New Delhi | January 26, 2026 | SKY LINK TIMES
Nationwide Bank Strike Jan 27:
Banking operations at public sector banks across India are likely to face significant disruption on Tuesday, January 27, as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) proceeds with a nationwide strike demanding the implementation of a five-day work week.
The strike follows the failure of a conciliation meeting with the Chief Labour Commissioner held on January 23, which did not result in a resolution.
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Which Banks Will Be Affected?
The UFBU is a joint platform of nine bank unions representing officers and employees of public sector banks. As a result, branch-level operations at major public sector lenders such as:
• Punjab National Bank (PNB)
• Bank of Baroda (BoB)are expected to be impacted.
Customers may face inconvenience as banks were already closed on Sunday (January 25) and Monday (January 26) due to Republic Day, potentially leading to a three-day disruption in branch services.
Services Likely to Be Disrupted
According to banking officials and regulatory filings, the following services at public sector banks may be affected:
• Cash deposits and withdrawals
• Cheque clearances
• Passbook updates
• Loan processing and approvals
• Other routine administrative and branch-level services
In a regulatory filing, SBI stated that while arrangements have been made to maintain normal operations, banking work may still be impacted due to employee participation in the strike.
Which Services Will Continue?
Despite the strike, several essential services are expected to function normally:
Digital Banking
• UPI payments
• Internet banking
• Mobile banking apps
However, banks have cautioned that localised ATM cash shortages could occur due to operational challenges.
Private Sector Banks
Private banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank are expected to operate normally, as their employees are not part of the strike.
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Why Are Bank Unions Striking?
The primary demand of the UFBU is the formal notification of all Saturdays as bank holidays, effectively introducing a five-day work week.
This proposal was included in the 12th Bipartite Settlement signed with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) in March 2024, but it has yet to receive government approval.
Currently, banks remain open on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of each month.
What Customers Should Do?
• Plan cash withdrawals in advance
• Rely on digital payment methods
• Avoid non-urgent branch visits on January 27
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