State Bank of India (SBI) has issued a comprehensive advisory to customers ahead of the three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28-30, 2026. The bank has advised customers to wrap up their important banking services, such as transactions, before the strike to avoid inconvenience, particularly for services requiring branch visits or staff assistance. According to Mint, SBI is making all possible efforts to ensure smooth functioning of essential banking services during the strike period, but operations at branches may be affected depending on employee participation. The bank has urged customers to finish their pending work, such as transactions and documentation at their respective branch bank ahead of September 28. SBI's advisory emphasizes that while the bank is making efforts to provide essential services, customers should complete important banking transactions in advance of the strike dates.
The three-day nationwide strike beginning September 28 could affect banking services for five days as September 26 and 27 fall on a weekend. As reported by Mint, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body representing around 90% of the banking workforce, has called the strike over several pending demands, with the implementation of a five-day banking week being a key issue. The strike affects over-the-counter services, cash transactions and cheque clearances, with impact varying significantly across geographies. While things were largely normal in Mumbai, disruptions were reported in Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Telangana, Kolkata and Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Tier-III and Tier-IV cities. The upcoming strike from September 28 to 30 comes after the weekend of September 26 and 27, meaning customers are likely to have no access to banks for five consecutive days.
Bank unions under UFBU have called the strike to press for 5-day banking week and other demands. According to Mint, the unions are also seeking the updating and improvement of pensions, a uniform dearness allowance formula for pensioners and an option for employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) to switch to the old pension scheme. The union forum has announced a continuous strike beginning October 26 as part of its ongoing agitation, further escalating the situation with their warning of indefinite strike action if demands remain unresolved. The unions had served a strike notice on August 26 and conciliation proceedings involving the unions, IBA and government representatives were held, but the issue of a five-day banking week remained unresolved.
To help customers manage their banking needs during the strike period, SBI has advised customers to rely on alternative service channels. As reported by Mint, customers requiring cash have been encouraged to use Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines (ADWMs). The bank has highlighted the availability of Customer Service Points (CSPs) for select banking services and noted that its digital banking platforms would remain available for routine transactions. Customers can use internet banking, mobile banking, YONO and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services to transfer funds, make payments and carry out other day-to-day banking activities without visiting a branch. However, SBI cautioned that not all services can be completed online, as transactions involving physical documentation, certain cheque-related processes and other branch-dependent services could experience delays if strike-related disruptions affect branch functioning. The bank has specifically advised customers to use ATMs/ADWMs for cash requirements and prefer Internet Banking, YONO, Mobile Banking, UPI & other digital channels for digital transactions during the strike period.
