opening an SBI account is now completely online. You need to fill the details online, take the printout with all valid proof, documents and with 2 photos. Sign in front of them, your account opens instantly. Thats how its working.
If you have an existing SBI account you can trafer it to the branch which you want with same account number. Only IFSC code changes and they charge Rs 144 for this. There is not need life before that some 1 must introduce you in SBI