Bank strike latest news: Will banks remain open on September 28? What SBI, PNB, Bank of India, Indian Bank & other bank customers need to know

The latest bank strike news today is that the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026, has been deferred following fresh talks between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). The development comes just hours before the planned strike was due to begin, with both sides discussing the long-pending demand for a five-day banking week.

Bank strike latest news: Is the September 28 strike cancelled or deferred?

The bank strike has been deferred, not cancelled, according to reports on Sunday night. The decision followed a meeting between IBA and UFBU, during which the two sides discussed the demand to declare all Saturdays holidays for bank employees.

The development changes the situation for customers who had been preparing for possible disruption in branch services from September 28 to 30. The earlier strike call had been expected to affect mainly public sector banks and other participating lenders.

Bank strike news: What happens on September 28?

With the strike now deferred, customers should not treat September 28 as a confirmed nationwide bank strike date.

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The proposed action was originally scheduled for September 28, 29 and 30 after UFBU said earlier that there had been no concrete progress on its demand for five-day banking. The unions had also announced the possibility of an indefinite strike from October 26 if the issue remained unresolved.

UFBU bank strike: Why were employees planning to strike?

The main issue behind the UFBU bank strike was the demand for a five-day working week in the banking sector. At present, bank branches generally remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays, apart from Sundays.

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The unions have been seeking a system in which banks operate from Monday to Friday, with the remaining Saturdays also declared holidays. The demand is linked to understandings reached between the IBA and bank unions during the wage settlement process, but its implementation has required government approval.

Bank strike news today: Why was the strike deferred?

The latest development follows renewed discussions between the IBA and UFBU. Reports said the two sides agreed to continue talks on the Saturday holiday issue, leading to the proposed September 28–30 action being deferred.

The development came after several rounds of discussions and appeals from bank managements and the government to defer the strike. Earlier this week, UFBU had maintained that it would proceed with the action in the absence of concrete progress.

Which banks were expected to face disruption?

Before the latest development, customers of several public sector banks had been advised to complete important branch-related work in advance. SBI, PNB, Bank of India, Union Bank of India and Indian Bank were among lenders that had issued communications around the proposed strike.

The proposed action was expected to primarily affect branch-based services at participating banks, while digital banking, UPI and ATM services were expected to remain available.

Banks open today: Why were branches working on Sunday?

Public sector banks and regional rural banks were asked to operate on Sunday, September 27, ahead of the proposed strike. The move was intended to give customers an additional working day because the proposed strike followed the September 26-27 weekend period.

The Sunday opening was part of measures taken to minimise disruption and ensure that customers could complete essential banking transactions before the proposed strike.

Strike deferred meaning: What does it mean for bank customers?

For customers, “strike deferred” means the proposed strike action has been postponed for now. It does not necessarily mean that the underlying dispute has been permanently resolved.

Customers who had planned branch visits specifically because of the proposed strike can therefore follow fresh advisories from their individual banks. The status of any future strike action will depend on the outcome of the discussions between the IBA and UFBU.

Bank strike latest news: What customers should do now

Customers should check their bank’s latest communication before visiting a branch or postponing an important transaction. Routine digital services such as internet banking, mobile banking and UPI can continue to be used as usual, subject to individual bank arrangements.

The latest development also means that earlier reports about a possible five-day disruption caused by the September 26-27 weekend followed by the September 28-30 strike should no longer be treated as the current position. The September 28-30 strike has been deferred following the latest talks.