Bank strike from September 28-30: 8 latest updates for SBI, ICICI, HDFC, PNB and other banks' customers

Bank customers across the country are staring at an extended spell of disrupted branch banking next week. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine bank employees' and officers' unions that claims to represent around 90% of the banking workforce, has called a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30 after conciliation talks with the government and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) failed to break the deadlock over its demand for a five-day banking week.

Here are eight latest updates that bank customers should know

The State Bank of India has asked customers to complete important branch-related work in advance, use ATMs and Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines (ADWMs) for cash needs, and rely on Customer Service Points, YONO, internet banking, mobile banking and UPI during the strike period. Services needing physical documents or staff-assisted cheque processing could face delays.

"We wish to inform you that certain employees’ unions have proposed to observe a nationwide bank strike on the following days: 28th, 29th and 30th September 2026; and a continuous strike commencing from 26th October 2026. While the Bank will make all possible efforts to provide essential banking services at the Branches / Offices, certain services may be affected during the strike period, which may cause inconvenience to our valued customers," SBI said.

Other public-sector banks like PNB, Central Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Indian Bank have also alerted their customers about the strike.

PNB has told customers that "Bank Unions have called for nation wide 3 days strike from 28th -30th Sep 2026" and asked them to complete "other banking requirement" at branches on or before September 25. Bank of India and Central Bank of India have sent similar messages asking customers to use ATMs, mobile banking, internet banking, BC points and UPI, as per media reports.

The strike called by UFBU is directed mainly at public sector banks, where the impact on cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearing and account-related work will be the biggest. Private lenders such as ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank are not part of the UFBU and are expected to function normally during the strike days, though some localised disruption cannot be ruled out. Therefore, you should check with your bank before visiting the branch during strike days.