Bank Strike Called Off: UFBU Defers 28-30 September 2026 Nationwide Strike After IBA Talks
The nationwide bank strike called for 28 to 30 September 2026 has been deferred. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) announced late on Sunday, 27 September, that it had put off the three-day strike after a late-night meeting in which the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) agreed to set up a high-level committee on the unions’ demand for a five-day banking week. With the bank strike called off hours before it was due to begin, branches are expected to open as usual on Monday.
“After detailed discussions, understandings have been reached and hence our agitations and strike actions are deferred. Details follow,” the UFBU said in its announcement, Mint reported. ANI (via ABP Live) and DT Next also reported the deferral, with DT Next carrying the points of the UFBU’s late-night statement.
Bank strike called off: what UFBU and IBA agreed
UFBU’s key negotiator C.H. Venkatachalam, general secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), said the two sides reached an understanding on three broad issues.
“On five-day banking, the IBA has agreed to form a high-level committee comprising representatives of the IBA and the united forum. The committee will work towards finding a solution to our demand for implementation of five-day banking and will discuss the matter with all the stakeholders,” he told Mint. According to the UFBU statement carried by DT Next, the committee will be formed “immediately” to deliberate on declaring the remaining Saturdays as holidays and will seek a solution acceptable to all stakeholders, “including, most importantly, the customers.”
On the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for Scale IV and above officers, discussions will start with the IBA on modifications to propose to the government. Venkatachalam called the officers’ PLI “discriminatory.” Residual issues listed in the minutes of 8 March 2024 will also be taken up “for expeditious resolution.”
The precise terms had not been formally disclosed as of late Sunday night, Mint reported. ABP Live, citing ANI, said a detailed UFBU circular was expected to follow.
| Issue | Agreed on 27 September | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Five-day banking week (all Saturdays off) | High-level IBA-UFBU committee to be formed immediately | Unresolved; needs government approval |
| PLI scheme, Scale IV and above officers | Talks on modifications to propose to the government | Scheme already in abeyance |
| Residual issues, 8 March 2024 minutes | To be discussed | Pending |
| Strike, 28-30 September | Deferred | Banks to function normally |
Bank strike 28 September 2026: background
The UFBU is an umbrella body of bank employees’ and officers’ unions; PTI and Mint describe it as representing seven unions. It served a strike notice on 26 August and announced a phased programme. The bank strike 28 September 2026 was to be the second phase, following a one-day nationwide strike on 11 September, and the forum had threatened an indefinite nationwide strike from 26 October if the issues stayed unresolved.
In a circular dated 26 September, the forum said the strike call remained unchanged after a conciliation meeting in Delhi on 22 September produced no positive outcome, banking news site HelloBanker reported. PTI reported on 27 September that the strike was expected to hit public sector banks, old-generation private banks and regional rural banks hardest, with digital services largely unaffected, a picture PaiseSamjho covered in its report on which services would have kept working.
The five-day banking week demand
The IBA and the unions agreed to a five-day banking week in principle under the 12th bipartite settlement and 9th joint note signed on 8 March 2024. The proposal would make all Saturdays holidays and extend Monday-to-Friday working hours by around 40 minutes, according to Mint. It was sent to the government for approval and has remained pending. Banks currently close on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, a change the government made in 2015.
Finance Ministry’s appeal
On 21 September, the Finance Ministry issued an appeal to employees of public sector banks and regional rural banks not to strike. It said the government had kept the PLI scheme in abeyance, meeting one of the two main demands, and that the remaining demand “continues to be examined.” It also noted that the strike dates coincided with banks’ half-yearly closing on 30 September and, combined with the weekend, would have meant an effective five-day closure of banking services. Mint said its queries to the ministry after the deferral went unanswered.
Banks open tomorrow: services normal 28-30 September
With the bank strike deferred, branches are expected to function normally on Monday 28, Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September, including cash, cheque clearing and counter services. On the question of whether banks open tomorrow, no bank has announced a closure for these dates. PaiseSamjho has separate reports on the half-year closing and cheques and the 30 September tax audit deadline.
October’s scheduled holidays are unaffected: Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October is a national bank holiday and Dussehra on 20 October is a holiday in most states, per the RBI holiday matrix. A state-wise list is in the bank holidays October 2026 report.
Is the 26 October indefinite strike still on?
The UFBU has not said explicitly. Its statement refers to “agitations and strike actions” being deferred, and ANI reported that the forum agreed to defer its “proposed agitational programmes and strike actions.” None of the reports seen by PaiseSamjho specifically mentions the 26 October date, and the term used is “deferred,” not withdrawn. The detailed circular is expected to clarify the position.
FAQ: bank strike called off
Is the bank strike called off for 28-30 September 2026?
Yes. The UFBU deferred the three-day strike late on 27 September after meeting the IBA.
Why was the bank strike deferred?
The IBA agreed to form a high-level committee with the UFBU on the five-day banking week, to discuss PLI changes for senior officers, and to take up residual issues from March 2024.
Has the five-day banking week been approved?
No. It was agreed in principle in March 2024 and still awaits government approval.
Is the 26 October indefinite strike cancelled?
Not explicitly; the UFBU’s detailed circular is still awaited.
The bank strike called off on Sunday night ends, for now, a standoff that had threatened a five-day break in branch banking over the half-year close. PaiseSamjho will update this report when the UFBU circular is published.
Disclaimer: This news report is based on union statements and media reports available as of late 27 September 2026. Details may change once the UFBU and IBA release formal documents.
