Banks to open Sunday ahead of planned three-day union strike

Finance Ministry sources say no five-day workweek agreement has been reached. Public-sector and regional rural banks will open on Sunday, September 27, with RBI approval, to limit disruption from a September 28–30 strike.

— Source publishedFri, 25 Sept, 2026, 14:43 IST·First seen Fri, 25 Sept, 2026, 16:27 IST·Source Indian Express · Business

What happened

Indian banking sector · Finance Ministry sources denied agreeing to a five-day bank week ahead of a September 28-30 union strike. Public-sector and regional

Key facts

  • 3-day strike from September 28 to 30
  • 17% wage hike
  • 11% proposed wage hike
  • first, third and fifth Saturdays currently open
  • September 27 Sunday opening

What changed

Finance Ministry sources denied agreeing to a five-day bank week ahead of a September 28-30 union strike. Public-sector and regional rural banks will open on Sunday, September 27, with RBI approval, to prevent a prolonged disruption to consumer banking services.

Why this matters

Activate Sunday branch staffing, cash readiness and customer communications to protect access ahead of the expected three-day banking disruption.

What to watch

  • Formal union confirmation of strike participation, exemptions and geographic coverage.
  • Any Finance Ministry, RBI or Indian Banks' Association statement on negotiations, wage issues or five-day-workweek discussions.
  • ATM cash-out rates, branch transaction volumes and cash replenishment capacity during Sunday operations.
  • National Payments Corporation of India transaction volumes and failure rates as activity shifts toward UPI and card payments.
  • Clearing-house guidance on cheque presentation, settlement and delayed processing.