| IOB LBO Recruitment 2026: Notification, Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Eligibility Criteria | |||||||||||||
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| Indian Overseas Bank has opened applications for 250 Local Bank Officer (LBO) posts across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, and if a career in public sector banking is on your radar, this notification deserves your full attention. The IOB LBO Recruitment 2026 drive brings together a clear selection process, a well-defined exam pattern, and a respectable starting salary in the JMGS-I scale. This guide walks you through everything you need before you sit for the exam or even fill out the form vacancy breakup, eligibility rules, application fee, the four-section exam pattern, subject-wise syllabus, recommended books, and preparation strategy. Whether you're just discovering this opportunity or already deep into your prep, you'll find the details laid out clearly below. | |||||||||||||
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| Vacancy Details – Total Post: 250 | |||||||||||||
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IOB LBO Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) |
| Post Name | Local Bank Officer (LBO) |
| Advertisement No. | HRDD/RECT/02/2026-27 |
| Grade/Scale | JMGS-I |
| Total Vacancies | 250 |
| Notification Date | 7th August 2026 |
| Application Window | 8th to 24th August 2026 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Job Locations | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat |
| Selection Process | Online Exam, Language Proficiency Test (if applicable), Personal Interview |
| Starting Basic Pay | Rs. 48,480 |
| Probation Period | 2 years |
| Official Website | www.iob.bank.in |
| State | Total | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 100 | 37 | 15 | 6 | 33 | 9 |
| Karnataka | 50 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 4 |
| Maharashtra | 50 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 5 |
| Gujarat | 50 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 4 |
| Total | 250 | 94 | 36 | 18 | 80 | 22 |
How to Apply for IOB LBO Recruitment 2026
Applying online is straightforward if you follow these steps in order:
- Go to the official IOB website at www.iob.in.
- Scroll to the Careers section on the homepage.
- Click “Apply Online” under “Recruitment of Local Bank Officer 2026-27.”
- Open the application form and enter your personal details — name, date of birth, Aadhaar number, email ID, and mobile number.
- Fill in your educational qualifications, address, and other requested information.
- Upload your photograph, signature, and any other required documents.
- Pay the applicable fee through the online payment gateway.
- Save and print your submitted application form for future reference.
The application window is open from 8th August to 24th August 2026, so it’s best not to wait until the last day given possible server load.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 30 | 60 | 60 minutes |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 60 minutes |
| English Knowledge | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 140 | 200 | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
A few important rules to keep in mind:
- Negative marking applies: 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer.
- Candidates need a minimum of 35% in each section (30% for reserved categories) to qualify.
- Each section runs on its own separate timer, so you cannot borrow extra time from one section for another.
- Puzzles and seating arrangement
- Inequality and syllogism
- Blood relations and direction sense
- Coding-decoding and alphanumeric series
- Order and ranking, input-output, machine input-output
- Data sufficiency and logical reasoning
- Statement-based questions (assumption and conclusion)
- Computer fundamentals, hardware, and software
- Operating systems and MS Office
- Internet, networking, and cyber security basics
- Computer abbreviations and keyboard shortcuts
- Current affairs (national and international)
- Banking awareness and terminology
- RBI functions and monetary policy
- Indian economy and financial awareness
- Government schemes, budget, and economic survey
- Static GK, important days, and themes
- Awards, honours, books, and authors
- Summits and conferences
- Banking acts, regulations, and capital market basics
- Digital banking and financial institutions
- Simplification and approximation
- Number series and quadratic equations
- Data interpretation (tables, bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts)
- Caselet-based DI and data sufficiency
- Percentage, profit and loss, ratio and proportion
- Average, simple and compound interest
- Time and work, time-speed-distance
- Partnership, mixture and allegation
- Probability, permutation and combination
- Reading comprehension and cloze test
- Error detection and sentence improvement
- Fill in the blanks and para jumbles
- Sentence rearrangement and phrase replacement
- Vocabulary, synonyms, and antonyms
- Idioms and phrases, word swap
- Sentence connectors and match the column
- Inference-based questions
| Subject | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal; A New Approach to Reasoning – B.S. Sijwali & Indu Sijwali |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations – R.S. Aggarwal; Magical Book on Quicker Maths – M. Tyra |
| English Knowledge | Objective General English – S.P. Bakshi; Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | Arihant Banking Awareness Book; Lucent General Knowledge; Monthly Banking & Current Affairs Magazines |
- Basic Pay: Rs. 48,480
- Pay Scale: Rs. 48,480 – 2,000/7 – 62,480 – 2,340/2 – 67,160 – 2,680/7 – 85,920
- Probation Period: 2 years
- Service Bond: Rs. 2,00,000 for a minimum 3-year commitment
Beyond the basic pay, officers in JMGS-I typically receive standard bank allowances and benefits as per IOB’s service rules.
- Get thoroughly familiar with the exam pattern and negative marking rules before you start studying.
- Build a realistic daily timetable that gives each subject dedicated time.
- Practice puzzles, seating arrangements, and DI sets regularly to build speed in Reasoning and Data Analysis.
- Read a newspaper daily and follow monthly banking digests to stay sharp on current affairs.
- Revise English grammar rules consistently and practice comprehension passages weekly.
- Take full-length mock tests and sectional tests on a weekly basis.
- Go through your mistakes after every mock test and target your weak spots specifically.
- Keep revisiting important formulas, current affairs notes, and banking concepts so nothing slips.
The IOB LBO Recruitment 2026 notification is a solid opportunity for graduates aiming for a stable, respected career in public sector banking, with 250 posts open across four states and applications running until 24th August 2026. Understanding the exam pattern, mastering the four-section syllabus, and following a disciplined mock-test routine will put you ahead of most applicants. Start your preparation early, track your accuracy through regular practice tests, and make sure your application is submitted well before the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many vacancies are there in IOB LBO Recruitment 2026?
There are 250 total vacancies spread across Tamil Nadu (100), Karnataka (50), Maharashtra (50), and Gujarat (50).
2. What is the last date to apply for IOB LBO 2026?
The online application window closes on 24th August 2026, having opened on 8th August 2026.
3. What is the age limit for IOB LBO Recruitment 2026?
Candidates must be between 20 and 30 years of age as on 01.08.2026, meaning they should be born between 02.08.1996 and 01.08.2006.
4. What is the exam pattern for IOB LBO 2026?
The exam has 140 objective questions worth 200 marks across four sections — Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Data Analysis & Interpretation, and English Knowledge — to be completed in 3 hours.
5. Is there negative marking in the IOB LBO exam?
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer.
6. Is there separate timing for each section in the IOB LBO exam?
Yes, each section has its own fixed time limit, and candidates cannot switch between sections during the exam.
7. What is the application fee for IOB LBO 2026?
SC/ST/PwBD candidates pay Rs. 175 as intimation charges, while General/EWS/OBC candidates pay Rs. 850.
8. What is the starting salary for IOB LBO?
Selected candidates start with a basic pay of Rs. 48,480 under the JMGS-I (Assistant Manager Scale I) pay structure, along with a 2-year probation period and a service bond of Rs. 2,00,000.