Banking operations to be hit on January 27 as unions to go on strike seeking five-day work week

Banking operations of public sector banks across the country are likely to be affected, with the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) deciding to go ahead with a nationwide strike on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 to press for the immediate implementation of the five-day working week.

The strike call by the UFBU, the umbrella body of nine unions representing civil servants and employees, came after a conciliation meeting held with the Chief Labor Commissioner on January 23 failed to yield a positive result.

The strike on Tuesday, January 27 will result in the disruption of branch-level services for three consecutive days, as banks remain closed on Sunday, January 25 and January 26 (Republic Day).

CH Venkatachalam, General Secretary of All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), a constituent of UFBU, said, “Despite detailed discussions during the conciliation proceedings, no assurance was provided regarding our demand. Hence, we had to continue the strike action.” he said. PTI.

All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) General Secretary Rupam Roy said that the decision to declare all Saturdays as holidays was decided between the Indian Banks Association and UFBU during the wage revision agreement in March 2024.

“It is unfortunate that the government has not responded to our genuine demand. There will be no loss of working hours as we have agreed to work an extra 40 minutes a day from Monday to Friday,” he said.

According to L. Chandrasekhar, Secretary General of the National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), another UFBU member, “This move is not against customers but for a sustainable, humane and efficient banking system. A well-rested banker serves the country better. A balanced workforce strengthens financial stability. Five-day banking is not a luxury; it is an economic and human necessity.”

Services such as cash deposits, withdrawals, check processing and administrative work are expected to be affected at branches of public sector banks (PSBs), including State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bank of Baroda.

However, operations of major private sector lenders such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank are expected to remain largely unaffected as their employees are not part of unions that will go on strike.

Digital banking services, including UPI and internet banking, will continue to operate but ATM cash availability may face local issues due to logistics delays.

Several public sector lenders, including banking giant SBI, have informed stock markets about the potential impact.

“We advise that although the bank has made necessary arrangements to ensure normal functioning of its branches and offices on the day of the strike, the work in the bank is likely to be affected by the strike,” SBI said in its regulatory filing on Friday (January 23). he said.

Unions demand that all Saturdays be declared holidays; This is a key point that was reportedly agreed upon during the 12th bilateral agreement signed with the Indian Banks Association (IBA) in March 2024 but is awaiting notification from the government.

Currently, banks remain open on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of each month.