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Public Sector Banks to Open Sunday Ahead of Nationwide Strike
Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will open normally on Sunday, September 27.
This is unusual because Sunday is usually a bank holiday.
The government wants customers to have a chance to complete important banking work before a planned three-day strike.
The strike is scheduled for September 28, 29 and 30.
The Reserve Bank of India approved the opening of branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and Currency Chests.
The United Forum of Bank Unions wants banks to operate five days a week.
The unions also want better pension arrangements and other employee benefits.
The government says the Performance Linked Incentive scheme has been put on hold, but the five-day banking demand is still being considered.
The unions say the strike may continue unless there is concrete progress in negotiations.
Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will operate normally on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The Reserve Bank of India approved Sunday operations for branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and Currency Chests.
The measure aims to limit disruption before the United Forum of Bank Unions’ proposed strike from September 28 to 30.
The government and bank managements urged unions to defer the strike and continue negotiations.
UFBU’s demands include a five-day banking week, pension improvements and changes to dearness allowance and pension schemes.
- Who
- Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks, the United Forum of Bank Unions, the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India and bank managements.
- What
- Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will operate normally on Sunday ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide bank strike.
- Where
- Across the Public Sector Bank and Regional Rural Bank networks covered by the announcement.
- When
- Sunday, September 27, 2026; the proposed strike is scheduled for September 28-30, 2026.
- Why
- To prevent banking customers from facing an extended disruption after the September 26-27 weekend holidays and during the proposed strike.
Government and Bank Managements
United Forum of Bank Unions
Whether to defer the strike
Government and Bank Managements
The government, bank managements, the Department of Financial Services and the Indian Banks’ Association urged unions to defer the strike and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.
United Forum of Bank Unions
UFBU said it would consider postponing the strike only if there were concrete and positive progress toward five-day banking; otherwise, it said the strike would proceed.
Status of five-day banking
Government and Bank Managements
Government representatives said the proposal remains under consideration and that the views of other stakeholders must be examined.
United Forum of Bank Unions
UFBU has made five-day banking its central demand and said insufficient progress could lead to the planned strike.
Performance Linked Incentive scheme
Government and Bank Managements
The government said placing the Performance Linked Incentive scheme in abeyance addressed one of the unions’ two main demands.
United Forum of Bank Unions
The unions have called for withdrawal of the Performance Linked Incentive scheme, while continuing to press for five-day banking and other benefits.
Key facts
- Sunday operations
- Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will function normally on September 27, 2026.
- Proposed strike
- The United Forum of Bank Unions has called a proposed nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, 2026.
- RBI approval
- Branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and Currency Chests were approved to remain operational on September 27.
- Main union demand
- UFBU is seeking implementation of a five-day banking week.
- Other demands
- The unions seek pension improvements, a uniform dearness allowance formula and an option for eligible National Pension System employees to switch to the Old Pension Scheme.
- Performance Linked Incentive scheme
- The government says the scheme has been placed in abeyance, while union demands have also included its withdrawal.
- Previous strike
- UFBU-affiliated bank unions held a nationwide strike on September 11, 2026.
Quotes
United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)
The union federation representing bank employees and organizing the proposed strike.
“Given that most concerns of the Unions have been substantially addressed, that the remaining demand continues to be examined, and that the Government continues to proactively introduce welfare measures for the banking workforce, bank employees are urged to refrain from resorting to strikes, work towards resolving issues through dialogue, and ensure that banking services remain uninterrupted.”
thehansindia.com
“The Department (of Financial Services) reiterates that the welfare and convenience of bank customers remains the Government’s foremost priority. The Government and bank managements have appealed to unions to defer the proposed strike, and have also taken measures to ensure that essential banking services continue un-interrupted, ”
livemint.com
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
Are banks open this Sunday? Here's what customers need to know ahead of three-day nationwide strike from September 28-30
PSBs, RRBs to function normally on a Sunday: Finance Ministry
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