Archive · 27 Sep 2026
Nationwide Bank Strike Begins Monday Over Five-Day Week Demand
Bank workers in India plan to stop working for three days starting Monday.
They want banks to operate five days a week instead of having additional working days.
They are also asking for improved pensions and other benefits.
The strike could affect public sector banks and some other banks.
Services such as cheque clearing, cash deposits and withdrawals at branches may be delayed.
ATMs, online banking, mobile banking and UPI are expected to keep working.
Some private banks, including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank, are expected to stay open.
The government wants the workers to solve their disagreements through talks instead of a strike.
Bank unions have called a nationwide three-day strike beginning Monday over demands including a five-day banking week.
Public sector, old-generation private and regional rural banks are expected to face disruptions to branch services.
ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank branches are expected to remain open during the strike.
Digital banking, ATMs, UPI and other online services are likely to remain available.
The Finance Ministry urged employees to avoid strikes, saying most union concerns had been substantially addressed.
- Who
- The United Forum of Bank Unions, representing seven bank employees’ and officers’ unions, and bank employees.
- What
- A nationwide three-day bank strike over a five-day working week and other employment and pension demands.
- When
- Beginning Monday and lasting three days; the unions have also threatened an indefinite strike from October 26, 2026 if demands remain unresolved.
- Where
- Across India, particularly at public sector banks, old-generation private sector banks and regional rural banks.
- Why
- Unions say the government and bank management have not resolved the five-day week, pension, dearness allowance and pension-scheme demands.
Bank unions
Finance Ministry and bank management
Five-day banking week
Bank unions
Unions want banks to adopt a five-day working week, noting that several government and financial institutions already follow one.
Finance Ministry and bank management
The Finance Ministry said the remaining demand is still being examined and urged employees to resolve it through dialogue rather than striking.
Need for industrial action
Bank unions
Union leaders said government and management actions had forced them to call the strike because their demands remain unresolved.
Finance Ministry and bank management
The Finance Ministry said most union concerns had been substantially addressed and appealed for uninterrupted banking services.
Pension and employee benefits
Bank unions
Unions are seeking improved pension benefits, a uniform dearness allowance formula for pensioners and an option for National Pension System employees to switch to the Old Pension Scheme.
Finance Ministry and bank management
The Finance Ministry said the government continues to introduce welfare measures for the banking workforce, without committing in the article to all of the unions’ specific demands.
- Strike duration
- Three days beginning Monday
- Main demand
- A five-day banking work week
- Potentially affected institutions
- Public sector banks, old-generation private banks and regional rural banks
- Expected available services
- Digital banking, ATMs, UPI and other online services
- Private banks expected to remain open
- ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank
- Additional union demands
- Improved pension benefits, a uniform dearness allowance formula and an option to switch from the National Pension System to the Old Pension Scheme
- Further strike threat
- An indefinite strike from October 26, 2026 if demands are not met