Pune, 27th September 2026: Banking operations are likely to be affected across the country as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for a four-day strike from September 27 to 30, demanding implementation of a five-day banking week for employees of public sector banks.
The strike is expected to affect services including cheque clearing, cash deposits and branch-based Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. With the strike coinciding with the month-end, banking sector experts have also warned of possible delays in salary credits and other routine transactions.
According to banking employeesтАЩ organisations, the demand for a five-day banking week has been pending for several years. The proposed arrangement would keep banks closed on Saturdays and Sundays while extending working hours from Monday to Friday.
Cheque clearing, RTGS services may be affected
The strike is expected to particularly affect customers and businesses dependent on physical banking services.
Cheque processing could be delayed during the strike period. Customers depositing cheques at bank branches or through ATMs may have to wait longer for clearance, potentially affecting businesses that rely heavily on cheque-based transactions.
Businesses dealing with large cash volumes could also face difficulties in depositing cash at bank branches during the strike. Similarly, traders and other customers dependent on branch-based RTGS transactions may face disruptions.
Banking sector experts said the timing of the strike at the end of the month could also affect salary credits and other payments that are generally processed around this period.
Demonstrations planned in Pune
UFBU joint coordinator Shirish Rane said peaceful demonstrations would be held at various locations in Pune from September 28 to 30.
A demonstration involving officers and employees of public sector banks will be held at 10 am on Monday outside the State Bank of India branch near the District CollectorтАЩs Office. Another demonstration is scheduled at the same location at 10 am on Wednesday.
Rane said officers and employees from public sector banks are expected to participate in the demonstrations.
Five-day banking week proposal pending for over two years
Rajiv Tamhane, president of the Bank of Maharashtra Officers Association, said bank employees had been demanding a five-day working week for a long time.
According to Tamhane, the Indian BanksтАЩ Association (IBA) and employeesтАЩ and officersтАЩ unions reached an agreement on the issue on March 8, 2024. A proposal was subsequently submitted to the government, with an increase in working hours from Monday to Friday proposed to compensate for the additional holidays.
However, the proposal has remained pending with the government for more than two-and-a-half years, Tamhane said.
Bank employees have therefore decided to proceed with the strike to press for implementation of the five-day banking week, he added.
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