UCO Bank has opened applications for 530 apprentice posts for 2026-27, and graduates have just 14 days left to apply. The last date is October 29, the online exam is on November 7, and selected trainees get ₹16,650 a month. Here’s the full how-to, step by step.
Updated: October 15, 2026, 11:10 IST
Quick Read
- UCO Bank Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27: 530 posts (provisional), one-year training under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
- Eligibility: graduate (degree on or after April 1, 2022), age 20–28 as on October 1, 2026.
- Two-step application: register on NATS first, then complete the form and pay the fee on the BFSI SSC portal — both by October 29. Online exam on November 7 at 11 AM.
First, what this is. An apprentice is a trainee, not a bank employee. You get one year of practical banking training and a monthly stipend — a stipend is a fixed monthly payment, not a salary. It does not make you a permanent UCO Bank staffer, and the notification is explicit: apprentices have no right to a job after the training ends. If you want a real bank job, this is a foot in the door, not the door itself.
The key facts
- Posts: 530 (provisional) across States and UTs. Advertisement HO/HRM/RECR/2026-27/COM-02, issued October 13, 2026.
- Duration: one year from the date of contract.
- Eligibility: graduation from a recognised university, with the degree completed on or after April 1, 2022. Age 20–28 as on October 1, 2026 (relaxation as per rules).
- Deadline: applications opened October 14 and close October 29, 2026.
- Exam: online objective test by the BFSI Sector Skill Council of India (BFSI SSC) on November 7 at 11 AM, followed by a local-language test, document verification and a medical fitness check.
- Stipend: ₹16,650 per month — ₹10,500 from the bank plus ₹6,150 from the government through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
You can apply for one State or UT only — pick your home state, and apply once. Multiple applications are not accepted.
State-wise seats
West Bengal leads with 86 seats, followed by Uttar Pradesh (45), Odisha (41), Rajasthan (37), Bihar (34), Maharashtra (32) and Madhya Pradesh (27). Other notable allocations: Punjab and Assam 24 each, Tamil Nadu 21, Gujarat 20, Haryana 15, Himachal Pradesh 25, New Delhi 13, Jharkhand 12, Karnataka 11, Kerala 10, Andhra Pradesh 8, Telangana 8, Uttarakhand 8, Chhattisgarh 9, Tripura 5, Chandigarh 4, Jammu & Kashmir 3, Manipur 2, and one seat each in Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim and Puducherry.
Also read: India Post GDS Result 2026: Merit List Out, How to Check
How to apply — both steps matter
This is where most people slip up. The application has two steps on two different portals, and doing only one leaves your application incomplete.
Step 1: Register on NATS. Go to nats.education.gov.in (the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme portal — the government’s portal for all apprenticeship registrations) and register for the UCO Bank programme. This is your entry ticket.
Step 2: Complete the form on BFSI SSC. After NATS registration, you will receive an email from BFSI SSC — the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance Sector Skill Council, which conducts the exam. Use it to fill the detailed application form and pay the examination fee on beep.bfsissc.com. Both the form and the fee payment must be done by October 29, 2026.
Keep your registered email and mobile number active throughout — admit cards and updates come through them. The category you submit in the form cannot be changed later. And the fee, once paid, is not refunded.
Documents to keep ready
Before you start, gather these — the NATS registration and the BFSI SSC form both ask for them:
- Passport-size photograph and signature (scanned, in the notification’s specified size)
- Graduation degree or provisional certificate (degree completed on or after April 1, 2022)
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS), if applicable — this cannot be edited later
- Aadhaar, plus a mobile number and email ID you actually check
Who should not apply
Be honest with yourself here, because the notification disqualifies a few categories outright:
- Anyone who has already done an apprenticeship, or is currently doing one.
- Anyone with one year or more of training or job experience after their educational qualification.
Also read: 8th Pay Commission: Salary Hike Timeline, Fitment Factor Guide
What the selection looks like
First comes the online objective test on November 7. Merit lists are prepared state-wise and category-wise. Shortlisted candidates face a local-language test during document verification — for the state you applied in — and a medical fitness examination. The bank can allot your apprenticeship to any district within your chosen State/UT.
What happens after the one year
You finish with a one-year apprenticeship certificate and hands-on branch experience — account opening, customer service, cash handling basics. That experience helps in future bank exams (IBPS, SBI) and private-bank interviews, where a year of branch exposure is a real differentiator for a fresher. What it doesn’t give you is a UCO Bank employee ID. Go in with that clarity, and the year is genuinely useful.
The official sources for everything above are UCO Bank’s website (uco.bank.in, careers section), the NATS portal and the BFSI SSC portal — apply only through those, and ignore agents promising shortcuts.
Also read: How to Check Your Name in the Voter List (2026 Guide)
With the deadline just two weeks away and a single-screen two-portal process, don’t wait for October 28. The NATS registration alone can take a day if your documents aren’t ready.
FAQ
Is the UCO Bank apprentice post a permanent bank job?
No. It is a one-year apprenticeship training engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Apprentices are trainees, not bank employees, and have no right to employment after training.
What is the stipend for UCO Bank apprentices?
₹16,650 per month — ₹10,500 paid by UCO Bank and ₹6,150 contributed by the government through Direct Benefit Transfer.
What are the two steps to apply?
First, register on the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in). Then, after receiving the BFSI SSC email, fill the detailed form and pay the exam fee on beep.bfsissc.com — both by October 29, 2026. The online exam is on November 7 at 11 AM.
