Public sector bank branches across India may face disruptions from September 28 to 30, 2026, due to a three-day nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) to demand a five-day workweek, pension updates, and OPS restoration. Coupled with the fourth Saturday and Sunday weekend closures on September 26 and 27, physical bank branches could remain shut or severely affected for up to five consecutive days. Why Are Banks Closed From September 28–30?The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)—an umbrella organization representing nearly 90% of bank officers and staff across public sector banks—has called for a three-day operational shutdown starting Monday, September 28, through Wednesday, September 30. The primary catalyst for the strike is the long-pending demand for a five-day workweek with all Saturdays declared as holidays, an agreement that was broadly accepted in principle during the 12th Bipartite Wage Settlement in early 2024 but awaits official government notification. The strike is scheduled right ahead of the half-yearly financial closing on September 30, compounding concerns for corporate clearing, treasury reconciliation, and government transactions.The 5-Day Extended Closure CalendarBecause the three-day strike immediately follows the weekend, physical branch availability will be restricted for five straight days across many public sector banks:DateDayOperational StatusImpact DescriptionSept 26, 20264th SaturdayOfficial Bank HolidayStandard mandatory weekend closure across all banks.Sept 27, 2026SundayOfficial Bank HolidayStandard weekly holiday.Sept 28, 2026MondayProposed Bank StrikeBranch counters, over-the-counter cash, & passbooks shut.Sept 29, 2026TuesdayProposed Bank StrikeCheque clearing & staff-assisted operations disrupted.Sept 30, 2026WednesdayProposed Bank StrikeHalf-yearly account closing / branch disruptions.Which Banks and Services Will Be Impacted?Major public sector lenders—including State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, and Canara Bank—have issued advisories warning customers of potential delays in branch services if staff participation remains high. Services Likely to See DisruptionIn-Branch Cash Transactions: Over-the-counter cash deposits and physical withdrawals. Cheque Clearing: Processing of physical clearing cheques at local clearing houses.Documentary Work & Desk Services: Demand Draft (DD) issuance, loan documentation, passbook updating, and account opening.Trade & Government Clearance: In-person treasury and institutional banking services.Private Sector BanksPrivate sector lenders like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank will function normally on September 28, 29, and 30, as their unions are not participating in the strike. However, interbank clearing and cheque settlement linked to public sector channels could still face minor delays.Check Open Channels: What Services Will Work?Leading banks have advised customers to complete branch-dependent work prior to Friday, September 25, while pointing out that digital and self-service channels will remain operational throughout the strike period:The Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance has held discussions with bank chief executives to establish contingency arrangements, urging union leaders to withdraw the strike call and resolve issues through dialogue. Customers requiring branch assistance or physical cash are advised to plan transactions in advance to avoid disruption.
