Everything bank customers need to know about the three-day nationwide strike, which banks are affected, and how to plan around it
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and reflects publicly reported developments as of 26 September 2026. The situation is still developing, and the strike could be deferred or changed at short notice. Please check official SMS, email and app notifications from your own bank before making plans. PublishIQHub takes no position on the strike or on the demands of any party involved.
Quick Answer
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called a three-day nationwide bank strike on 28, 29 and 30 September 2026 (Monday to Wednesday). Branches of public sector banks and regional rural banks are likely to be affected. The main demand is a five-day banking week, along with issues around the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and other pending matters. UPI, net banking, mobile banking and ATMs are expected to keep working. Private banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, and cooperative banks, are expected to function normally.
When Is the Bank Strike?
The strike is scheduled for Monday 28 September, Tuesday 29 September and Wednesday 30 September 2026. It has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions, the umbrella body of bank employee and officer unions.
The timing matters because of the weekend just before it:
| Date | Day | Status |
| 26 September 2026 | Saturday | Bank holiday (fourth Saturday) |
| 27 September 2026 | Sunday | Public sector banks and RRBs directed to open specially |
| 28 September 2026 | Monday | Strike – Day 1 |
| 29 September 2026 | Tuesday | Strike – Day 2 |
| 30 September 2026 | Wednesday | Strike – Day 3 |
| 1 October 2026 | Thursday | Normal working expected |
Without any special arrangement, customers of public sector banks would have faced five straight days without regular branch banking. To reduce this gap, the Ministry of Finance said that all public sector banks and regional rural banks will function normally on Sunday, 27 September 2026. The Reserve Bank of India has approved the opening of branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests on that day.
There is some uncertainty around this Sunday opening. According to a round-up of the latest updates by Upstox, the All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA) has advised its members not to report for work on 27 September, maintaining that the day remains a holiday. At the same time, several banks, including SBI and HDFC Bank, have told customers that their branches will be open that Sunday.
Is this the first strike this month?
No. The UFBU held a one-day nationwide strike on 11 September 2026. The unions have also announced an indefinite strike from 26 October 2026 if their main demand remains unresolved.
Which unions are part of the strike?
The UFBU brings together seven unions: AIBEA, AIBOC, AIBOA, BEFI, NCBE, INBEF and INBOC. The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has said it will not take part in this strike. According to the organisation, it supports the five-day banking demand but prefers to pursue it through direct talks.
Why Are Bank Unions on Strike?
The main demand is a five-day banking week, with all Saturdays declared as holidays. The unions have also raised the PLI scheme and several other pending issues.
1. Five-day banking week
Banks in India currently close on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, a pattern in place since 2015. The unions want every Saturday to be a holiday.
The UFBU says this was agreed with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the 12th Bipartite Settlement and 9th Joint Note signed on 8 March 2024. Under that arrangement, daily working hours from Monday to Friday were to go up by 40 minutes to make up for the extra Saturdays off. The proposal was then recommended to the government and still awaits approval.
Government sources, as reported by PTI, have denied that the Finance Ministry committed to implementing it and said the proposal is under consideration.
2. Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme
The unions have opposed the revised PLI scheme and asked for it to be withdrawn or changed through bilateral talks. Union representatives have pointed to the gap in incentive amounts between senior executives and other staff under the revised framework.
The government has decided to keep the PLI scheme in abeyance, as reported by Business Standard. The unions have said this alone does not settle their demands, as the five-day week issue remains open.
3. Other pending demands
According to circulars issued by AIBEA, the wider list includes:
- Adequate recruitment of clerical and sub-staff
- Conversion of NPS to the Old Pension Scheme
- Income tax exemption on the banks’ extra 4% NPS contribution
- An increase in the gratuity ceiling
- Pension updation and uniform DA
- Revision of ex-gratia for pre-November 2022 pensioners
What has the government said?
The Finance Ministry has appealed to employees to call off the strike and settle the remaining matters through dialogue. Government sources say many union concerns have already been addressed, including a revision in family pension for bank retirees and a pension option for employees who resigned.
Conciliation meetings involving the Chief Labour Commissioner, the Department of Financial Services and the IBA were held earlier this month and again before this strike, without an agreement. As of 26 September, the UFBU has not withdrawn the strike call.
How Will the Bank Strike Affect Common People?
Branch-based services at public sector banks and regional rural banks are the most likely to be affected. Digital payments are expected to work normally.
Which banks are likely to be affected?
| Category | Examples | Expected status (28–30 Sept) |
| Public sector banks | SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Indian Bank | Branch services likely disrupted |
| Regional rural banks | State-level RRBs | Branch services likely disrupted |
| Old-generation private banks | Karnataka Bank and similar lenders | Possible disruption (varies by bank) |
| New-generation private banks | HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank | Expected to function normally |
| Cooperative banks | Urban cooperative, state cooperative and district central cooperative banks | Expected to function normally |
Cooperative sector bodies NAFCUB, NUCFDC and NAFSCOB have said their banks are not joining the strike. That covers about 1,450 urban cooperative banks, 34 state cooperative banks and 351 district central cooperative banks.
Services that may be hit
- Cash deposits and withdrawals at the counter
- Cheque deposits and cheque clearing, which may be delayed
- Demand drafts and pay orders
- KYC updates, account opening and document submission
- Loan paperwork, including sanction and disbursement steps that need staff
- Locker access, where it needs a staff member
- Passbook updates and other staff-assisted work
Many people depend on branch visits, including senior citizens, pensioners, small traders and people in rural areas. Reports from the 11 September strike noted that cash transactions and cheque clearing were hit in several states, while digital banking stayed largely available.
Services expected to keep working
- UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM and bank apps)
- Internet banking and mobile banking apps, including SBI YONO
- NEFT, RTGS and IMPS transfers
- ATMs and cash deposit machines, subject to cash availability and routine technical issues
- Debit and credit card payments
The Finance Ministry has asked banks to keep enough cash in ATMs during the strike. Even so, individual machines can run out of cash, especially in areas with heavy demand.
Relief measures announced so far
- SBI has waived ATM charges for its customers on withdrawals at any bank’s ATM across India during the strike period, as reported by Upstox.
- Central government and railway employees received their September salary early, on 25 September.
- Public sector banks and RRBs have been directed to open on Sunday, 27 September.
Impact on businesses and professionals
The strike overlaps with the 30 September deadline for several statutory and tax audits and company AGMs. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has advised its members to collect bank confirmations and documents early. Businesses that pay salaries or vendors by cheque, or that rely on branch cash deposits, may also need to plan around the three days.
What Should the Common Man Do During the Bank Strike?
Finish any branch work before 28 September, keep some cash at home, and switch to digital payments for the three days. Here is a simple checklist.
Before the strike (by 27 September)
- Use the Sunday opening if your bank is open. Call your branch or check your bank’s SMS, email or app first, given the mixed messages about staff attendance.
- Withdraw the cash you will need for three to four days, such as groceries, travel, medicines and domestic help.
- Deposit important cheques early. Cheques submitted during the strike may take longer to clear.
- Finish branch-only work such as KYC updates, demand drafts, loan documents and locker visits.
- Keep enough balance for auto-debits. EMIs, SIPs, insurance premiums and utility bills due around 28 to 30 September may be deducted as usual.
During the strike (28–30 September)
- Use UPI, net banking or mobile banking for payments and transfers.
- Use NEFT, RTGS or IMPS instead of cheques for time-sensitive payments, such as rent, school fees or vendor payments.
- Use ATMs and cash deposit machines for cash needs. If you bank with SBI, withdrawals at other banks’ ATMs are free during the strike.
- Visit a Customer Service Point (CSP) or banking correspondent for basic cash services, where available. SBI has specifically suggested this option in its advisory.
- Check your bank’s official channels for updates, since the strike could still be deferred or changed.
Stay alert to fraud
Disruptions often bring a rise in fraud calls and messages. Banks do not ask for OTPs, PINs, CVVs or passwords over phone, SMS or WhatsApp. Ignore messages that ask you to click links to “keep your account active during the strike” or to install screen-sharing apps. Report suspicious activity to your bank or on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or helpline 1930.
Special tips for different groups
| Who | What to keep in mind |
| Senior citizens and pensioners | Withdraw cash in advance; ask a family member to help with UPI or ATM use if needed |
| Salaried employees | Check whether your salary is credited on time; salary credit is electronic and generally not affected by branch closures |
| Small traders and shopkeepers | Accept UPI and card payments; plan cash deposits for 27 September or 1 October |
| Students and parents | Pay fees online through NEFT, UPI or the institution’s payment portal |
| Businesses and CAs | Collect bank statements and confirmations early, especially for 30 September deadlines |
Key Takeaways
- The nationwide bank strike is scheduled for 28–30 September 2026, called by the UFBU.
- The main demand is a five-day banking week; the PLI scheme and pension and recruitment issues are also part of the dispute.
- Public sector banks and RRBs are most likely to see branch disruption. Private and cooperative banks are expected to work normally.
- UPI, net banking, NEFT/RTGS/IMPS and ATMs are expected to keep running.
- Customers should finish branch work by 27 September, keep some cash handy and use digital channels during the strike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are banks closed on 28 September 2026?
Branches of public sector banks and regional rural banks are likely to be affected by the strike on 28, 29 and 30 September. New-generation private banks and cooperative banks are expected to stay open.
Will SBI be open during the bank strike?
SBI has said it is making efforts to provide essential services, but branch functioning may be affected. SBI branches are scheduled to open on Sunday, 27 September, and the bank has advised customers to use ATMs, YONO, UPI and other digital channels during the strike.
Will UPI work during the bank strike?
Yes. UPI, internet banking, mobile banking, NEFT, RTGS and IMPS are expected to keep working normally.
Will ATMs work during the bank strike?
ATMs are expected to work, and the Finance Ministry has asked banks to keep them stocked. Some machines may still run out of cash in high-demand areas, so it helps to withdraw in advance.
Will HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank be open?
Yes. HDFC Bank has told customers it will be “banking as usual” from 28 to 30 September and will also open on Sunday, 27 September. ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank are expected to operate normally.
Will my cheque clear during the strike?
Cheque clearing may be delayed, since parts of the process need bank staff. For urgent payments, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS or UPI are faster options.
Will my EMI or SIP be deducted during the strike?
Auto-debits run electronically and are generally expected to go through as scheduled. Keep enough balance in your account to avoid bounce charges.
Why are banks open on Sunday, 27 September?
The Finance Ministry directed public sector banks and regional rural banks to open on that Sunday, with RBI approval, so customers can finish branch work before the three-day strike.
What is the main reason for the bank strike?
The main demand of the United Forum of Bank Unions is a five-day banking week, with all Saturdays as holidays. Other issues include the PLI scheme, recruitment and pension-related matters.
Can the bank strike be called off?
Yes, a strike can be deferred or called off if the unions and the government reach an agreement. As of 26 September 2026, the strike call remains in place. Watch for official updates from your bank.