Jammu, Jan 22:
Banking services across India are set to face a major disruption next week as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has officially called for a nationwide strike on January 27, 2026.
The strike is expected to see participation from over 8 lakh employees and officers from Public Sector Banks, Private Banks, Foreign Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), and Co-operative Banks.
The 4-Day Banking Shutdown
The timing of the strike is critical for bank customers. Due to the alignment of holidays and the strike, physical branch services will be unavailable for four consecutive days: Jan 24: 4th Saturday (Bank Holiday), Jan 25: Sunday, Jan 26: Republic Day (National Holiday) and Jan 27: Nationwide Bank Strike
While branch operations will be hit, digital channels including ATMs, UPI, and Net Banking are expected to remain functional.
The primary demand of the UFBU is the immediate government approval for a 5-day work week.
1. The Pending Promise: Bank unions point out that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) back in December 2023, followed by a formal agreement in March 2024. Despite these agreements, the final notification from the Union Government has been pending for nearly two years.
2. Increased Working Hours: To compensate for the Saturdays, the unions have already agreed to increase daily working hours by 40 minutes (Monday to Friday).
3. Ending Discrimination: Union leaders argue that other major financial entities like the RBI, LIC, GIC, and Stock Exchanges already operate on a 5-day week. “Bank employees alone are being discriminated against,” stated Rajesh Mehta, AIBOC Secretary (J&K and Ladakh) in a press release.
Impact on the Public
The UFBU consists of nine major unions, including AIBEA, AIBOC, and NCBE. With such a broad coalition, almost all brick-and-mortar banking operations will come to a standstill.
The unions have expressed regret for the inconvenience but maintain that the strike was “forced” upon them due to the government’s lack of response despite previous assurances in March 2025.
“Declaring the remaining Saturdays as holidays will not pose any major problem for customers given the various alternative digital delivery channels available today,” the press release added.
What Should Customers Do?
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Plan Ahead: Complete urgent branch-related work (like KYC, locker visits, or cheque deposits) by Friday, January 23.
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Cash Reserves: Ensure you have enough cash as ATM replenishment might be delayed during the long weekend.
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Use Digital: Rely on mobile apps and UPI for transfers.
