Indian Overseas Bank LBO 2026 Notification: 250 Officer Vacancies, State-Wise Split and Exam Pattern
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has released advertisement HRDD/RECT/02/2026-27 for the recruitment of 250 Local Bank Officers (LBO) in the JMGS-I / Assistant Manager Scale I grade. Any graduate in any discipline can apply, and the starting basic pay is ₹48,480. Vacancies are offered in just four states — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat — and the word “Local” in the post name is the key to everything. You must be proficient in the local language of the state you choose. This is one of the strongest banking job opportunities currently open for officer-grade entry.
Online registration runs from 8 August 2026 to 24 August 2026, so you have a short window. Selection is through an online exam of 200 marks, a Language Proficiency Test where applicable, and a Personal Interview of 100 marks, combined in an 80:20 weightage. Below we cover the state-wise seats, the language rule, age limit, fee, the full exam structure and the probation bond you should know about before applying. Read it carefully, and keep GovtJobsAlert.in bookmarked for every banking update.
Key Highlights — IOB Local Bank Officer Recruitment 2026
Indian Overseas Bank is a Government of India undertaking headquartered in Chennai, with a nationwide branch network. The Local Bank Officer scheme is designed to place officers who genuinely understand the language and culture of the region they serve. The notification states plainly that selected candidates will be posted within the state they applied for during the first 12 years of service, or until promotion to SMGS-IV grade, whichever is earlier. For that period it is a region-anchored posting rather than an all-India transferable one.
- Post Name: Local Bank Officer (LBO) — JMGS-I / Assistant Manager Scale I
- Total Vacancies: 250 posts
- Qualification: Degree (Graduation) in any discipline
- Basic Pay: ₹48,480 rising to ₹85,920
- Job Location: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat
- Application Start Date: 8 August 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 24 August 2026
IOB LBO 2026 Vacancy List: How Many Posts in Each State and Language?
You may apply for the vacancy of one state only, and this choice cannot be changed after registration.
| State | Vacancies | Local Language |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 100 | Tamil |
| Karnataka | 50 | Kannada |
| Maharashtra | 50 | Marathi |
| Gujarat | 50 | Gujarati |
| Total | 250 | — |
The notification states the vacancy numbers are provisional and may vary as per the Bank’s actual requirement, and that some states include backlog vacancies. The community-wise reservation across all 250 posts, as printed, is given below. PwBD gets 12 seats, which are horizontal and already counted inside the 250 total.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR | 94 |
| OBC | 80 |
| SC | 36 |
| EWS | 22 |
| ST | 18 |
| Total | 250 |
Who is Eligible for IOB Local Bank Officer Recruitment 2026?
Educational Qualification
- A Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a University recognised by the Government of India, or any equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.
- You must hold a valid marksheet or degree certificate proving you are a graduate on the day you register, and you must enter your graduation percentage while registering online.
- The cut-off date for eligibility in both age and educational qualification is 1 August 2026.
Any graduate can apply — there is no stream restriction and no prior experience requirement.
Local Language Proficiency — The Defining Rule
This is the single most important condition attached to the post, so read it twice. You must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking the local language of the state you apply for. If you did not study that language in your 10th or 12th standard, you must appear for a Local Language Proficiency Test before the Personal Interview, and failing it removes you from the process entirely. If your Std X or XII marksheet shows that language as a subject, you are exempted from the test.
Age Limit
You must be between 20 and 30 years of age as on 1 August 2026 — that is, born not earlier than 2 August 1996 and not later than 1 August 2006, both days inclusive.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years |
| Persons affected by 1984 riots | 5 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (min 5 years military service) | 5 years |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including SC / ST / OBC / PwBD age relaxation. →
What is the Salary for IOB Local Bank Officer 2026?
The pay scale printed in the notification, reckoned as on 1 August 2026, is quoted below exactly as published.
- Scale / Grade: Assistant Manager (Scale I) / JMGS-I
- Scale of Pay: ₹48,480 – 2000/7 – 62,480 – 2340/2 – 67,160 – 2680/7 – ₹85,920
- Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and City Compensatory Allowance as per rules in force from time to time
The notification prints no consolidated CTC figure, so we will not quote one. What is committed in writing is the basic pay scale starting at ₹48,480, plus DA, HRA and CCA as applicable to your posting location.
There is one more useful provision. One advance increment is granted for each prior completed year of service as an officer in a scheduled commercial bank, subject to a maximum of two increments, where your existing job profile specifically matches that of a Scale-I generalist officer at IOB. Candidates from subsidiaries of a scheduled commercial bank get only one increment. Prior experience is not counted for service seniority.
Probation and Service Bond
Two conditions you must factor into your decision. Selected candidates are on probation for 2 years of active service from the date of joining, with confirmation as determined by the Bank under the Officers’ Service Regulation. You will also be required to execute a Financial Service Indemnity Bond of ₹2,00,000 for a minimum of 3 years of service.
What is the Selection Process for IOB Local Bank Officer 2026?
Stage 1: Online Examination — 200 Marks
An objective test of 140 questions for 200 marks across four sections, with a total duration of 3 hours and separate sectional timing — 60 minutes each for Reasoning and Computer Aptitude and for Data Analysis and Interpretation, and 30 minutes each for General / Economy / Banking Awareness and for English Knowledge.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 30 | 60 |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 30 | 60 |
| English Knowledge | 40 | 40 |
There is negative marking of one-fourth (0.25) of the marks allotted to that question for every wrong answer — so a wrong answer costs 0.5 mark in Reasoning and Computer Aptitude and in Data Analysis and Interpretation (2 marks per question), and 0.25 mark in Awareness and English Knowledge (1 mark per question). There is no penalty for an unattempted question. The minimum qualifying aggregate is 30% for reserved and 35% for unreserved candidates, and there are no sectional qualifying marks. Reasoning, Awareness and Data Analysis are available in English and Hindi; the English Knowledge section is in English only. Plan your revision using our banking syllabus and exam pattern guides.
Stage 2: Language Proficiency Test
Applicable only to shortlisted candidates who did not study the state’s local language in 10th or 12th standard. It is conducted before the Personal Interview and failing it ends your candidature.
Stage 3: Personal Interview — 100 Marks
Minimum qualifying marks are 45% for reserved and 50% for unreserved candidates. The interview may be held at any centre across India, either physically or online through video conference.
Stage 4: Document Verification and Medical
Originals plus self-attested photocopies must be produced at the time of the Personal Interview. Candidates already serving in Government, Quasi-Government offices or Public Sector Undertakings including nationalised banks must produce an original No Objection Certificate from their employer at the interview. Appointment is subject to medical fitness and satisfactory verification of character, antecedents and caste certificates. Beyond the individual stage cut-offs, your combined online exam and interview score must reach 30% for reserved and 35% for unreserved candidates. Final merit uses an 80:20 weightage between the online exam and the interview, drawn state-wise and category-wise.
How to Apply Online for IOB Local Bank Officer Recruitment 2026?
Keep ready: your graduation marksheet and degree certificate, your Std X or XII marksheet showing the local language if you want the proficiency-test exemption, category certificate if applicable, and scanned photograph, signature, handwritten declaration and thumb impression.
- Visit the IOB careers page (direct link given in the Essential Links section below).
- Click on the Local Bank Officer recruitment link and register with a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Select the single state you wish to apply for — no change of state or category is allowed after registration.
- Enter your graduation percentage and personal details exactly as per your certificates.
- Upload your photograph, signature, handwritten declaration and thumb impression in the prescribed format.
- If you need a scribe or compensatory time as a PwBD candidate, or want free Pre-Examination Training (available to SC, ST, OBC and Minority candidates), you must tick it in the online form itself — later requests may not be entertained.
- Pay the application fee or intimation charges online using debit card, credit card, net banking, BHIM or UPI.
- Submit the application and save the printout of the system-generated form.
What are the Important Dates for IOB Local Bank Officer 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 7 August 2026 |
| Online Registration Starts | 8 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply & Pay Fee | 24 August 2026 |
| Age & Qualification Cut-off | 1 August 2026 |
| Online Examination | To be announced |
What is the Application Fee for IOB Local Bank Officer 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC, ST and PwBD (intimation charges only) | ₹175 (inclusive of GST) |
| General, EWS and OBC | ₹850 (inclusive of GST) |
Payment is accepted in online mode only — debit card, credit card, net banking, BHIM or UPI. The fee is non-refundable, and note that no category is fully exempt in this recruitment.
Essential Links — IOB Local Bank Officer Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for IOB Local Bank Officer 2026
- Visit Indian Overseas Bank Careers Page
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
An officer-grade bank job at ₹48,480 basic, in your own state and your own language, with no experience required — that combination is rare. If you are a graduate from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra or Gujarat, this is worth your best effort. Registration closes on 24 August 2026, so do not leave the form for the last day. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more bank officer notifications and every result and cut-off update.