Bank Strike September 28-30: Services Affected and What to Do
Bank unions plan a nationwide strike from September 28 to 30 over the five-day working week demand, with customers advised to use digital and alternative banking channels.
SBI and Canara Bank have advised customers to plan branch-related transactions ahead of the proposed September 28-30 bank strike.
Bank customers may face disruption in branch-based services from September 28 to 30 as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) plans a nationwide strike over its demand for a five-day working week. The government urged unions to defer the strike after a September 22 conciliation meeting, but the UFBU said the strike would proceed.
The impact is expected to be concentrated on services requiring branch visits or employee assistance. State Bank of India and Canara Bank have advised customers to complete important branch-related transactions before September 28 and use alternative channels during the strike.
ATMs and cash withdrawal services are expected to remain available, while customers can use internet banking, mobile banking, UPI and other digital channels for routine transactions. SBI has also suggested Customer Service Points, while Canara Bank has listed business correspondents as alternative options.
The timing could create additional inconvenience because September 26 is the fourth Saturday and September 27 is Sunday. September 30 is also the half-yearly closing date for banks, making the period particularly important for businesses and time-sensitive transactions.
The immediate dispute centres on five-day banking. The UFBU says the demand was agreed upon in the March 2024 wage revision settlement but has not been implemented. The government maintains that the matter remains under consideration.
As of September 23, the September 28-30 strike remains scheduled. Customers with branch-dependent work should plan ahead rather than leave it for the last minute.
