What services will be disrupted during the bank strike from September 28 to 30?

Services that may be disrupted include over-the-counter transactions, cash deposits and withdrawals at branches, cheque processing, and demand drafts that require staff assistance.

Why do bank employees plan to strike from September 28 to 30?

The strike is organized by the United Forum of Bank Unions to push for demands such as the implementation of a five-day banking week and resolution of service-related issues.

How can customers complete banking transactions during the strike?

Customers are advised to use digital banking channels like UPI, internet banking, and ATMs for routine transactions, as these services are expected to remain operational.

Bank strike from September 28 to 30: What'll be hit, what won't be

Routine work that requires a visit to a bank branch could be disrupted.

Updated on: Sep 25, 2026, 15:49:10 IST

By Ashka Singh

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Bank customers may need to plan ahead as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) prepares for a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30. The effects could be visible at physical branches, particularly those of public sector banks, as staff participation may interrupt services that require in-person processing.

Routine work that requires a visit to a bank branch could be disrupted.

The strike, however, does not imply that every banking channel will stop working. Digital payments and self-service facilities are expected to remain available, but customers with time-sensitive branch work may face disruptions.

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Which services could be affected?

Branch visits

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Routine work that requires a visit to a bank branch could be disrupted. These are over-the-counter transactions and account-related services that need assistance from bank employees. Customers who have essential branch work are being advised to complete it before the strike.

Cash deposits and withdrawals

Cash transactions carried out directly at a branch may be affected if the branch is closed or operating with limited staff. ATMs, however, are expected to remain available, and the Finance Ministry has asked banks to ensure adequate cash supplies during the strike.

Cheque-related work

Customers dealing with cheques may see delays in processing and clearing, particularly where the transaction requires physical intervention.

Demand drafts and other branch services

Services such as issuing demand drafts, account-related documentation and other work that depends on bank employees could be unavailable or delayed during the strike. Locker access, that requires assistance from the staff, might also be affected.

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What should still work?

Customers should be able to use UPI, internet banking, mobile banking and ATMs for routine transactions. Banks like the State Bank of India and Canara Bank have specifically advised customers to use alternative digital and self-service channels during the strike. That means someone wanting to transfer money, make a UPI payment or check their account balance generally does not need to wait for a branch to reopen. Nevertheless, customers should not assume that every service available online can replace branch-based work.

Another crucial detail to review is that the strike comes at a particularly important point in the banking calendar. September 30 is the half-yearly closing date, when banks handle additional reconciliation, settlement and back-office work, potentially adding to operational pressure.

Customers can minimise inconvenience by completing branch-based transactions ahead of the strike. Work that involves staff assistance, physical documents or over-the-counter processing could face delays, while routine payments and transfers are expected to continue through digital banking platforms.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashka Singh
Ashka Singh is an undergraduate student of English Literature at Miranda House, University of Delhi, with an interest in the spaces between what is said and what is felt, and in the stories that acquire new meanings through different eyes. A recipient of national-level recognition from the Government of India, she has also been recognised twice for writing at the Amity Literary Meet. Her writing moves between the intimate and the social, often returning to questions of patriarchy, womanhood, relationships, and the invisible structures that shape life. Alongside her practice, she works with the editorial team of the Miranda House Students’ Union and leads content for AAVYA, the Animal Welfare Society of Miranda House. She finds herself most at home in poetry. This sensibility extends to her interest in cinema, psychology, music, and the layered aesthetics of Indian cultural traditions. She has a fondness for the unhurried beauty of ghazals, the cadence of shayari, and the lingering soul of a qawwali. Beyond the newsroom, she is likely to be found in the company of animals, particularly dogs - an affection she considers far less complicated than most human affairs. For Ashka, to write is to notice, to feel, and to remain truthful to both.Read More

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