Old generation private sector banks (PvSBs) too kept their branches open as their operations are expected to be affected as the old guard in these banks will be joining the strike

Public sector banks (PSBs) and regional rural banks (RRBs) kept their branches open across the country on Sunday following Finance Ministry directive in this regard in the backdrop of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) calling for a three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to 30, 2026 to press for implementation of its demand for 5-day work week.

Old generation private sector banks (PvSBs) too kept their branches open as their operations are expected to be affected as the old guard in these banks will be joining the strike. Some of the new generation PvSBs, especially those with currency chest operations, kept select branches open.

“In order to ensure that the genuine banking needs of the public are not adversely affected for an extended period, all Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will function normally on Sunday, the 27th of September, 2026,” the finance ministry said in a September 23 statement.

The ministry noted that the Reserve Bank of India has granted approval for all bank branches, offices, ATM-link branches and Currency Chests to remain fully operational on September .

Devidas Tuljapurkar, Chairman, Banking Education Training Research Academy, and trade union leader, said: “The demand for a five-day weekis neither unreasonable nor unprecedented. Banking institutions in most countries function through a five-day working structure.

“Within India, the Reserve Bank of India, insurance institutions, financial regulators, government offices, stock exchanges and most major financial-sector institutions already follow five-day working.

In mainstream commercial banking, however, employees continued to be denied the same benefit.”

Technological transformation

He emphasised tht banking itself had undergone a technological transformation. ATMs, credit and debit cards, mobile applications, internet banking, Unified Payments Interface, cash-deposit machines and Banking Correspondents had become widely available. Customers are no longer entirely dependent upon physical bank branches for routine transactions.

Tuljapurkar noted that by keeping the branches open on a Sunday, banks will incur an outgo in the form of out-of-pocket expenses/ overtime.

“The government should immediately complete the necessary formalities and notify the five-day working week. Implementation of the agreement would demonstrate respect for law, collective bargaining and democratic industrial relations,” he said.

Published on September 27, 2026