Bank PO Cut Off 2026: What You Need to Score
Bank PO cutoffs are the minimum marks required to qualify each stage — Prelims, Mains, and the final merit list. Cutoffs are released category-wise (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) and section-wise for Prelims. Understanding cutoff trends helps you set realistic score targets and allocate preparation time more effectively.
SBI PO Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
SBI PO Prelims Cutoff (Expected 2026)
| Category | Expected Overall Cutoff | English (30) | Quant (35) | Reasoning (35) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 62–67 | 8–10 | 10–13 | 10–13 |
| OBC | 57–62 | 7–9 | 9–12 | 9–12 |
| SC | 50–55 | 6–8 | 8–10 | 8–10 |
| ST | 45–50 | 5–7 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
Note: Section-wise cutoffs are mandatory — you must clear each section separately, even if your overall score is high.
SBI PO Mains Cutoff (Expected 2026)
| Category | Mains Cutoff (out of 250) |
|---|---|
| General/EWS | 105–115 |
| OBC | 98–108 |
| SC | 85–95 |
| ST | 78–88 |
SBI PO Previous Year Cutoffs
| Year | Prelims (Gen) | Mains (Gen, out of 250) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 65.50 | 110.25 |
| 2023 | 62.75 | 107.50 |
| 2022 | 60.25 | 104.75 |
| 2021 | 58.50 | 102.50 |
| 2019 | 56.75 | 99.00 |
The trend shows a steady annual increase of 2–3 marks in Prelims cutoffs due to growing competition.
IBPS PO Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
IBPS PO Prelims Cutoff (Expected 2026)
| Category | Expected Overall Cutoff | English | Quant | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 60–65 | 8–10 | 9–12 | 9–12 |
| OBC | 55–60 | 7–9 | 8–11 | 8–11 |
| SC | 48–53 | 5–7 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| ST | 42–47 | 4–6 | 6–8 | 6–8 |
IBPS PO Mains Cutoff (Expected 2026)
| Category | Mains Cutoff (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| General/EWS | 72–80 |
| OBC | 65–73 |
| SC | 55–63 |
| ST | 48–56 |
IBPS PO Previous Year Cutoffs
| Year | Prelims (Gen) | Mains (Gen, out of 200) | Final (Mains+Interview) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 62.50 | 76.25 | 57.75 |
| 2023 | 60.25 | 73.75 | 55.00 |
| 2022 | 57.75 | 70.50 | 52.25 |
| 2021 | 55.50 | 68.25 | 50.50 |
Why Bank PO Cutoffs Are Rising Every Year
Several factors are driving the upward cutoff trend:
- Increase in applicants: Over 30 lakh candidates appear for IBPS PO annually, competing for ~4,500 vacancies — a ratio of ~667:1
- Better preparation resources: Free YouTube content, affordable mocks, and daily quiz apps have raised the average preparation level
- Decrease in vacancies: Banking sector consolidation (mergers of smaller PSBs) has reduced total vacancy count versus 5 years ago
How Cutoffs Are Calculated
Bank PO cutoffs are determined by three factors:
- Total applicants vs. total vacancies: The more applicants per vacancy, the higher the cutoff
- Paper difficulty: If the exam is tougher, cutoffs drop proportionally
- Category-wise reservation: Cutoffs are set separately for General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS
For SBI PO, the final merit list is based on Mains (50%) + Interview (50%). For IBPS PO, it is Mains (80%) + Interview (20%). This means IBPS PO Mains score is more critical to your final selection.
What Score Should You Target?
Experienced coaches recommend targeting 10–12 marks above the expected cutoff as a safety buffer:
- SBI PO Prelims: Target 74–78 (General category)
- SBI PO Mains: Target 120–125 out of 250
- IBPS PO Prelims: Target 70–75 (General category)
- IBPS PO Mains: Target 82–88 out of 200
Section-wise, never let any individual section fall to the borderline — if one section is weak, focus remedial effort there first, since a low sectional score eliminates you even if your total is high.
RBI Grade B Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
| Stage | General | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 138–145 | 130–137 | 118–125 | 108–115 |
| Phase 2 (DR) | 300–320 | 285–305 | 265–285 | 250–270 |
RBI Grade B is significantly more competitive, with only 200–300 vacancies annually versus lakhs of applicants. Cutoffs are correspondingly higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bank PO cutoffs the same for all states?
SBI PO has state-wise cutoffs for the interview stage, as candidates are allotted states. IBPS PO has a common national cutoff for Prelims and Mains, but final allotment to specific banks considers regional preferences.
If I score above the cutoff, am I selected?
Clearing the cutoff means you qualify for the next stage. Final selection depends on your rank within your category. For example, if 10,000 candidates qualify Mains but only 2,000 vacancies exist, you need to be in the top 2,000 scorers in your category.
Is there negative marking in Bank PO?
Yes. Both SBI PO and IBPS PO have negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. This means every 4 wrong answers cost you 1 mark — factor this into your attempt strategy. Avoid guessing randomly; intelligent guessing (eliminating 2 wrong options) is acceptable.