Banks to remain open on Sunday ahead of proposed 3-day strike

All banks, including Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), will remain open on Sunday (September 27) to ensure uninterrupted banking services ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), the finance ministry said on Wednesday. 

The UFBU, which claims to represent around 90% of the banking workforce, has called a strike from September 28 to 30, primarily demanding a five-day banking week, among other issues. The proposed strike would coincide with the half-yearly closing of banks on September 30. 

“In order to ensure that the genuine banking needs of the public are not adversely affected for an extended period, all Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will function normally on Sunday, the 27th of September, 2026,” the finance ministry said in a statement. 

The move comes after the weekend holidays on September 26 and 27. The government said it has taken proactive measures to ensure that customers can access essential banking services during the extended period. 

RBI allows branches, currency chests to remain operational 

The Reserve Bank of India has approved the functioning of all bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches, and currency chests on September 27, the ministry said. 

The Department of Financial Services said the welfare and convenience of bank customers remained the government's foremost priority. The government and bank managements have also appealed to the unions to defer the proposed strike while taking steps to ensure the continuity of essential banking services. 

The proposed three-day strike comes at a significant time for the banking sector, with September 30 marking the half-yearly closing. The date is important for reconciliation, provisioning, treasury operations and market-related activities. 

Pension, NPS among UFBU's other demands 

Besides the five-day banking week, the UFBU has sought an update and improvement in pension benefits, a uniform dearness allowance formula for all pensioners, and an option for employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) to switch to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). 

Several public sector banks have started advising customers to use digital channels, including mobile banking, ATMs, internet banking, Business Correspondent points and UPI, if the strike goes ahead. Banks have also asked customers to complete essential transactions in advance of the proposed strike dates to avoid inconvenience.