In a proactive measure to shield citizens and business enterprises from severe disruption, the central government has directed all public sector banks (PSBs) and select old-generation private banks to keep physical branches fully operational today, Sunday, September 27. The emergency directive comes on the eve of a three-day nationwide bank strike called by prominent employee unions starting Monday, September 28. By opening branches over the weekend, authorities aim to provide depositors, merchants, and small business owners an immediate window to execute critical physical over-the-counter transactions, deposit liquid revenue, and process pending drafts before institutional branch services face potential operational stoppages.

UFBU 3-Day Nationwide Agitation: Key Demands and Industry Impact

The looming financial shutdown is spearheaded by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an apex umbrella body representing approximately ninety percent of the country’s commercial banking workforce across state-run institutions and older private sector lenders. Union leaders are agitating for the formal implementation of a standardized five-day banking workweek, long-pending pension updates, and broader employee welfare benefits. While the Union Finance Ministry has issued urgent appeals urging employee unions to abandon industrial action and resolve disputes through bilateral dialogue, the anticipated mass participation of operational staff threatens to disrupt clearing houses, localized branch desk services, and manual document validation from September 28 onward.

SBI, BOI Customer Advisories and Private Bank Operations

In response to the strike notice, banking giants including the State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of India (BOI) have rolled out extensive customer advisories urging account holders to complete urgent in-person branch work immediately and migrate toward digital banking alternatives. State Bank of India underscored that while physical desks may face temporary delays during the protest window, automated digital banking channels—such as the SBI YONO app, internet banking, mobile banking platforms, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), on-site Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), and Cash Deposit Machines (CDMs)—will remain operational 24/7 to maintain liquidity. Furthermore, customers maintaining accounts with modern private lenders, including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and IndusInd Bank, can expect standard counter operations to function normally, as their workforces remain unassociated with the UFBU strike call.