New Delhi, September 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Finance Ministry has convened a meeting of the chief executives of public sector banks (PSBs), regional rural banks (RRBs), the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and NABARD on Monday to review preparedness and contingency measures ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28.
The meeting, to be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), is expected to focus on ensuring continuity of banking operations and maintaining essential customer services during the proposed strike.
Officials are likely to discuss contingency arrangements to minimise disruptions, particularly as the industrial action coincides with the half-yearly closing period for banks.
The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body representing seven bank employee and officer unions. The unions have made the implementation of a five-day banking week one of their key demands.
The UFBU had earlier observed a nationwide strike on September 11 over the same issue. The strike affected over-the-counter services, cash transactions and cheque clearances in several parts of the country.
While banking operations remained largely unaffected in Mumbai, disruptions were reported in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, particularly in smaller cities and towns.
Besides a five-day working week, the unions are demanding improvements in pension benefits, a uniform dearness allowance formula for pensioners and an option for employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) to switch to the old pension scheme. The UFBU has claimed that it represents nearly 90 per cent of India’s banking workforce.
The proposed industrial action could have a wider impact because September 26 and 27 fall on a weekend. Consequently, branch-based banking services could remain disrupted for up to five consecutive days, from September 26 to 30, raising concerns over cheque processing, cash transactions and other customer services.
The unions had served a strike notice on August 26. Subsequent conciliation meetings involving union representatives, the IBA and government officials failed to produce a breakthrough on the demand for a five-day banking week.
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