Relief for bank customers! Banks to remain open on Sunday ahead of the 3-day strike..

The Ministry of Finance has announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved keeping all bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches, and currency chests fully operational on Sunday, September 27. This notification follows a proposal by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) for a three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026. The strike is scheduled to begin immediately after the weekend holidays of September 26 and 27. The notification states that the government has taken necessary measures, keeping citizens' banking needs in mind, and that all public sector banks and regional rural banks will function normally on Sunday, September 27, 2026.

What does the notification say?
It states that to ensure the public's banking needs are not adversely affected for an extended period, all public sector banks and regional rural banks will operate normally on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The Reserve Bank of India has authorized all bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches, and currency chests to remain fully operational on September 27, 2026. The government reiterated that the welfare and convenience of bank customers remain its top priority.

The Ministry stated that the government and bank management have appealed to the unions to call off the proposed strike and have taken steps to ensure that essential banking services continue without interruption. For the convenience of customers, the State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda, and Canara Bank have issued advisories, urging customers to complete their essential banking transactions prior to the proposed strike. The banks have also encouraged customers to utilize digital and self-service channels during the strike period.

Will banks remain closed for five days?

The government has averted a situation where banks would have remained closed for five consecutive days by granting permission to keep bank branches, currency chests, bank offices, and ATM-linked branches open on Sunday, September 27. The Ministry of Finance had earlier appealed to bank employees to withdraw the proposed strike and resolve their pending demands through dialogue. The UFBU is primarily demanding the implementation of a five-day work week in the banking sector. The bank strike coincides with the half-yearly closing of banks on September 30, a crucial date for provisioning, reconciliation, treasury operations, and other financial activities.

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