State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Canara Bank have advised customers to complete important branch banking transactions in advance, ahead of a proposed three-day bank strike scheduled from September 28 to 30, 2026, urging them to rely on digital and self-service channels during the period.
In messages sent to customers, SBI said certain bank employee unions have called for the three-day strike and advised customers to complete essential transactions beforehand, while also encouraging the use of ATMs, CSPs, YONO, internet and mobile banking, UPI and other digital services. Bank of Baroda issued a similar advisory, asking customers to plan their branch banking needs in advance and make use of alternatives such as bob World, internet banking, UPI-bob e-Pay, bob World Business, WhatsApp Banking, ATMs and cash recycler machines.
Canara Bank said it would make all possible efforts to ensure continuity of essential services during the strike period and asked customers to plan transactions in advance. The bank confirmed that mobile and internet banking, ATMs, BNAs, business correspondent services, its Canara ai1 app, UPI and WhatsApp Banking would remain available throughout.
The proposed strike coincides with the half-yearly closing of banks on September 30, a date of particular significance for reconciliation, provisioning, and treasury and market operations. Combined with the preceding weekend, the disruption could result in an effective five-day closure of banking services at a sensitive point in the financial calendar, potentially causing inconvenience to customers, businesses, government transactions and international banking operations.
The finance ministry said on Monday that strikes disrupt banking services, inconvenience the public, affect banks’ business, and ultimately harm the interests of bank employees without achieving any productive outcome. The government reiterated its commitment to the welfare of bank employees and to resolving their concerns through constructive dialogue.
The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), which claims to represent 90 per cent of the banking workforce. The union’s primary demand is the implementation of five-day banking, alongside other demands including improvements to pension structures, a uniform dearness allowance formula for all pensioners, and an option for employees under the National Pension System to switch to the Old Pension Scheme.
(Source: The Economic Times)
