New Delhi: Public sector lenders across India, including the State Bank of India and Indian Bank, have urged account holders to wrap up critical banking tasks ahead of time as bank unions prepare for a three-day nationwide strike. Physical branch operations face an effective five-day shutdown starting September 26, which coincides with the fourth Saturday bank holiday, followed by Sunday and the planned union action running from September 28 through September 30.
The call for the strike has been spearheaded by the United Forum of Bank Unions, drawing active backing from regional rural banks. The labour action centres on major employee demands, most notably the implementation of a five-day work week and the scrapping of the Performance Linked Incentive framework. The timing creates significant logistical pressure for the financial sector, as the final day of the strike overlaps directly with the half-yearly closing of financial accounts on September 30.
Major state-run lenders, including Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India alongside SBI and Indian Bank, have circulated advisories to mitigate customer inconvenience. State Bank of India alerted customers via direct notifications on Tuesday evening, asking them to complete vital transactions early and rely on automated deposit machines, ATMs, customer service points, and digital portals such as YONO, online banking, and UPI platforms. Indian Bank issued similar guidance, cautioning that in-person services could face major interruptions throughout the three-day window.
The industrial action is expected to affect essential administrative operations, including cheque clearing, corporate transactions, and institutional treasury functions. Bank authorities have assured clients that digital transaction channels, automated teller machines, and mobile platforms will remain operational throughout the stoppage.
This planned action follows a preliminary one-day strike carried out on September 11. Union leaders have signalled that labour unrest could escalate further if the current impasse persists, warning that an indefinite nationwide strike will begin on October 26 unless their workplace demands are formally resolved by authorities.
