India’s banking sector braces for disruption as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) calls for a nationwide strike on January 27, 2026. The action targets public sector banks and select older private lenders, coinciding with Republic Day holidays on January 25-26, potentially creating a three-day service blackout.
At the heart of the standoff is the unions’ push for a full five-day banking week, with all Saturdays declared holidays a model already adopted by the RBI, LIC, stock exchanges, and government offices. UFBU, representing nine major employee and officer unions, proposes extending daily hours by 40 minutes to compensate. This revives a partial agreement from the 2024 wage settlement, stalled amid stalled talks with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
Customers face risks to cash withdrawals, cheque deposits, and transactions, especially at public banks like SBI and PNB. Newer private players such as HDFC and ICICI may see limited impact beyond cheque clearances.
No breakthroughs have emerged from negotiations, leaving the strike on track. The move underscores persistent labor tensions in India’s public banking space amid digital shifts.
