Nationwide Bank Strike Set for September 28-30, 2026

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has announced a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026. The strike targets public-sector banks and regional rural banks (RRBs) and demands a five-day banking week with Saturdays as holidays, and withdrawal of the government’s performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for senior officers. UFBU warns that an indefinite strike could begin on October 26 if its demands remain unresolved.

The Indian Express

The five-day-week demand was first recorded on March 8 2024, when the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) agreed to it in the 12th Bipartite Settlement. Currently banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays; UFBU argues that making every Saturday a holiday would not cut customer-facing hours if weekdays are extended.

The Indian Express

The PLI scheme, introduced in the 2020 wage settlement, links incentives to individual performance for Grade 4 officers and above. After officer opposition, the Department of Financial Services placed the scheme in abeyance.

The Indian Express

• UFBU represents seven bank unions, covering roughly 90 % of the banking workforce (about 8 lakh employees).

The Indian Express

• The strike will mainly affect public-sector banks and RRBs; private-sector banks are expected to see limited disruption.

3-Day Bank Strike From Tomorrow: What Banking Services Will Stop And What Will Continue?

• Physical services—cash deposits/withdrawals, cheque clearing, and account work—are likely to be interrupted, while digital channels (UPI, internet and mobile banking) and ATMs will remain operational.

CNBC TV18

The strike coincides with the half-yearly financial closing on September 30, a key date for reconciliation, provisioning and treasury work. Disruption of branch services could delay cash-intensive transactions and payroll processing for firms that rely on physical clearing, increasing pressure on ATMs. To ease the impact, public-sector banks will waive ATM charges for the three-day period and urge customers to use digital platforms.

CNN-News18

• The Finance Ministry directed ministries to advance September salaries, wages and pensions on September 25 and instructed banks to keep adequate cash in ATMs.

3-day bank strike from September 28: Centre government employees to get salary in advance on September 25; banks to open this Sunday, advisory issued to customers

• The Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner noted that, besides the five-day-week demand, the government has introduced welfare measures for bank employees, including a 13th bipartite settlement.

The Indian Express

The All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA) objected to the Sunday-opening order, labeling Sunday a holiday under the Industrial Disputes Act and urging a stay-out strike on September 27. The Finance Ministry reiterated that no commitment has been made to adopt a five-day banking week, calling it “the single outstanding issue” after the PLI scheme was placed in abeyance.

The Indian Express

Sources differ on whether private-sector banks will open on September 27. Some reports suggest they will remain closed unless separate instructions are issued, while others provide no clarification, leaving uncertainty about weekend banking services for non-public institutions.

Are all banks open on Sunday, September 27, 2026? Check status ahead of three-day bank strike

• “From the UFBU, we pointed out that there is no response to our demand for implementation of 5 Days Banking which was agreed and signed in March, 2024 under the last wage revision settlement. Hence, we are going ahead with the strike action,” — The UFBU

The Indian Express