Bank Strike: Branch services may be affected across India on September 11 as the United Forum of Bank Unions has called a nationwide walkout over demands including a five-day banking week and a review of the performance-linked incentive scheme.
The strike is expected to affect routine work at bank branches, including cash deposits, withdrawals and other transactions that require in-person service. Digital banking channels, ATMs and other automated services are expected to remain available, although customers have been advised to check their bank’s official updates before visiting a branch.
The United Forum of Bank Unions, or UFBU, includes seven banking organisations: the All India Bank Employees’ Association, All India Bank Officers’ Confederation, National Confederation of Bank Employees, All India Bank Officers’ Association, Bank Employees’ Federation of India, Indian National Bank Officers’ Congress and Indian National Bank Employees’ Federation. The forum represents more than 90% of the banking workforce, according to the report.
The unions are seeking implementation of a five-day banking week, under which banks would operate from Monday to Friday and employees would receive full-day holidays on Saturdays and Sundays. They are also seeking a review of the performance-linked incentive scheme. The unions have said the five-day workweek arrangement had been promised but has not yet been implemented.
State Bank of India has issued an advisory on X warning customers that the proposed strike could affect normal branch and office operations despite arrangements for essential services. The bank has asked customers to complete urgent transactions through digital or internet banking channels where possible.
SBI customers can use ATMs and Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines for eligible cash transactions. The bank has also advised customers to use Customer Service Points, internet banking, the YONO platform, mobile banking and Unified Payments Interface services for transactions that do not require a branch visit.
Punjab National Bank has issued similar guidance, asking customers to use UPI payments, mobile banking, internet banking, ATMs and Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines for essential transactions during the strike.
The impact on customers will vary depending on the nature of the service required and the bank involved. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and some other lenders had not issued separate statements on the strike at the time of the report. Customers with urgent branch-related work have been advised to check their bank’s website, mobile application or other official communication channels before travelling to a branch.
The strike is followed by Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13. In some states, bank holidays linked to Ganesh Chaturthi may also fall on September 14 and 15. The holiday schedule may differ by state, which means branch-based services could remain unavailable for several days in some locations. Customers requiring cash deposits, cash withdrawals or other offline services may therefore need to plan for delays until branches resume normal operations.
