Bank employees to go on strike from September 28; SBI issues advisory

In view of the three-day nationwide strike called by the UFBU, SBI has issued an advisory for its customers, urging them to remain alert. Banking operations are expected to be affected starting September 28.

The country's largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), has issued an advisory urging customers to complete their essential banking tasks before the three-day nationwide bank strike begins.

It is worth noting that the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for a three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026. If a large number of bank employees participate in this strike, it could significantly impact banking sector operations.

Banks to remain closed for 5 consecutive days

Due to the strike called by the UFBU, banking operations are likely to be disrupted for five consecutive days. Since September 26 (the fourth Saturday) and September 27 (Sunday) fall immediately before the strike, banks will already be closed for those two days. Subsequently, banking services will remain stalled for the three days of the strike. In total, banks will remain closed for five days. In light of this, the State Bank of India (SBI) has issued an important advisory for its customers.

What advice did SBI give?

In view of the bank strike, SBI has advised customers to complete branch-related tasks before the strike begins to avoid potential disruptions. The bank has urged customers to finish tasks such as cheque clearance, loan documentation, KYC updates, or the issuance of demand drafts before September 25, 2026.

SBI has also advised customers to utilize digital services during the strike period. The bank advised customers to make maximum use of digital services—such as UPI, internet banking, mobile banking, and the YONO app—to avoid inconvenience during the strike.

Why has the strike been called?

Bank unions are primarily demanding the implementation of a five-day work week (i.e., a full holiday every Saturday), pension-related reforms, a revised Performance-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, and the resolution of pending employee issues. The unions have also warned that if their demands are not met, they may go on an indefinite strike starting October 26, 2026.