State Bank of India customers may face significant branch disruptions later this month as bank branches could remain closed for up to six consecutive days due to multiple factors. According to reports from Zee News, the primary cause is a two-day nationwide strike planned by the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF) on May 25 and May 26, 2026. The strike represents a significant escalation in employee grievances that have been building over an extended period, with the union claiming that employee concerns and pending demands have been ignored by the bank management for a long time. Since May 23 falls on the fourth Saturday and May 24 is a Sunday, banks will already remain closed on those days under the standard banking holiday schedule. In addition to this, several states are expected to observe bank holidays on May 27 and May 28 due to Bakrid celebrations, creating an extended period of limited banking services for SBI customers nationwide.
The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF) has cited several specific reasons for the planned strike action. As reported by Zee News, the union states that employees' issues have been ignored for a long time and that several agreements have not been properly implemented. The federation has reportedly submitted a charter containing 16 demands to the bank management, addressing issues related to recruitment, pension benefits, promotions, salary structure, workplace facilities, and employee welfare. One of the major concerns raised by the union is the lack of recruitment for messenger and support staff positions, with employee representatives claiming that these posts are gradually disappearing because hiring has been halted for several years. The union has also highlighted security concerns inside SBI branches, referring to recent robbery incidents including a reported case in Surat, and demanding stronger security arrangements and increased deployment of armed guards at bank branches. Another major issue involves the National Pension System (NPS), where staff members allege they are not given the flexibility to change pension fund managers, unlike employees in some other public sector banks. Union representatives have also objected to what they describe as salary inequality between officers and workmen staff, with special pay benefits being extended to officers while non-officer staff are not receiving similar financial advantages.
The potential six-day closure period will significantly impact SBI's customer service capabilities across India. According to Zee News, the combination of the two-day strike and weekend/holiday closures will result in up to six consecutive days of branch unavailability. This extended disruption period could affect routine banking services, loan processing, and customer service operations during a critical period for the country's largest public sector bank. While digital services such as internet banking, UPI, mobile banking, and ATMs are likely to remain operational, branch-related services may witness severe disruption if the strike proceeds as planned. Customers who need branch-related banking services are advised to complete important financial work before May 23 to avoid delays, including cheque deposits, loan documentation, account updates, or cash-related branch visits. Even though digital banking platforms are expected to continue functioning, customers may still face delays in certain offline banking operations due to reduced staff availability and holiday closures.
SBI customers across India are being advised to prepare for potential banking disruptions during the extended closure period. According to Zee News, customers are being advised to complete important banking tasks in advance to avoid inconvenience during the extended shutdown period. Individuals planning cheque deposits, loan documentation, account updates, or cash-related branch visits should make arrangements in advance, as the combination of the two-day strike and weekend/holiday closures will result in up to six consecutive days of branch unavailability. While digital services such as internet banking, UPI, mobile banking, and ATMs are likely to remain operational, customers may still face delays in certain offline banking operations due to reduced staff availability and holiday closures. As of now, there has been no official confirmation regarding cancellation of the strike, and customers are advised to monitor announcements from SBI and banking unions for the latest updates regarding branch operations.
