PSB and RRB branches to open Sunday ahead of September 28–30 bank strike

Public sector bank and regional rural bank branches, including ATM-linked branches and currency chests, are set to operate on Sunday, September 27, ahead of a planned three-day nationwide bank strike.

— Source publishedWed, 23 Sept, 2026, 13:46 IST·First seen Wed, 23 Sept, 2026, 14:28 IST·Source Business Today · Latest

What happened

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) · RBI has allowed PSB and RRB branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests to operate normally on Sunday, 27

Key facts

  • 27 September 2026
  • 28-30 September 2026
  • 3-day nationwide bank strike

Why this matters

The strike response underscores the strategic value of ATM networks, digital-service partnerships and contingency-service capabilities that can reduce dependence on physical branches.

What to watch

  • Confirmation, postponement or court/government intervention affecting the September 28-30 strike.
  • ATM withdrawal volumes, cash-out rates and currency-chest replenishment activity on September 27.
  • UPI success rates, payment gateway outages and card-authorization performance during the closure.
  • Reports of ATM stock-outs, branch queues, delayed clearing or cash shortages in rural and semi-urban markets.
  • Private-bank operating status and any RBI or bank-association continuity measures.
  • Increase ATM and point-of-sale cash forecasting for the Sunday-to-strike period, prioritizing rural, transit, fuel and wholesale catchments.
  • Retailers should promote UPI, cards and wallet payments while ensuring payment-terminal uptime, backup connectivity and clear customer signage.
  • Cash-heavy merchants should secure change float and defer nonessential bank-dependent settlement activity until branches reopen.
  • Monitor supplier payment dates and working-capital needs for distributors that rely on public-sector bank branch services.