Five-day work week: Banking services impacted as unions go on nationwide strike

Nationwide banking operations are disrupted as unions strike for a five-day work week after failed negotiations.

Banking operations at public sector banks across the country were impacted on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) went on nationwide strike demanding the immediate implementation of a five-day work week.

The strike call by the UFBU, an umbrella body of nine unions representing officers and employees, comes after a conciliation meeting with the Chief Labour Commissioner on January 23, 2026, failed to yield a positive outcome. "Since there was no positive outcome and the government did not agree to our demand, hence this strike is forced on us. Bank employees and officers are highly aggrieved that they alone are being discriminated against," All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), a constituent of UFBU, general secretary C.H. Venkatachalam told PTI.

Most branches of public sector banks across the country were either completely closed or partially closed as both employees and officers were observing Tuesday's (January 27, 2026) strike.

Services such as cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearances, and administrative work are hit at branches of all public sector banks (PSBs) and some old generation private sector banks.

However, operations at major private sector lenders such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank are expected to remain largely unaffected as their employees are not part of the striking unions.

Digital banking services, including UPI and internet banking, will continue to function, though ATM cash availability could face localised issues owing to logistical delays.