SBI ATM charges to be waived during proposed bank strike of September 28-30: What customers need to know

State Bank of India (SBI) customers planning their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) transactions during the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026, will receive some relief as the bank has waived charges for the three days, as per its tweet on X (formerly Twitter).

SBI has also reiterated that all its bank branches will remain open during the proposed three-day bank strike.

Even as leading bank employee unions say that they would go with the three-day strike and will ask bank employees not to attend their offices on Sunday, the government has directed all Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to remain open on Sunday, September 27.

SBI ATM charges waived from September 28 to 30

In a social media post on X, SBI said on Thursday that ATM transaction charges would be waived for transactions made through ATMs of any bank in the country during the September 28-30 bank strike.

This means customers can use ATMs for their cash requirements during the three-day period without having to worry about the applicable ATM transaction charges covered under the waiver scheme.

Customers should, however, check their bank's communication for the exact terms and conditions of the waiver.

SBI customers can use ATM and digital banking services

State Bank of India has advised its customers to complete important branch-related transactions before the proposed strike and use digital and self-service banking channels wherever possible.


Customers can continue to use ATM services as well as digital banking facilities during the strike period. These include mobile banking, internet banking and WhatsApp banking. Customers can also make payments and transfer funds through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), allowing them to carry out routine banking transactions without visiting a branch.

Customers should keep in mind that during the strike, the availability of individual bank services can depend on operational arrangements made by each bank.

Also read: Are banks working on Sunday, September 27, 2026? Confusion prevails as banks and unions differ on working day status

Bank employee unions raise objections over Sunday being a working day

Banking employee organisations have also raised objections to the decision to make September 27 a working day.

Federation leaders of NOBW, NOBO, AIGBWO and AIGBOO, along with Girish Chandra Arya, financial sector in-charge at BMS, met the secretary, Department of Financial Services, to discuss the issue.


The employee representatives reportedly demanded that the order making September 27 a working day be withdrawn. Alternatively, they sought compensatory leave along with double pay for employees who report for duty on the day.

The DFS secretary responded positively to the representatives' demands and assured them of a favourable resolution, according to the information shared by the employee organisation.