The United Commercial Bank (UCO Bank) has invited online applications for the senior-level position of Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for 2025. This is a rare, high-impact opportunity for seasoned risk professionals who want to shape risk strategy at a leading public-sector bank. If you hold a relevant degree, have a strong track record in risk management, and meet the age and experience criteria, read on — this article explains everything you need to know, step by step, including eligibility, selection process, salary, how to apply online, and practical tips to prepare for the interview.
Why this role matters
The Chief Risk Officer is a strategic leadership role responsible for setting the bank’s risk appetite, overseeing credit, market and operational risk frameworks, ensuring regulatory compliance, and advising the board on risk exposures. The CRO helps protect the bank’s capital, reputation, and customers while enabling sustainable business growth. For professionals who enjoy combining technical know-how with leadership, the CRO role is both challenging and deeply rewarding.
Job Overview
Organization: United Commercial Bank (UCO Bank). UCO is one of India’s established public sector banks with its head office in Kolkata and a wide branch network across India. For official corporate office details, see UCO Bank’s contact pages. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Post name: Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
Job location: West Bengal (Kolkata / Head Office). The CRO will be expected to work from the bank’s head office and coordinate closely with risk, finance and business teams across the organization. Official head office addresses include the BTM Sarani head office and the Salt Lake head office complex.
Application mode: Online (through the official UCO Bank recruitment portal).
Key Job Details (at a glance)
| Organization | United Commercial Bank (UCO Bank) |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Chief Risk Officer |
| Location | Kolkata, West Bengal (Head Office) |
| Total Vacancies | 1 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date to Apply | 2 September 2025 |
| Official Website | https://www.ucobank.com |
Who should apply — eligibility & qualifications
This senior role is targeted at experienced banking and financial professionals. Typical eligibility requirements you should expect and verify in the official notification include:
- Educational qualification: A graduate degree is required (Any Degree as per the notification). Advanced qualifications such as CA, CFA, MBA (Finance/Risk), or equivalent are advantageous for a CRO role.
- Experience: Extensive post-qualification experience in banking/finance with significant exposure to risk management. Most CRO roles expect candidates with a minimum of 10+ years in banking and several years in senior risk leadership positions — verify the exact experience requirement in the official notification.
- Age limits: As published in the recruitment summary, the minimum age is stated at 40 years and the maximum at 57 years — confirm any relaxations permitted for reserved categories in the formal advertisement.
- Essential skills: Risk modeling and analytics, credit and market risk assessment, operational risk frameworks, regulatory compliance (Basel norms, RBI guidelines), people leadership and board-level reporting.
Selection process — what to expect
UCO Bank typically uses a rigorous selection process for senior posts. The published selection method for this position is an Interview. For a CRO role, the interview panel will usually include senior executives and members of the board or a selection committee. Prepare for:
- Technical questioning on risk frameworks, stress-testing, capital adequacy, ALM and liquidity management
- Case discussions—live scenarios about portfolio risk, mitigation strategies, and decision-making under stress
- Behavioural and leadership-focused questions to evaluate team management, stakeholder communication, and governance standards
- Questions on regulatory compliance, audits, and remediation of historical risk events
Salary and compensation
The published salary for this post is ₹1,00,000 per month. Senior contractual or fixed-term appointments may include additional perks such as performance incentives, medical benefits, and allowances — check the official notification or offer letter for the exact compensation structure and benefits. Note that executive-level roles often include a negotiable component based on experience and fit.
Application fee and categories
UCO Bank has specified an application fee for this recruitment:
- General / Other candidates: ₹800
- SC / ST / PWBD candidates: ₹100
Fees must be paid online as part of the application submission. Keep proof of payment and your application number for future reference.
Important dates — timeline you must follow
- Application start date: 12 August 2025
- Last date to apply online: 2 September 2025
- Interview dates: To be notified — shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the bank.
Step-by-step: How to apply online
Applying online is straightforward if you follow these steps carefully. Make sure to read the official notification on the UCO Bank website before you start.
- Open the official UCO Bank website: https://www.ucobank.com.
- Go to the “Recruitment / Careers / Notices” section and find the advertisement for Chief Risk Officer – 2025.
- Read the official notification PDF thoroughly to confirm qualifications, experience requirements, and the application fee structure.
- Click the “Apply Online” link provided in the notification.
- Complete the online application form with correct personal, educational and professional details.
- Upload scanned documents (passport-sized photo, signature, degree certificates, experience letters, identity proof) as per the prescribed formats and file sizes.
- Pay the application fee online using the available payment gateways (keep a copy of the receipt).
- Submit the application and note down the unique application number. Save a printed or digital copy of the submitted form for your records.
Documents you should prepare in advance
To avoid last-minute issues, have these documents scanned and ready before starting your online submission:
- Updated resume / CV (PDF preferred)
- Passport-size photograph (as per specifications)
- Signature scan
- Educational certificates and mark sheets (graduation and any higher qualifications)
- Experience certificates from previous employers clearly stating roles & responsibilities
- Proof of age (birth certificate / school leaving certificate / passport / Aadhar)
- Category certificate (if applying under SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) — in the prescribed format
- Any other documents specified in the official notification
How to prepare for the CRO interview — practical tips
Preparing for a Chief Risk Officer interview requires a blend of technical depth and practical examples of leadership. Here is a focused plan:
- Revise core risk concepts: credit risk modelling, portfolio stress testing, market risk measures (VaR, CVaR), operational risk frameworks and scenario analysis.
- Understand regulatory expectations: RBI circulars, Basel III/IV norms, large exposures framework, provisioning policies and compliance requirements in India.
- Prepare case examples: Have 3–4 detailed anecdotes ready from your career showing problem definition, options considered, decisions taken, stakeholder management and outcomes.
- Brush up on financials: Be comfortable reading balance sheets, income statements and ratio analysis used to assess credit and liquidity risks.
- Governance & culture: Be ready to discuss building risk-aware culture, training programs, and the role of second-line functions (Risk, Compliance) vs first-line business.
- Mock interviews: Practice with peers or mentors, focusing on concise answers and board-level reporting clarity.
Common CRO interview questions you should rehearse
- How would you define the bank’s risk appetite and ensure adherence across business units?
- Describe a time when you discovered a material risk exposure — what steps did you take to mitigate it?
- How do you approach stress testing and capital planning?
- What processes would you implement to strengthen operational risk controls?
- How would you build an effective risk governance framework that works with the Board and audit functions?
What the role will demand from you day-to-day
As CRO you will be expected to:
- Oversee risk identification and measurement across credit, market, liquidity and operational domains
- Design and monitor risk limits and ensure early warning systems are in place
- Lead the risk function and mentor teams responsible for analytics, reporting and model validation
- Coordinate with regulators and implement required remediation action plans
- Present succinct risk dashboards to the Board and senior management
- Support business growth by providing risk-based decision frameworks that enable safe expansion
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q1: Where will this role be based?
The CRO role is expected to be based at UCO Bank’s Head Office in Kolkata. UCO’s official head office locations include B.T.M. Sarani (Kolkata-700001) and the Salt Lake corporate campus (Sector/DD Block, Kolkata-700064). Candidates should be prepared to work from the head office location assigned by the bank.
Q2: Is online application mandatory?
Yes — applications for this post must be submitted online through UCO Bank’s recruitment portal. Follow the official notification and online form instructions carefully.
Q3: Will the bank consider international risk experience?
Yes, international experience is often valuable for senior risk roles, but the exact eligibility and how international experience is weighted will be explained in the official notification and during shortlisting.
Q4: Where can I find the official notification?
The official notification and any corrigenda or updates are always published on UCO Bank’s official website under the “Recruitment / Notices” section. Bookmark the recruitment page and check regularly for updates.
Q5: What if I miss the deadline?
Late applications are typically not accepted. Submit your application well before the last date (2 September 2025) to avoid technical issues or last-minute payment problems.
Closing advice — apply smart, prepare thoroughly
Senior roles like the Chief Risk Officer demand both technical excellence and polished leadership. When applying, ensure your CV highlights measurable impact — for example, reductions in non-performing exposures, improvements in loss-given-default metrics, implementation of stress-testing frameworks, or successful remediation of regulatory findings. During interviews, focus on clarity, governance orientation, and the ability to balance risk control with business enablement. Good luck — and if you prepare strategically, this role could be a major milestone in your banking career.
Disclaimer: This article is a practical guide summarizing the UCO Bank Chief Risk Officer recruitment announcement and publicly-available details from UCO Bank’s official site. Candidates should verify all facts, eligibility criteria, and the final application procedure from the official UCO Bank notification before applying. Official contact and head office information was referenced from UCO Bank’s website