you are an IT guy then Ethical hacking, Money Laundering, It in

Banks ,,,,,,,, If you are Literature guy then frm novels , poets ,,,,,, If you are an MBA then frm
your specialisation ........etc
Dont forget to Read the news Paper before going to the Interview If you dont have Enough
Time then Just have a glance at Headlines as they may ask you questions regarding that days
News updates.

Clothing and Physical Appearance - Bank

Interview Tips
WHAT TO WEAR ?
There is a saying "there are two days when you absolutely have to look your very best : your
wedding day and your first interview". Keep in mind that you are going to initially be judged
solely by your appearance. Since you are assumed to be looking your best, if your best isn't up
to par with the company's standards, you'll have a hard time convincing the hiring manager you
are right for the job.
MEN

CLOTHES :

o Avoid Jeans. Wear dark colored pants with the collared shirts that are plain or come with

light stripes.
o Avoid wearing the shirts that are too thin or have designs on them. Avoid bright colored

shirts like red and purple.

o Wear an undershirt beneath your collared shirt so that, when you sweat, it does not seep
through to your shirt.
o Necktie is not necessary, but if you wear, then it should be silk with a conservative pattern

FOOT WEAR :
o Dark shoes (black lace-ups are best)
o Dark socks (black is best)
o Don't wear athletic shoes

HAIRSTYLE
:
o Well-groomed hairstyle is OK. Dont go for spikes.
o Dont go for the Haircut before the day of the Interview. It may ruin your entire look. If feel
your hair is long, then make it cut before one week of the interview atleast.
NO SMOKING :
o

If you smoke, avoid smoking before going to the Interview room. If you badly need it, use
mouth freshner after completing your work
WOMEN

CLOTHES :
o It is advisable to wear salwar suit or a sari. Keep in mind that you are not attending software

o
o
o

interview. The interviewers will be some government employees with 50+ age. So
obviously it would be a negative if you are too modern.
If you are wearing a salwrar we suggest you to wear a light colored one. Do not wear jazzy
ones with dark colors.
Wear neatly ironed clothes. Also, If you prfere to carry a hand bag ,
If you want to go Western-then wear slacks/pants or skirts that fall below the knee. Avoid
shirts that have too much of a pattern as it can be distracting. It's best to wear dark pants
or a dark skirt and a nice, ironed, light-colored collared shirt.
Try avoiding bright colors like hot pink and orange.

ACCESSORIES :

o Don't wear too much jewellery

o If wearing Western, wear close-toed shoes.

o Do not wear hanging ear rings and bangles.
o Hand bag is ok. But avoid Big, Glittering handbags. make sure it goes well with your

dress. And dont play with it during the interview.

o If you wear nail polish (not necessary), use clear or a conservative color.

HAIR STYLE :
o Well-groomed simple hairstyle is ok.
o Wash and dry your hair the night before the interview. By getting that out of the way, you'll

save time the day of the Interview.

o If your hair is long, consider pulling it back in a ponytail. This way, you won't be tempted
to absentmindedly fiddle with it.
o Avoid glittering hair accessories.

BOTH MEN & WOMEN

Remember, dressing sense carries great marks, it reflects your personality.

Wear neatly ironed clothes.

No wacky hairstyles. Keep hair neat.
Clean, trimmed fingernails
Empty pockets - no key chains or tinkling coins.
No heavy colognes or perfumes. The best practice is to forgo strong scents that day.

How to enter into the Room and how to

Greet and Sit ?
Go with a smile (not a grin) on your face, with confidence and determination to succeed
in your heart. Keep a positive frame of mind, without worrying much about the
outcome. Take a deep breathe before entering into the room. It will make you feel normal.
Don't walk in scratching your face or readjusting your collar. Wish all the interviewers. Greet
the interviewers according to the time of the day. greet politely Good Morning/Afternoon or
Evening depending upon time of the day. If there are more than one person then address them
as Sirs/Madams and try to encompass them all in your greeting. If there is only one lady in
the panel, it is polite to greet her separately. If you are confused about the time, then simple
Namaste Sirs, Namaste Mam will work. Most probably you will be offered a seat. Do not sit
down unless you are asked to. Sit properly and do not sit on the edge of the chair because that
will look as if you are nervous. Remember that from the moment you enter the premises, you
are under scrutiny. So treat everyone you meet nicely and politely, starting from the doorman
to the Interview People.

Commonly asked Bank Interview

questions and Their Answers
Here we are listing some topics that are being asked in the currently on-going Interviews of IBPS qualified
candidates for PO and Clerical Posts. As per response received from our readers, now a days banks are
frequently asking mentioned topics.

For Clerical Posts - Questions about Your Local Language are being asked very frequently.

FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and FII (Foreign Institutional Investors) are hot choice for
interviewers these days.

You must know basic GK about your state (Or the state from which you are appearing if its
different from your state) such as Important People (Governor, CM and Others), Number of
Districts.

Questions about the bank for which you are giving The Interview - Headquarters, Type of Loans
it gives, Key Poeple etc.

Questions from your Family and Educational Background.

Basic Financial Terms - Bill of Exchange, Cut Motion, SLR, CRR, banking Regulation Act,
Money Laundering, Financial Inclusion Etc.

Important People of India - Chief of Planning Commission and Election Commission Etc. CM
and Governors of All States.

Inflation / Current Slowdown in the economy and Your ideas on how to tackle them.

Questions from Your Resume.

Why you Chose banking ?

Where you want to see yourself after 5 Years?

Your Strengths and Weakness ?

Why Bank job after a Technical Course ?

RBI's Role in Economy.

If you get a better job in Public Sector (IAS/PCS Etc.), will you leave us ?

Where are you from?

What can you tell us about your home town?

Tell me about your family

If you get the job will you be ready to work anywhere in India?

Do you think your parents will allow you to work anywhere across India?
What is your ambition in life?

Why you Chose banking ?

Why are you applying for the post of clerk/PO ?

If you get a better job in Public Sector (IAS/PCS Etc.) or a PO, will you leave us ?

Have you prepared for the interview?

What all questions did you prepare?

What are your strengths and weaknesses? What type of bank account do you have?

What are the types of bank accounts?

What all details you need to fill up while withdrawing cash from the bank?

What do you mean by International Trade?

What is Balance of Payment?

Why do you want to work in this bank?

Have you applied for any other banks?

What do you know about this bank?

Have you gone through our website?

What is missing in the design of our website compared to the website of other banks?

Have you attended any bank interviews before?

What can you say about the recent regime change in your State ?

What are the main differences you see in a private sector bank and public sector bank?

Have you heard about Basel 2?

What is the importance of Basel 2 in the present banking environment?

Dont you think you are over qualified for this simple job?
Why not software after engineering (if you are an Engineering Graduate)?

And the List Continues..

If you have had a banking Interview Experience recently, share with us to help others and we will mention
your name along with it.
Here we are providing some Standard questions that should be prepared well by the candidate as they play
a crucial role in letting the interviewers know that the candidate is suitable for the job or not. Here we have
compiled some of these commonly asked Questions with suggestions on how to answer them.

1) What do you know about Banking?

A bank is a financial intermediary that accepts deposits and channels those deposits into lending
activities. Banks are a fundamental component of the financial system, and are also active
players in financial markets. The essential role of a bank is to connect those who have capital
(such as investors or depositors), with those who seek capital (such as individuals wanting a
loan, or businesses wanting to grow).

2) Being a B.Tech Graduate Why Bank Jobs?

Nowadays, Banks are not restricted to just finance work. Tell them that you are not changing
your stream but you are widening your area of expertise. Good jobs are not easy to find and

bank job is a good one. Secondly all banking is applied arithmetic and speculative number
game and a B.Tech is thorough in both. Also, mention about the uncertain future of software
companies compared to the high growth witnessed in banking industry. You should manipulate
your answer to prove that your engineering degree would be beneficial for you in interacting with
people and creating more business relationships for them.

3) How to answer the Puzzles type Questions!

Although these are not so common, but may be asked to anyone in an Interview. Here the
interviewer doesnt really want to hear exact answer from you rather they want to see if you are
able to analyze the correct problem or are you just trying to hurry up without taking the time to
analyze and putting some effort. They just want to see your practical approach that will be useful
during you job period.

So If asked any puzzle type question, you should not Hurry up in telling the answer even if you
know it. Even if you do not know the answer (and even can not find the answer), do not hurry up
in saying NO. Rather you should draw the picture of problem on a paper(even if you know the
answer) and take some time to analyze it (ask them if you do not understand it correctly). It will
make them feel that you believe in analyzing the client requirement before reaching to any
conclusion, which is a must.

So you should answer these questions by taking time, drawing it and asking them for
clarifications. This will surely fill the interviewers purpose.

4) Explain Role of PO & Clerk in a Bank:.

Role of PO:

A Probationary Officer (PO) in the bank is the starting level appointment for bank officers. The
POs have a one or two years probation period during which they are given exposure to various
important functions of the bank such as Loans & Advances, Foreign exchange, Credit Rating,
Treasury, Risk Management, IT, Marketing etc. They have to report to their immediate senior
officer,who is responsible for the closely monitor & evaluate the performance of him/her for a
certain period of time.

Actually a Bank PO can be asked to do anything related to banking till the completion of
its probation period. During training or probation period they are trained for accounting,
marketing, finance, investment as well as billing.

After the Completion of Probation period, the Bank PO becomes Assistant Bank Manager
and may be posted in any branch across the country to handle daily customer transaction
like passing a cheque, cash management, draft issuance etc

Role of Clerk:

In any public sector banks clerks are the first person to contact for any queries & guidance.
The person inside the withdrawal & deposit counters are mostly of clerical grade. This is the why
some banks mention clerk as single window operators (SWO)

As a Bank Clerk, you could be separated into one of the following:

Interest Clerk: recording interest owed to saving accounts customers and interest
owed to the bank from loans and other investments.

Loan Clerk: recording and organizing loan information.

Statement Clerk: preparing the monthly balance sheets and checking account
of customers as and when needed.

Exchange Clerks: working on international accounts, translating foreign currency

into home currency and vice versa.

Security Clerk: recording, filing and looking after stocks, bonds and other
investment documents.

Bookkeeping Clerk: taking care of records for each customers account.

They are also responsible for accepting payments, sanction withdrawals, verify cheques, issue
demand drafts & other banking related services to customers.

5) Your Salary Expectations?

Salary negotiation is a tough and delicate matter. Preferably speaking, you should avoid going
into this topic until the later stage of the recruitment when you are being offered the job. If you
request a salary higher than the range for the job, the interviewer will tell you youre high, and
youve just lost money. If you request a salary lower than the range, the interviewer will say
nothing, and youve just lost money.

Hence, research on the salary range in your field to have a rough estimate of how much you
should be earning. Give a large range rather than a specific amount if you have to answer it. An
alternative is to pose the question back at the interviewer by asking what kind of salary does the
position warrants. At other times, interviewers might just be testing you to see if money is the
only thing that matters. So, do emphasize that your priority lies with the nature of the job and not
the salary.

6) Do you have any questions for us?

This is normally the last question posed to you, so its your chance to finish the interview
elegantly. Dont reply that you have got nothing to ask. Doing otherwise might leave the
impression to the interviewer that you are not exactly keen to get the job. The contrary side to all
of this is that this question is actually a huge opportunity for you. If you ask the *right* questions,
you can not only get as much information as possible to find out if the position is a good fit for
you personally, but you can show the interviewers that you are a critical thinker and a problem
solver.

Final Words:Although you should not memorize any of above sample texts and should say it in your words to
convey the idea which is to prove your usefulness!!.This will surely make them believe that you
are a fit for this job!!

During the Interview

Avoid Shaking your foot, Crossing your legs, drumming your fingers or scratching your
nose or face... etc. These gestures make the interviewers feel that you are nervous and
uncomfortable. Try to look confident and relaxed. In most cases the interviewers themselves will
try to put you at ease. Believe that they are there to let you prove your worth and mean no harm to
you.
Some wrong Body Language gestures you should avoid during the interview :

Dont Rub the back of your head or neck. Even if you really do just have a cramp in
your neck, these gestures make you look disinterested.
Dont Rub or touch your nose. This suggests that you're not being completely honest,
and it's gross.

Dont Lean your body towards the door. You'll appear ready to make a mad dash for
the door.
Dont Slouch back in your seat. This will make you appear disinterested and
unprepared.
Dont Stare back blankly. This is a look people naturally adapt when they are trying to
distance themselves.

DURING THE INTERVIEW :

Maintain a pleasant face and Establishing friendly eye contact and make sure you are
polite
Sit erect comfortably without craning your neck. Do not slouch.
Look attentive, keen and interested. Show your enthusiasm by keeping an interested
expression.
Talk clearly, maintaining a pitch that is comfortably audible to the person(s) around.
Dont be overexcited if you get easiest questions to answer, and dont be dull if you
dont know the answer.
Listen to the queries properly and let them COMPLETE the question and then only
answer.
Nod your head to show that you are listening, but dont be a woody woodpecker.
Lean forward a little as you speak and backward as you listen.
Keep your arms either on your sides (preferable for men) or in your lap (preferable for
women). Do not fold your arms, you'll appear unfriendly and disengaged.
Avoid arguing with interviews and dont make unrealistic tall claims during the
interview.
During the course of an interview someone may ask about your aspirations. Now that
is a tricky situation-be cautious here and do not appear over ambitious.
Never get too arrogant or aggressive in front of the interviewers.
Even if the interview is not going as you had planned or you get negative vibes, do not
show your disappointment and disinterest. Maintain your poise till the end. Because, in
every interview panel, there will be one person who irritates you like Hell but you
should know that this is also a part of the Interview.
You will have more than one person interviewing you at once, make sure you briefly
address all the people with your gaze (without looking like a tennis spectator) and return
your attention to the person who has asked you a question.

After Completing the Interview :

Once the interview is over, thank them for the time they spent and for interviewing you.
If they offer to shake hands, do so, and have a firm hand shake. Wish them a pleasant
day and close the door slowly behind you.

Expected Questions with Answers for IBPS

Common Interview - Set

CAN YOU EXPLAIN ABOUT THE GAPS IN YOUR CAREER OR IN YOUR STUDIES?
Generally interviewers will think that the candidates with gaps do not have capabilities
to do the job. So you have to provide convincing answer for the interviewers.
Long illnesses : You can mention it if you have any proof just keep it with you (but
this answer is not advisable)
Courses : You can say them that you did some Extra to improve your skills, certificate
of that course should be with you while going for the interview.
If you dont have any documents then stay relax and tell them that you have been
preparing for Bank Exams (this will help you to fill the gap of 2 years maximum Dont
try to tell them that you have been preparing for banks since last 4 or 5 years. It may
put a negative remark on you)
ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK OVER TIME , NIGHTS, WEEKENDS?
Be honest with this question because the interviewers never gonna believe you even if
you say you will work 18+ hours for bank. Ofcourse, being a PO you cant expect a 9 to
5 work. So, simply tell them that you can work hard if you feel the bank needs it and it
will be helpful for your career, because you can gain great knowledge and experience
while working.
ARE YOU CONFIDENT ?
This question is asked to estimate your SERIOUSNESS towards the job youve applied
for (either it may be PO or Clerks). So simply saying Yes, Sir is not enough. You just
should tell them how much you work hard to gain that confidence. You simply can tell
them how youve prepared for the interview. They will observe your body language,
be cautious on your posture. Try to keep a little smile while answering this question.
It will make you appear confident (of course, its advisable to keep a tiny layer of smile
during the entire interview if possible).
HOW WILL YOU MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE WITH THE J OB ?
This is the obvious question you are going to face if you are Married (especially
woman). You should be little cautious while answering these type of tricky questions.
Dont blindly tell them that you are going to dedicate your complete life for the bank,
no body believes this answer. Just tell them that you have got understanding
husband/wife, so it wont be a problem for you. Infact banking is your dream job and
with the support of your family only you could clear the written exam. And banking
and family are equally important for you.

WHY YOUR GRADES WERE VERY LESS / WHY WERE YOU NOT BETTER IN
SCHOOL /COLLEGE ?
You can say health problems (if you have proofs), but this answer is not advisable.
Better give them the frank answer for these type of questions.
One of my brothers had very less percentage in his graduation (54%). He attended the
interview of State Bank of Hyderabad. There he faced the very same question. He
simply took a deep breathe and answered Being a Telugu medium student, it was
little difficult for me to cope with the lessons in English medium. I was so confused of
these grading system and the subjects in English. One thing led to another and as you
know every semester of mine was linked to another finally ended up with less
grades. Ofcourse, I am not trying to blame the situations sir, my negligence too one
of the reason behind my low grades. When I realized it, I lost all the good chances to
cover it. Couldnt get S/W job with those less grades. So according to my uncles
suggestion, I prepared on my own for banking exams and in result, I am in front of
you people and answering this question
Can you guess the result of the above interview? He got selected as a PO and presently
working in SBH as an assistant manager.
ARE YOU A HARD WORKER OR SMART WORKER ?
In this question you have to balance both. My studies and experiences can show you
that I am a hard worker (if you have good grades). How ever I am ready to learn how
to work smartly. But for the bank job IQ is not only the main factor. Interacting with
people, solving problems and making decisions related to the job are important.
According to me both hard work and smart work are inter related and necessary for
the bank job.

How To Answer the Banking Interview

Question "Aren't You Over Qualified for
this Job / Position ?"
We had to update an Individual post for this question because its the most obvious and
important question of Banking Interviewers which decides the fate of the Aspirant.
Unfortunately most of us are unable to give the convincing answer for this question.
Believe it or not friends, this question represents the FEAR of the Interviewer. The FEAR
of Losing you after spending some thousands of bucks on you to recruit you and train you.
Yep... lets see the problem from the Bank's point of view. As you might have known, in the
year 2009 a huge recession has hit the Software Industry. So, there were no jobs for IT
Professionals. A Nationalized Bank which has its origion in South India has published its
notification for recruitment of Clerks. Our Jobless IT Professionals wrote this exam and
obviously got selected for the posts. By the year 2010 they got appointment orders from
the bank. And at the same time the recession got lessen and almost all of them got jobs in
Software field. So all these aspirants left their bank jobs (without even joining them) and
settled in Software Field. There were almost 812 Candidates who left the bank at the same

time. Bank spent approx 20k per candidate (from the date of interview to his training).
Now just imagine the Bank's Situation!!!
Now lets discuss the problem in our point of you. Just keep in mind that Banks don't like
to hire overqualified people because they won't stay around long. So you just have to
make them believe that you never gonna leave the Bank till the dooms day. Just admit that
you are over qualified (no need to hide anything, ofcourse you cant), but also emphasis the
positive side of your qualification. For example you can answer like this, "Ofcourse Sir, I
am overqualified in some ways. But that doesn't means I am not suitable for Banking. I
have more technical knowledge and patience that is required for Banking. I feel that I have
much to learn in the area of banking, and I know it will keep me challenged . Ofcourse I
can choose the job of my qualification, but I found Banking is an interesting area where I
can get Job Satisfaction and Job Security as well".
Note : If you have less percentage in your Graduation / Post Graduation, then don't
hesitate. Just show them your Less Percentage as a reason for joining in Banks. It may
sound stupid. But trust us... Its really gonna work. They will surely feel that you never
gonna leave Bank (because you don't have any other option). You can start your answer as
"Due to my less percentage, I couldn't get satisfactory job of my area. Then one of my uncle
told me about the opportunities in banking. Then I came to know that This is the ONLY
area where I can get job satisfaction as well as job security with my LESS
PERCENTAGE". Now they will leave the main question and will ask you about the reason
behind the less percentage. Just make a convincing answer for this... Problem Solved ;)
That's all for now friends. Hope it helps.... Feel free to contact me
www.facebook.com/ibpspo2013
All The Best