Banks to open for a day before 3-day strike starting September 28

Public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks will open on Sunday, September 27, before a three-day nationwide strike. The move is aimed at easing customer disruption as unions press for a five-day banking week.

In Short

• Public sector and Regional Rural Banks to open on Sunday, September 27
• The move aims to reduce impact of 3-day strike from September 28 to 30
• Customers advised to visit their respective branches on or before September 27

Public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) will open for an additional day on September 27, a Sunday, ahead of the three-day nationwide bank strike scheduled from September 28 to 30.

The decision has been taken to ensure that customers do not face a prolonged disruption in banking services. The strike is set to begin immediately after the regular weekend holidays on September 26 and 27, which could otherwise leave customers without normal branch services for five consecutive days.

In a press release issued on September 23, the Ministry of Finance said all Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will function normally on Sunday, September 27. The Reserve Bank of India has also approved the operation of bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests on that day.

The government said the move has been made to ensure that the "genuine banking needs" of the public are not affected for an extended period. It also said the welfare and convenience of bank customers remains a priority.

WHY ARE BANKS OPENING ON SUNDAY?

The proposed bank strike is scheduled for September 28, 29 and 30. With September 26 and 27 being weekend holidays, customers could otherwise have faced a five-day stretch with limited access to branch-based banking services.

Opening banks on September 27 gives customers an additional working day immediately before the strike. This is particularly relevant for people who need to visit branches for transactions or services that cannot easily be completed through mobile banking, internet banking or other digital channels.

"In view of the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) from September 28 to 30, 2026, coinciding with the preceding weekend holidays of September 26 and 27, the government has taken proactive steps to safeguard the banking needs of citizens," a PIB release said.

"In order to ensure that the genuine banking needs of the public are not adversely affected for an extended period, all Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will function normally on Sunday, the 27^th of September, 2026. The Reserve Bank of India has granted approval for all bank branches, offices, ATM-link branches and Currency Chests to remain fully operational on 27.09.2026," it said.

The timing of the strike is also significant because September 30 is the half-yearly closing date for banks. The government had earlier pointed to the possible impact on customers, businesses, government transactions and other banking activity because of the timing of the strike.

The latest Sunday-opening decision is therefore aimed at reducing the impact of the strike rather than cancelling or postponing it.

WHY ARE BANK EMPLOYEES GOING ON STRIKE?

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called the three-day strike primarily over the demand for a five-day banking workweek.

The unions have been seeking implementation of the five-day banking arrangement agreed as part of the wage revision settlement in March 2024. The government has said that the issue is under consideration, while the unions have maintained that they want concrete progress on the demand.

The government and bank managements have appealed to the unions to defer the strike and resolve the matter through dialogue.

The strike also follows an earlier one-day strike on September 11. An indefinite strike has been proposed from October 26, with five-day banking remaining the key demand after the government kept the issue of performance-linked incentive (PLI) in abeyance.

BANK UNION ISSUES WARNING

The UFBU, in a post on X, defended its decision to continue with the strike and highlighted the role played by bank employees during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The union said bankers continued to work at bank counters during the pandemic and handled cash, salaries, pensions, loans and other essential banking services while putting themselves and their families at risk.

"Don't mistake our commitment to public service for weakness," the union said, adding that it would continue to stand together and calling for respect for bankers, dialogue and democracy.

The union's post comes as the government has urged employees to call off the proposed strike and has taken steps, including Sunday opening, to ensure that customers have access to banking services before the three-day disruption.

WHAT SHOULD CUSTOMERS DO?

Customers who have important branch-related banking work can use September 27 as an additional working day before the strike begins.

Banks have also advised customers to make use of digital channels such as internet banking, mobile banking, UPI and ATMs for services that can be completed without visiting a branch. However, the extent of disruption during the strike will depend on employee participation and the services offered through individual banking channels.

The government has said the Sunday opening, along with other measures by bank managements, is intended to keep essential banking services available and reduce inconvenience to customers during the strike period.

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