The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) set a strike for September 28‑30, 2026, after a weekend of bank holidays, threatening five days of branch closures.
UFBU, representing 90% of the banking workforce, is demanding not only a five‑day banking schedule but also pension updates, a unified dearness allowance for all pensioners, and the option for National Pension System beneficiaries to revert to the old pension scheme. They had staged a nationwide walkout on September 11 over the same demands.
The Secretary of the Department of Financial Services will chair a meeting with chief executives of public sector banks and regional rural banks to map out contingency measures. The discussion will focus on keeping essential customer services running during the strike period, which coincides with the sector’s half‑yearly closure window.
State Bank of India, Union Bank, and other major banks have urged customers to complete branch‑based transactions before September 26. They are also promoting ATMs, UPI, mobile banking, and internet banking as reliable alternatives. The banks assure that essential services, such as cash withdrawals via ATMs and digital channels, will remain operational during the strike.
For a Delhi street vendor, the potential halt means missing a chance to deposit wages on time, risking late fees on her small‑business loans. Her daily routine of walking to the nearest bank branch could be disrupted if the strike proceeds.
The strike’s fate hinges on the upcoming Finance Ministry meeting, after which a contingency plan will be released. Customers are advised to act now and seek digital or alternative banking options to avoid interruption during the five‑day closure window.