UFBU says January 27 nationwide bank strike to proceed over pending five-day work week approval

Banking services in India are set to face disruption on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) said it will proceed with a one-day nationwide strike over the long-pending demand for a five-day work week. UFBU indicated that discussions in a conciliation meeting with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) did not lead to a settlement, leaving unions “constrained” to continue with the strike plan.

The demand centres on converting banks to a Monday-to-Friday schedule with all Saturdays off, while extending weekday working hours to offset lost time. Unions have argued that the arrangement has already been discussed and formally recorded in past agreements, but approval from the competent authority has not come through despite repeated assurances during earlier conciliation rounds.

What UFBU and IBA said in talks

According to the minutes cited in the report, UFBU referred to earlier memoranda and settlements where IBA had recommended the five-day proposal to the government, but unions said no final decision has been communicated. IBA representatives told the conciliation officer that the matter has been taken up with the government and that instructions are awaited, while indicating they would pursue it further.

What customers should expect

• Branch-level services such as cash handling, cheque processing and in-person customer requests may be impacted on 27 January.
• Digital channels may still function, but customers were advised to plan urgent branch needs in advance.
• Some banks had already informed customers about possible service disruption if the strike proceeds.

With public sector banks most exposed to such work stoppages, businesses that rely on same-day branch transactions—such as bulk cash deposits, trade documentation and certain clearing-related work—may face delays. Retail customers were also expected to see slower turnaround on branch-dependent services, especially in areas where holidays around Republic Day already reduce operating days.

The strike also highlights a broader tension in service-sector labour negotiations: unions want predictable rest days aligned with other major financial institutions, while management and government processes must weigh customer access, staffing needs and regulatory approvals for any nationwide scheduling shift.