Bank customers in several parts of India will have to plan their visits carefully as branches will remain shut for three to four consecutive days from Saturday due to a combination of regular weekend holidays and festivals.
September 12 is the second Saturday of the month, followed by Sunday on September 13. Ganesh Chaturthi falls on September 14, while some states will also observe Nuakhai on September 15.
Four-day bank holiday
Banks in Goa and Odisha will remain closed for four consecutive days, from September 12 to September 15.
Branches will be shut on September 12 for the second Saturday and on September 13 for Sunday. September 14 is a holiday for Ganesh Chaturthi, while September 15 will be observed as a holiday for Nuakhai and the second day of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Three-day holiday in five states
Customers in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh will get a three-day break from banking services.
Banks in these states will remain closed on September 12 and 13 due to the second Saturday and Sunday, followed by a holiday on September 14 for Ganesh Chaturthi.
While physical branches will remain closed, customers can continue using digital banking services such as mobile banking, internet banking and ATMs, subject to availability.
Nationwide bank strike held on Friday
The holiday stretch comes a day after bank employees and officers across the country observed a one-day strike on September 11. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) called the strike over several demands, including the implementation of a five-day banking week, pension-related issues and differences concerning the Performance Linked Incentive scheme.
The forum said it represents more than 90 per cent of the banking workforce. Demonstrations were held in several cities, including Delhi, Bhopal, Chennai, Siliguri, Rajkot and Vijayawada.
Five-day banking week remains key demand
AIBEA General Secretary CH Venkatachalam said nearly eight lakh employees, officers and managers participated in the strike.
"Now, today the strike has been successful all over the country. Nearly 8 lakh employees, officers, and managers have participated. The strike has been successful. The main demand in this strike is that, as agreed in the settlement in March 2024, the government should give the approval for introducing the five-day banking week," Venkatachalam said, according to ANI.
"Today, two Saturdays are holidays; the remaining Saturdays are working. We have agreed to extra working hours from Monday to Friday, and so we have asked for all Saturdays to be holidays. Banks have agreed, management has agreed; they have gone to the government, and for 30 months it has been pending. So we are demanding that the government should give approval for that. That is the main demand," he said.