India Bank Strike: Nationwide Three-Day Strike Set for September 28–30
Bank unions in India plan a nationwide strike from September 28 to 30 over the demand for a five-day banking week, potentially affecting branch services for five consecutive days.
Prasanth Subramani
New Delhi: Bank employee unions in India are set to proceed with a nationwide three-day strike from September 28 to 30, 2026, following a conciliation meeting on September 22 that failed to produce a positive development on their demand for a five-day banking week. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has maintained its strike call despite appeals from the government, the Indian Banks’ Association and bank managements to defer the action.
The unions are primarily seeking implementation of a five-day working week in the banking sector. UFBU has stated that the five-day banking arrangement was included in the March 2024 wage settlement but has not yet been implemented. The government has said the proposal remains under consideration.
The timing of the strike could affect branch-based banking services for up to five consecutive days, as September 26 is the fourth Saturday and September 27 is Sunday. Customers who require services involving physical branches or staff assistance may therefore experience delays or disruptions.
Digital banking channels such as ATMs, UPI, internet banking and mobile banking are expected to remain available, although individual services may vary between banks. Several banks have advised customers to complete important branch-related transactions before September 28 and use digital and self-service channels for routine banking needs.
The unions have also announced plans for an indefinite strike from October 26, 2026, if the five-day banking demand remains unresolved. The situation remains subject to further discussions between the unions, government and banking-sector representatives.
