Bank Strike: Will banks remain closed on all Saturdays? Latest update on bank five days working week

As cancelled bank strike may bring relief to customers who were worried about delays in banking services. But a separate question continues to concern bank employees and customers alike: Will banks in India finally move to a five-day workweek, with branches remaining closed on every Saturday? The demand for a five-day workweek has been the main issue behind the strike and a long-running issue between bank employee unions and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA).


Also Read: Why bank unions deferred 3-day strike: Will banks open today? Key decisions on 5-day banking, all Saturdays holidays explained

Bank strike latest update: What has been decided?

The three-day nationwide bank strike scheduled for September 28, 29 and 30, 2026, has been deferred after last-minute talks between the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) on Sunday night, September 27. The decision followed a meeting between the two sides at 9:30 pm. The unions agreed to defer their planned strike after receiving assurances on their outstanding demands, including the long-pending proposal to introduce a five-day banking week.

Here is what customers and bank employees need to know:

• September 28–30 strike: Deferred following the IBA-UFBU discussions.
• Five-day banking week: The demand is still under consideration. A high-level committee will examine the proposal.
• All Saturdays as holidays: No official implementation date has been announced.

The development means customers can plan their branch visits without expecting the three-day strike to go ahead as scheduled. However, the decision does not introduce a new weekly holiday arrangement.

Will banks remain closed on all Saturdays?

As of September 28, 2026, banks in India have not officially shifted to a five-day working week. Under the existing arrangement, bank branches remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. They operate on the first and third Saturdays and, where applicable, the fifth Saturday. Sundays are weekly holidays.

The IBA and UFBU have agreed to form a high-level committee with representatives from both sides. The committee will examine the proposal to declare the remaining Saturdays as holidays, consider possible alternatives and consult stakeholders, including bank customers, before working towards a mutually acceptable solution. The committee will discuss how a five-day banking week could be implemented. Customers should not assume that the first and third Saturdays will immediately become holidays.

Why are bank employees demanding a five-day workweek?

The five-day banking week has been one of the main demands of bank employee unions for more than two years. The Indian Banks' Association had agreed to the proposal and forwarded it to the government for approval. However, the arrangement has not been implemented, leaving bank unions pressing for a formal decision.

The unions want all Saturdays and Sundays to be declared holidays, bringing bank employees' weekly schedule in line with a five-day workweek. They have also argued that working hours on weekdays could be adjusted to compensate for the additional holidays. The September 28–30 strike was part of a larger programme of protests over five-day banking, the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and other pending service-related issues.

What happens to the proposed October bank strike?

Before the latest agreement, the UFBU had also proposed an indefinite nationwide strike from October 26, 2026, if its demands remained unresolved. However, following the September 27 discussions, the union forum agreed to defer its proposed agitation and strike actions. The two sides will continue discussions on the remaining issues, including Saturday holidays and changes to the PLI scheme for senior officers.

The October 26 action was part of the earlier protest programme. Customers should follow fresh announcements from their banks and the UFBU for any subsequent strike dates or changes in banking schedules.

What should bank customers know?

For customers, the immediate development is that the planned three-day strike has been deferred. Branch banking is expected to follow normal schedules, although individual bank notices and local holidays may apply.

Customers should keep the following points in mind:

• Regular Saturday holidays continue to apply. The second and fourth Saturdays remain bank holidays under the existing arrangement.
• The first, third and applicable fifth Saturdays remain working days for branches unless a separate holiday or bank-specific notice applies.
• UPI, mobile banking, internet banking and ATM services are separate from branch working hours. Their availability should be checked with the respective bank, particularly during any future strike or technical disruption.