Bank customers may face a stretch of limited branch access at the end of September. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, 2026. It follows two scheduled non-working days: Saturday, September 26, the month’s fourth Saturday, and Sunday, September 27. If the strike goes ahead and affects your bank, branch services could therefore be disrupted across five consecutive calendar days. 

The strike dates are a call by unions, not five newly declared bank holidays. September 26 and 27 are scheduled closures for branches that follow the usual banking calendar. The effect from September 28 to 30 will depend on whether the strike proceeds, how many employees participate and what arrangements individual banks make. Customers should check their own bank’s notices closer to the dates.

Bank strike dates at a glance

The timing is particularly relevant for customers and businesses with transactions to complete before the end of September. A visit that requires branch staff may be harder to arrange if staffing is affected for three working days after the weekend.

Why have bank unions called the strike?

A central demand is five-day banking, under which bank branches would close every Saturday and Sunday. The unions have also raised pension-related demands, including pension updates, a uniform dearness allowance formula for pensioners and an option concerning the old pension scheme for employees covered by the National Pension System.

These are union demands. The strike announcement does not mean that a five-day workweek or the requested pension changes have been approved. Reports on September 21 also said the government had urged unions to resolve the issues through talks, leaving open the possibility that plans could change before September 28. The Times of India reported the government’s appeal.

Which banking services could be affected?

Work handled by branch employees carries the clearest risk of delay. Depending on the bank and location, that could include cash services at the counter, demand drafts, passbook updates, account-related requests and the processing of physical cheques. A cheque deposited shortly before or during the affected period may also take longer to clear.

SBI and Union Bank of India have reportedly advised customers that branch operations could be disrupted and said they would try to maintain services. An advisory warns of a possible impact; it does not establish that every branch will be closed throughout all three strike days. The Times of India’s account of the bank advisories.

Will ATMs, UPI and mobile banking work?

Digital banking is expected to remain available even where branch staffing is affected. Customers should generally be able to use UPI, mobile banking and internet banking, subject to their bank’s systems working normally. ATMs may also remain accessible, although cash availability can vary by machine and location if replenishment is delayed. Cash deposit machines and local banking correspondents may be affected differently depending on the operator.

That means it is useful to distinguish between access to a payment app and completion of a branch-dependent request. A UPI payment may work while a paper-based banking task waits for staff to process it.

What should customers do before September 26?

If a task needs a visit to your bank, aim to complete it by Friday, September 25, allowing time for any processing that does not finish instantly. Check upcoming cash needs, deposit time-sensitive cheques early and look for messages from your bank about local branch arrangements. If you rely on an ATM, locate another nearby option in case your usual machine is short of cash.

The strike is still scheduled for the future, so the most useful final check will be your bank’s latest advisory. It will tell you more about your branch than a nationwide headline can.