Bank strike January 2026: Bank employee and officer unions across India have announced a nationwide strike on 27 January 2026 which is expected to disrupt services at most public sector banks. The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).
Bank strike: What are Bank Unions demanding?
According to the unions, the demand is based on commitments already made during the wage revision settlement signed in March 2024 between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and UFBU. As part of that agreement both sides had concurred on declaring all Saturdays as bank holidays, a decision that is yet to be implemented, according to PTI.
The UFBU has formally served a strike notice to the IBA, the Chief Labour Commissioner and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
Bank strike news: When is bank strike?
The strike is scheduled to run from midnight of January 26 to midnight of January 27.
UFBU on the their X account posted, “Bank employees power India’s financial stability, inclusion, and growth,often at the cost of their own well-being. A 5-day work week is not a concession; it’s a long-pending reform. The commitment is on record. It must be implemented.”
Bank employees power India’s financial stability, inclusion, and growth,often at the cost of their own well-being. A 5-day work week is not a concession; it’s a long-pending reform. The commitment is on record. It must be implemented.#BankersDemand5DayWeek @DFS_India pic.twitter.com/YgtcAKgTOJ
— United Forum of Bank Unions (@UFBUIndia) January 25, 2026
Bank strike 2026: Were there attempts to avert bank strike?
Conciliation meetings were held earlier this week by the Chief Labour Commissioner to avert the strike. However, the unions said the talks failed to yield any positive outcome, prompting them to go ahead with the planned action.
Bank strike on 27 Jan 2026: Which all banks will be affected by the strike?
If the strike proceeds as announced, customers may face disruptions at major public sector lenders, including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, and other government-owned banks. Most of these banks have already cautioned customers about possible interruptions in branch services.
Bank strike in January 2026: Which bank services can you still use
While some bank services will be impacted, with the advent of technology multiple alternatives exist. The country’s largest lender SBI advised customers to plan essential banking transactions in advance. Customers can use the following digital channels
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- ATMs/ADWMs (Automated Deposit cum Withdrawal Machine) for cash needs
- They can also use customer service points (CSPs), the authorised service centers that allow banking transactions and services on behalf of a partner bank
- Besides the above two options, UPI, YONO, and mobile banking services are expected to remain operational during the strike.
Bank strike tomorrow: Which days are off for bank employees currently?
At present, bank employees get the second and fourth Saturdays off, along with Sundays resulting in largely six-day work weeks. The UFBU has argued that moving to a five-day schedule would not reduce productivity, as employees have already agreed to work an additional 40 minutes per day from Monday to Friday.
The unions have also pointed out that institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, LIC, stock exchanges, and most government offices already follow a five-day work week, questioning why banks continue with a longer schedule.
Bank strike news today: Will private banks be impacted?
The UFBU represents employees from nine major bank unions, covering public sector banks and some old-generation private banks. The strike, however, is not expected to impact large private sector banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, which are likely to function as usual.