Banking operations disrupted as UFBU strike presses for five-day work week and all-Saturday holiday rule
A nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions disrupted branch services at many public sector lenders. Unions want a five-day work week with all Saturdays declared holidays, saying the proposal has awaited government notification despite prior understandings and settlements.
Branch banking services across many parts of India were disrupted on Tuesday (27 January 2026) as bank employees and officers observed a nationwide strike to demand a five-day work week and the declaration of all Saturdays as bank holidays.
The protest was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella grouping of multiple bank employee and officer organisations. Reports said cash deposits and withdrawals, cheque clearance, and routine administrative work were impacted at several branches of public sector banks and some older private sector banks where unions have a strong presence.
In its earlier reporting on the planned action, Business Standard said unions argued that the recommendation for a five-day week has been pending with the government, despite discussions and documents that unions say captured the intent to shift banking operations to a Monday-to-Friday schedule.
Union representatives have framed the issue as both a fairness and modernisation question, pointing out that several major financial and government institutions already function on a five-day schedule. They also say digital banking readiness has grown significantly, allowing core services to remain available even if some branch-based tasks slow down.
The New Indian Express reported that services such as cash transactions and cheque-related work were among the most visible pain points for customers, while larger private banks were expected to remain mostly unaffected because their employees are not part of the striking unions.
Digital channels such as UPI and internet banking typically continue during strikes, but customers sometimes face localised inconveniences such as slower resolution for branch-dependent requests, delays in certain paper-based clearances, and occasional ATM cash replenishment timing issues if logistics are affected.
With the dispute centred on work-week restructuring, the next steps depend on government engagement and any formal notification process. Until then, unions have signalled they will keep pressure on policymakers, while banks try to protect essential services and minimise customer disruption during industrial action.