Chandigarh: Customers of the State Bank of India are advised to complete their essential branch-related financial transactions today, Friday, May 22, 2026. Banking operations across the country face a potential six-day disruption between May 23 and May 28, 2026. The prolonged closure is a cumulative result of the upcoming weekend, a proposed two-day nationwide strike by the bank’s workforce, and subsequent religious holidays designated by the Reserve Bank of India.
The disruption begins on Saturday, May 23, which marks the fourth Saturday of the month, followed immediately by the standard weekly holiday on Sunday, May 24. Compounding the weekend closures, the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation has called for a two-day nationwide strike on Monday, May 25, and Tuesday, May 26. Following the strike, branches in a major part of the country will observe closures for Bakrid (Eid-ul-Adha), with the RBI declaring regional holidays on Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28, depending on state-specific notifications. While digital banking channels, mobile applications, and ATMs are expected to remain functional, core over-the-counter services including cash deposits, cheque clearing, and passbook updates will be severely affected.
The two-day strike has been spearheaded by the AISBISF to press for a 16-point charter of demands aimed at safeguarding employee welfare, improving service quality, and addressing structural grievances. Key demands put forth by the federation include the immediate permanent recruitment of sub-staff such as messengers and armed guards to counter rising security lapses at branches, and a complete halt on the large-scale outsourcing of perennial banking jobs, which unions argue compromises customer data privacy. Additionally, the federation is demanding annual pension fund manager selection options for National Pension System subscribers, an end to aggressive cross-selling of third-party insurance products under management pressure, and the reinstatement of a workmen employee director on the bank’s central board. A final conciliation meeting is scheduled between the union representatives, SBI management, and the Chief Labour Commissioner to seek a resolution and potentially avert the agitation.
