How SBI Chooses Essay Topics (Important Insight)
SBI never asks random topics.
Every year essays come from actual situations an officer faces — not academic debates.
That means:
- Not philosophical topics
- Not abstract literature topics
- Not heavy economics theory
Instead 👉 practical banking + society intersection
So prediction is possible — if we understand the pattern.
Pattern Observed in Previous SBI CBO Exams
SBI repeatedly focuses on 4 domains:
- Banking System & Customer Handling
- Financial Inclusion & Social Responsibility
- Digital Banking & Technology
- Economy affecting common people
So 2026 topics will again revolve around these.
🔥 Category 1: Banking & Customer Service (Highest Probability)
These are SBI’s favorite because CBO directly handles customers.
Most Expected Topics
- Role of bank officers in customer grievance handling
- Importance of trust in banking relationships
- Ethical banking practices in modern banking
- Balancing business targets and customer service
- Handling stressed customers in public sector banks
- Importance of financial awareness among customers
- Customer centric banking vs profit oriented banking
👉 These test maturity, not knowledge.
🔥 Category 2: Financial Inclusion & Social Banking
SBI’s identity is nation-building — essays often test this mindset.
Most Expected Topics
- Financial inclusion as tool for economic equality
- Role of banks in rural development
- Banking services for elderly and differently abled customers
- Role of banking in women empowerment
- Jan Dhan to digital payments — journey of inclusion
- Credit access for small businesses
- Banking the unbanked population
👉 These topics reward balanced and humane writing.
🔥 Category 3: Digital Banking & Technology
Almost guaranteed area every year.
Most Expected Topics
- Digital banking vs human banking
- Cyber security awareness among customers
- Impact of UPI on banking behaviour
- Technology improving customer experience
- Challenges of digital banking adoption in rural areas
- Artificial Intelligence in banking operations
- Risk of over-dependence on technology in banks
👉 SBI expects practical understanding, not technical jargon.
🔥 Category 4: Economy & Everyday Banking
Moderate probability but very scoring.
Most Expected Topics
- Role of banks in economic stability
- Inflation and its impact on common customers
- Responsible lending and credit discipline
- NPAs and recovery culture
- Savings habits in modern society
- Financial literacy and responsible borrowing
Topics SBI Rarely Asks
Avoid spending time here:
❌ Pure political topics
❌ International relations debates
❌ Abstract philosophy
❌ Climate theory essays
❌ Academic economics models
SBI prefers branch-level reality topics
How to Prepare Smartly (Instead of Mugging Essays)
Don’t memorize essays.
Prepare frameworks:
Universal Essay Structure
- Situation (Why issue exists)
- Impact on customer/bank
- Officer’s role
- Balanced solution
- Practical conclusion
If you master this — any topic becomes manageable.
Bank Whizz Tip
The examiner is a senior banker.
He checks:
“Will this person handle customers responsibly?”
Not:
“Does this person know difficult English words?”
Final Advice
Prepare 20 frameworks
Not 200 essays
That is how toppers write confidently in 30 minutes.