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The All India Overseas Bank Employees’ Union (AIOBEU), affiliated with the National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), has issued a circular highlighting what it described as the outcome of its collective efforts in securing a higher recruitment indent for Customer Service Associates (CSAs). According to the circular dated August 1, 2026, Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has placed an indent with IBPS for the recruitment of 780 CSAs, which the union described as a significant improvement over earlier proposals.
Image: AIOBEU circular highlighting recruitment of 780 CSAs
Bank Places Recruitment Indent for 780 Customer Service Associates
According to the circular, the bank has placed an indent with IBPS for the recruitment of 780 CSAs. The union stated that while the number may still not fully meet the bank’s overall manpower requirement, it represents a significant increase compared to previous recruitment proposals and is an important step toward addressing the shortage of clerical staff.
Union Explains the Sequence of Events
AIOBEU stated that the shortage of CSAs had placed considerable pressure on the existing workforce, affecting customer service, operational efficiency, and branch functioning. The union said it served a strike notice on November 15, 2025, followed by a continuation strike notice on January 7, 2026, seeking adequate clerical recruitment. During conciliation proceedings before the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Chennai, the management increased the recruitment proposal for the financial year 2025–26 from 250 to 350 CSAs.
The circular further stated that during conciliation proceedings held on January 29, 2026, the management’s proposal to recruit 450 CSAs for the financial year 2026–27 was not accepted by the union, which maintained that the bank’s actual requirement was substantially higher due to existing vacancies, retirements, and declining clerical strength.
Image: Second page of the AIOBEU circular outlining the union’s representations and recruitment developments
Union Says Sustained Representations Led to Enhanced Recruitment
According to AIOBEU, the issue was pursued through continuous discussions with the management, detailed representations before the appropriate authorities, and follow-up at different levels. The union expressed its appreciation to the bank management for considering its representations and deciding to enhance the recruitment indent to 780 CSAs. The circular also stated that the development reflected the participation and organisational commitment of union members who took part in various organisational programmes and agitations.
Expected Impact of the Recruitment
The union stated that the recruitment is expected to facilitate the release of long-pending compassionate appointments and provide relief to families awaiting employment. It also expressed the view that the recruitment could help in addressing pending transfer requests, enabling employees to serve closer to their families while strengthening branch administration.
Call for Unity and Focus on Business Growth
In the concluding part of the circular, AIOBEU urged its members to continue working collectively for the interests of employees and the bank. The union also appealed to members to contribute toward the growth of IOB by increasing the mobilisation of CASA deposits and Retail Term Deposits.
AIOBEU circular states that the recruitment of 780 CSAs is a significant increase compared to earlier proposals and outlines the sequence of representations, conciliation proceedings, and discussions that preceded the decision. The union has described the development as an important step toward addressing clerical staff shortages while continuing to emphasise employee unity and organisational participation.
