Archive · 25 Sep 2026
India Bank Strike Set for September 28–30; Digital Services Continue
Bank unions in India plan to stop working for three days from September 28 to 30, 2026.
They want banks to operate on a five-day week and seek pension reforms.
The strike would mainly affect services that require visiting a bank branch.
People should complete branch work, such as cheque-related tasks and document submissions, before the strike.
UPI, bank apps and digital wallets are expected to keep working.
ATMs should also work, but they may have limited cash or be temporarily unavailable for maintenance.
The government has asked bank employees not to join the strike.
Because of that, the level of disruption may differ between banks and regions.
The United Forum of Bank Unions plans a nationwide three-day strike across India from September 28 to 30, 2026.
The unions are demanding a five-day banking week and pension reforms.
UPI, bank apps, digital wallets, ATMs and automated deposit machines are expected to remain available, subject to maintenance and cash availability.
Branch-based services such as cheque clearance, demand drafts, document submissions, KYC updates and locker access could be delayed.
The strike is proceeding after failed conciliation talks, although government appeals could affect participation by bank or region.
- Who
- The United Forum of Bank Unions and bank employees across India are involved.
- What
- A proposed three-day nationwide bank strike is planned, with demands including a five-day banking week and pension reforms.
- When
- September 28–30, 2026, immediately after weekend holidays on September 26 and 27.
- Where
- Across India, including public-sector and rural-sector banks.
- Why
- The unions are pressing for a five-day banking week and pension reforms after conciliation talks failed to resolve the dispute.
Bank Unions
Government Position
Whether to proceed with the strike
Bank Unions
The United Forum of Bank Unions says the strike will proceed after conciliation talks failed to resolve the dispute.
Government Position
The Finance Ministry has urged bank employees not to participate, which could reduce or vary the disruption.
Workweek and pension policy
Bank Unions
The unions are pressing for a five-day banking week and pension reforms.
Government Position
The articles do not state that the government has accepted these demands; instead, it has sought to discourage participation in the strike.
- Planned strike dates
- September 28–30, 2026
- Organiser
- United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)
- Main demands
- A five-day banking week and pension reforms
- Expected to continue
- UPI, bank apps, digital wallets and ATMs, subject to maintenance, cash availability and other operational conditions
- Potentially disrupted
- Cheque clearance, demand draft issuance, locker access, cash deposits, document submissions and KYC updates
- Government response
- The government has urged employees not to participate and announced Sunday as a working day for public-sector and rural-sector bank employees
- Previous action
- UFBU unions held a nationwide strike on September 11, 2026, over the same demands