Nagpur: Bank customers in Nagpur and across the country could face an unusually long disruption in branch banking services, with banks set to remain open for only two days during the nine-day period from September 26 to October 4, if the proposed nationwide bank strike goes ahead as scheduled.
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, following the fourth Saturday holiday on September 26 and Sunday on September 27. Banks will reopen on October 1, but will close again on October 2 for Gandhi Jayanti, followed by October 3, a working Saturday, and Sunday, October 4.
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This means that, barring any change in the strike schedule, October 1 and October 3 would be the only regular working days for bank branches between September 26 and October 4.
The proposed strike is expected to affect counter services, cash-related transactions, cheque processing and other branch-based work. Several banks have already advised customers to complete important transactions before the strike period.
Government appeals to unions to call off strike
The disruption, however, is not yet certain. The Finance Ministry on September 21 appealed to employees of public sector banks and regional rural banks to refrain from participating in the September 28–30 strike and continue discussions to resolve the outstanding issues.
The government said it had already kept the revised Performance-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in abeyance and had held several rounds of discussions with the unions. The unions, however, have continued to press primarily for implementation of a five-day banking week.
Five-day banking remains key demand
The demand for a five-day banking week envisages making all Saturdays holidays, with employees working additional hours from Monday to Friday to compensate. The proposal had emerged from the 2024 wage settlement and joint note but has remained pending for government approval.
The unions have also raised issues concerning pension revision and other service-related matters. Earlier, the UFBU had opposed the revised PLI structure, but the government has now stated that the PLI scheme has been kept in abeyance.
Nagpur customers advised to plan transactions
For customers in Nagpur, the extended interruption could particularly affect those dependent on branch-based services such as cash deposits and withdrawals, cheque-related work, documentation and other counter transactions.
Digital services such as UPI, internet banking, mobile banking and ATMs are expected to remain available, although individual services could be affected by technical or maintenance issues.
State Bank of India and other lenders have advised customers to complete urgent branch-related work in advance and use digital banking facilities wherever possible during the potential disruption.
If the strike proceeds as announced, the sequence would be:
September 26: Fourth Saturday — holiday
September 27: Sunday — holiday
September 28: Bank strike
September 29: Bank strike
September 30: Bank strike
October 1: Banks open
October 2: Gandhi Jayanti — holiday
October 3: Banks open
October 4: Sunday — holiday
Thus, only two working days, October 1 and October 3, would fall between September 26 and October 4, making advance planning important for customers requiring physical banking services.
