Banks open today despite Sunday holiday ahead of 3-day nationwide strike from September 28

Public sector banks and regional rural banks will operate normally on Sunday, September 27, as the government makes arrangements to limit disruption ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to 30.

The special opening has been approved by the Reserve Bank of India, which has allowed all bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests to remain operational on September 27. The move comes after the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) called the strike, which follows the weekend holidays and could otherwise result in an extended disruption to branch-based banking services.

The government has described the Sunday opening as a measure to ensure customers have access to banking services before the proposed strike begins. It has also appealed to bank unions to defer the strike and settle their remaining demands through dialogue.

Why banks are opening on Sunday

The Finance Ministry said the decision was taken to protect customers from an extended interruption in banking services. With the proposed strike scheduled immediately after the weekend holidays, the disruption could effectively stretch across several consecutive days.

“The welfare and convenience of bank customers remains the Government's foremost priority,” the ministry said, while urging the unions to reconsider the strike.

The government and bank managements had also appealed to the unions to resolve outstanding issues through discussions while taking steps to ensure that essential banking services remain available.

The proposed strike is particularly significant because September 30 marks the half-yearly closing of banks. The government has warned that disruption during this period could affect reconciliation, provisioning, treasury operations and market-related activities.

The Indian Banks' Association and the Department of Financial Services have participated in conciliation discussions with the unions. The government has also begun contingency preparations, including measures to maintain essential services and ensure adequate cash availability through ATMs during the strike period.

What bank employees are demanding

The September 28 to 30 strike follows a one-day nationwide strike held on September 11. Bank unions have primarily been seeking the implementation of a five-day banking week and withdrawal of the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

The five-day banking week remains the principal unresolved demand. At present, bank branches are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays, while the unions are seeking holidays on all Saturdays. The proposal had been agreed upon by the Indian Banks' Association during wage negotiations and has been awaiting government approval.

The government said it has already decided to keep the PLI scheme in abeyance following discussions with the unions. However, the demand for a five-day workweek remains under examination.

The UFBU, an umbrella body of seven bank unions, has maintained its strike call despite government appeals for further dialogue. The unions have said the five-day banking demand remains unresolved.

What customers can expect during the strike

The proposed strike is expected to have its biggest impact on physical branch services, particularly in public sector banks and regional rural banks. Private sector banks are expected to be less affected because the strike is primarily being called by unions representing employees in the participating banking institutions.

Digital banking services such as UPI, internet banking and mobile banking are expected to continue, while ATMs are also expected to remain available. Public sector banks including State Bank of India have advised customers to complete time-sensitive branch transactions before the strike and use digital channels and ATMs where possible.

The government has nevertheless stressed that essential banking services should continue during the strike and has urged unions to defer the proposed action.

The decision to open banks on Sunday is therefore intended to give customers an additional day to complete branch-based transactions before the proposed September 28 to 30 shutdown.