Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Public Sector Banks to Open Sunday Ahead of Nationwide Strike
Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will open normally on Sunday, September 27.
Sunday is usually a bank holiday.
The government wants customers to complete important banking work before a possible three-day strike.
The strike is planned for September 28, 29 and 30.
The Reserve Bank of India has approved the opening of branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and Currency Chests.
The strike would come after the weekend holidays on September 26 and 27.
September 30 is also the banks’ half-yearly closing date.
Bank unions want banks to work five days a week and want better pension benefits.
The government has asked the unions to postpone the strike and continue discussions.
Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will operate normally on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The Reserve Bank of India approved operations for branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and Currency Chests.
The measure is intended to limit disruption before the proposed UFBU strike from September 28 to 30.
The strike would follow weekend holidays and coincide with banks’ September 30 half-yearly closing.
UFBU is seeking five-day banking, improved pensions and other changes to employee benefit schemes.
- Who
- Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks, the Reserve Bank of India, the Ministry of Finance, bank managements and the United Forum of Bank Unions.
- What
- Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will function normally on Sunday ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide bank strike.
- When
- Sunday, September 27, 2026; the proposed strike is scheduled for September 28 to 30, 2026.
- Where
- Across the Public Sector Bank and Regional Rural Bank networks covered by the announcement.
- Why
- To reduce an extended disruption to banking services following 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 and bank managements have urged unions to postpone the strike and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.
United Forum of Bank Unions
UFBU has indicated that it may consider postponement only if there is concrete and positive progress on five-day banking; otherwise, it plans to proceed.
Status of five-day banking
Government and Bank Managements
Government representatives said the proposal remains under consideration and that other stakeholders’ views must be examined.
United Forum of Bank Unions
UFBU has made implementation of a five-day banking week its primary demand and says insufficient progress justifies the strike.
Performance Linked Incentive scheme
Government and Bank Managements
The government says it has placed the Performance Linked Incentive scheme in abeyance, describing this as fulfillment of one major union demand.
United Forum of Bank Unions
The unions have demanded withdrawal of the scheme while continuing to press for five-day banking and other employee benefits.
- Sunday operations
- Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will function normally on September 27, 2026.
- RBI approval
- Branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and Currency Chests were approved to remain operational on September 27.
- Proposed strike
- UFBU has proposed a nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, 2026.
- Weekend holidays
- The proposed strike follows holidays on September 26 and 27, potentially disrupting services for five consecutive days.
- Main 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.
- Half-yearly closing
- September 30 coincides with banks’ half-yearly closing activities, including reconciliation, provisioning, treasury and market operations.
Sources
Banks To Remain Open On Sunday For Customers Amid Proposed Strike
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
Banks to Open Sept 27 Ahead of Strike; Govt Appeals to Unions
Banks to remain open on Sunday ahead of 3-day strike
Banks to remain open on coming Sunday ahead of 3-day proposed strike
Banks Will Remain Open on September 27 Despite Sunday Holiday, MoF Prepares for Proposed Three-Day Strike
