The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has deferred its proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from 28 to 30 September 2026 after reaching an understanding with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) during a late-night meeting on 27 September, with the two sides agreeing to a high-level committee to deliberate the long-pending five-day banking week demand.
The strike, which coincided with the half-yearly closing of banks, had been called by the UFBU, an umbrella body representing several bank employee and officer unions. With the deferral, banks will function as usual from 28 September.
“A high-level committee of the IBA and UFBU will be formed immediately to deliberate on the issue of declaring the remaining Saturdays as holidays. In view of the above, it was agreed by the UFBU that the proposed agitational programmes and strike actions will be deferred,” the union body said in its circular carried by the paper.
The Sunday meeting between the IBA and UFBU began around 9:30 PM and produced an understanding on multiple demands. On performance-linked incentives, “As regards the PLI scheme for Scale IV and above officers, the discussions can start with the IBA to propose modifications in the scheme to the government to address the observations of the unions/associations,” the UFBU circular stated.
The five-day banking week has been a UFBU demand for several years. Banks currently work six days a week, with the second and fourth Saturdays declared holidays. The proposed extension would make all Saturdays non-working, requiring central government notification and, per bank unions, the acceptance of altered working hours on remaining days.
Public sector banks including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda had opened select branches on Sunday, 26 September, to cushion customers ahead of the anticipated three-day disruption, given that 26 and 27 September were weekend holidays.
UFBU has warned of an indefinite strike from 26 October 2026 if the current understanding is not translated into progress on the ground, The Week reported. The Centre had earlier permitted early release of September salaries and pensions for central government employees on 25 September to insulate them from the planned bank shutdown.
