Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Three-Day Bank Strike May Shut 650 Indore Branches
Bank employees across the country plan to stop work for three days.
The strike is scheduled from September 28 to September 30.
In Indore, about 650 bank branches may be closed.
This could make regular banking services harder to access.
More than eight lakh employees and officers are expected to participate.
The unions want banks to operate five days a week instead of six.
They say digital banking has changed how customers use branches.
The government has asked the unions to cancel the strike so customers face less trouble.
If the demand is not resolved, the unions say they may begin an indefinite strike on October 26.
Around 650 of Indore district’s 848 bank branches may remain closed from September 28 to 30.
More than eight lakh bank employees and officers nationwide are expected to join the strike.
The United Forum of Bank Unions is seeking implementation of a five-day working week.
Employees will hold a demonstration and rally through Indore’s commercial areas on September 28.
Bank unions have warned of an indefinite strike from October 26 if the issue remains unresolved.
- Who
- More than eight lakh bank employees and officers, represented by the United Forum of Bank Unions, are expected to strike.
- What
- A three-day nationwide bank strike is expected to disrupt services and close around 650 branches in Indore district.
- When
- September 28 to 30; unions have also announced a possible indefinite strike from October 26.
- Where
- Across India, including Indore district in Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- Bank unions are demanding implementation of a five-day working week and say the change should reflect digital banking and current customer habits.
Bank Unions
Government
Five-day working week
Bank Unions
Unions want the already agreed proposal for all Saturdays to become holidays implemented through the required administrative and governmental processes.
Government
The government has appealed to unions to withdraw the agitation to preserve continuity of banking services and reduce inconvenience to customers.
Need for the change
Bank Unions
Union representatives say five-day banking is a restructuring of working hours justified by digital banking, UPI and ATMs, while branches remain important for specialised and complex services.
Government
The government’s stated priority is maintaining uninterrupted banking services during the dispute.
Strike action
Bank Unions
The unions are proceeding with a three-day strike and have announced an indefinite strike from October 26 if the matter remains unresolved.
Government
The government has asked the unions to call off the strike.
- Strike dates
- September 28 to 30
- Indore branches affected
- Around 650 of the district’s 848 branches may remain closed
- National participation
- More than eight lakh bank employees and officers
- Organiser
- United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)
- Banks covered
- All 12 public-sector banks, 13 organised private-sector banks, regional rural banks and organised cooperative-sector banks
- Indore rally
- September 28 at 10 a.m., beginning outside the Bank of India at Santa Bazaar
- Possible escalation
- An indefinite strike from October 26 if the issue remains unresolved
- Five-day week proposal
- All Saturdays would be holidays, with 40 additional working minutes from Monday to Friday