Nationwide Bank Strike: Services to Public Sector Banks Likely Hit on January 27

January 27, 2026

As we see we have nearly reached to the third month of the year 2025. The month of march has numerous holidays across India. March is filled with variety of festivals and significant occasions celebrated throughout the country. A few of the holidays are countrywide, where

Banking operations across India face significant disruptions today, Tuesday, January 27, as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) proceeds with a nationwide strike. The industrial action is aimed at securing the immediate implementation of a five-day workweek, a long-standing demand of the banking sector.

The UFBU, an umbrella organization representing nine major unions for both officers and employees, called for the strike following inconclusive conciliation talks with the Chief Labour Commissioner last week. According to the sources, the strike officially commenced at midnight on January 26 and is scheduled to conclude at midnight today.

The State Bank of India (SBI) issued a circular on January 23, cautioning that while it has implemented measures to maintain branch operations, services may still be impacted. Customers of other major public sector lenders, including Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Bank of India, are also expected to experience delays. In contrast, private sector giants such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank are anticipated to function normally, as they are not participating in the protest.

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This strike follows a two-day closure for Sunday and Republic Day, potentially leaving public sector branches shut for three consecutive days. The UFBU argues that their demand is justified, noting that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), LIC, and various government offices already observe a five-day schedule. To offset the change, unions have proposed extending daily working hours by 40 minutes from Monday to Friday, ensuring no loss in total man-hours.

The demand for all Saturdays to be declared holidays was originally part of a wage revision settlement reached in March 2024 between the UFBU and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). Currently, bank staff only receive holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Despite the prior agreement, the UFBU expressed regret that the government has yet to provide a formal response or implement the change.