By vmg@gmail.com 
Banking operations across India were disrupted on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) launched a nationwide strike demanding the immediate implementation of a five-day work week in the banking sector.
The strike follows the failure of a conciliation meeting with the Chief Labour Commissioner on January 23, 2026, where no positive resolution was reached between the unions and the government.
As a result, public sector bank branches across the country were either partially closed or completely shut, severely impacting customer services.
🧾 Why Are Bank Unions on Strike?
The UFBU, an umbrella body representing nine major banking unions, called the strike after the government did not accept their long-standing demand.
According to All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam, the strike was unavoidable:
“Since there was no positive outcome and the government did not agree to our demand, this strike is forced on us. Bank employees and officers are highly aggrieved that they alone are being discriminated against.”
📌 Key Demands of the Strike
• Immediate implementation of a five-day work week
• Declaration of all Saturdays as bank holidays
• Enforcement of agreements made under the 12th Bipartite Settlement (March 2024)
• Government notification of agreed work-week reforms
Currently, banks operate on:
- First Saturday – Open
- Third Saturday – Open
- Fifth Saturday – Open
- Second & Fourth Saturday – Holiday
Unions want all Saturdays declared holidays, similar to other sectors.
🏦 Banking Services Impacted
❌ Disrupted Services
• Cash deposits
• Cash withdrawals
• Cheque clearance
• Branch-level customer services
• Administrative operations
• Loan processing
• Passbook updates
✅ Services Still Working
• UPI payments
• Internet banking
• Mobile banking apps
• Online fund transfers
⚠️ ATM services may face localised disruptions due to cash logistics and branch closures.
🏛️ Banks Affected
Impacted Banks
• State Bank of India (SBI)
• All Public Sector Banks (PSBs)
• Some old-generation private banks
Not Significantly Affected
• HDFC Bank
• ICICI Bank
• Axis Bank
(Employees of major private sector banks are not part of UFBU unions.)
📢 SBI Official Statement
SBI informed stock exchanges about possible disruptions, stating:
“While the bank has made arrangements to ensure normal functioning, it is likely that work in the Bank may be impacted by the strike.”
📊 Why This Strike Matters
This strike highlights a growing concern in India’s banking sector regarding:
• Work-life balance for bank employees
• Parity with other government sectors
• Implementation delays of policy decisions
• Labour rights and institutional reforms
• Modernization of banking work culture
🔍 Public Impact
For customers, the strike means:
• Longer queues
• Delayed transactions
• Limited branch services
• Dependency on digital banking
• Possible ATM cash shortages
📝 What Customers Should Do
• Prefer digital banking services
• Use UPI and mobile banking apps
• Avoid branch visits unless urgent
• Keep emergency cash
• Monitor bank notifications