Banks to remain closed for 16 days in October; Check holiday list before visiting branch

Banks will remain closed for 16 days in October, including weekends and state-specific holidays, according to the Reserve Bank of India's holiday calendar.

Banks will remain closed across the country on October 2 on account of Gandhi Jayanti.

The RBI's holiday calendar also lists several state-specific holidays during the month.

Banks in Tripura will remain closed on October 17 for Maha Saptami.

On October 20, banks will remain closed in most states and Union territories on account of Dusshera and Ayudhapooja. Sikkim and Manipur are exceptions.

October 21 will be a bank holiday in Tripura, Karnataka, Sikkim, Assam, Kerala and West Bengal for Vijaya Dasami/Durga Puja (Dasain).

Banks in Sikkim will remain closed on October 22 and 23 for Durga Puja (Dasain).

On October 26, banks will remain closed in Tripura, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir on account of Laxmi Puja, Accession Day and Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday.

Himachal Pradesh will observe a bank holiday on October 29 for Karva Chauth, while banks in Gujarat will remain closed on October 31 for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birthday.

Apart from these holidays, banks will remain closed on Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.

Bank branches will not operate on these holidays, but customers can continue to access digital banking services, including internet banking, mobile banking, ATMs and UPI.

5-day work week demand

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) said its campaign for a five-day banking week, performance-linked incentive (PLI) and other pending issues would continue, even as it decided to defer the proposed strike and pursue the demands through negotiations.

A high-level committee on five-day banking will hold its first meeting today, September 30.

C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary of the All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), said the committee is expected to finalise its report quickly.

“Once the committee submits its recommendation, it will be up to the Reserve Bank of India and the finance ministry to take it forward and make the necessary legislative changes,” he said.