Customers of State Bank of India would experience branch-level disruptions for up to six days from 23rd May 2026 to 28th May due to scheduled bank holidays, proposed staff strike and certain regional Eid-ul-Adha holidays.
Traditional online banking services should be operational normally, but consumers for whom physical branch services are the only option are being asked to finish urgent tasks in advance. The disruption phase starts with routine weekend shutdowns. Banks across India continue to be closed on the fourth Saturday of every month, which is May 23 of this year.
This is now immediately accompanied by Sunday on May 24, making most bank branches face two consecutive non-working days. They may be disrupted on May 25 and 26 following a proposed strike announced by the SBI Staff Federation.
The union has reportedly called for the strike in relation to various employee-related issues such as recruitment, selection process of National Pension System fund managers, outsourcing, HRMS-related disputes, career progression issues and workplace issues related to equity.
Should the strike go forward, it could mean fewer staff at several SBI branches around the nation, and there will be a short turnaround in daily activities for the SBI branches. Services involving physical attendance (such as passbook updates, cheque clearance support, document verification, loan processing, locker access, and bank branch cash transactions) could be impacted.
For some places, though, the situation could get tougher with Eid al-Adha holidays. Some states have asked, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s holiday calendar, for banks to stay closed on May 27 and May 28 for the reason of Bakrid celebrations.
The festival, in places like Jammu and Kashmir, for example, is set to last two days, adding significant scope for branch closures. Nonetheless, the 6-day disruption will not be uniform nationwide. The effect is believed to depend on local and branch-level holidays.
Customers are therefore urged to check their branch or their local holiday calendar before making a visit. Owing to the potential disruption to the branch, however, the online banking infrastructure of SBI is anticipated to stay in place during the period. In addition to these services, customers can proceed with internet banking, mobile banking applications, UPI services, ATM withdrawals, and digital payment systems uninterrupted.
You'll expect that routine online transactions are running right: fund transfers, bill payments, recharges, payments to merchants …. Normal for some time, I don't think you could have a problem doing that. Experts do say they can be flexible and not leave branch tasks to the last minute, particularly on long holidays, when services resume, customer crowds can cause disruption.
Bank holiday stretches frequently produce sudden throngs in branches as services begin anew. Customers who need services like demand drafts, KYC updates, locker access, loan documentation or cheque deposit are advised to do these tasks before 23rd May in order not to be inconvenienced.
The new strike has further raised issues as banking workers have been questioning the pattern of hiring staff, managing load and restructuring inside public sector banks. Unions have raised mounting concerns about outsourcing practices, transparency in recruitment and internal career ladder access. And banking analysts say India’s fast-growing digital banking market has lessened the reliance on in-person shopping at a branch for certain customers.
It is services like UPI, mobile wallets, internet banking and ATM networks that have now managed much of everyday banking activity and helped reduce the impact of temporary branch shutdowns. Yet customers who are heavily dependent on in-person banking services, such as seniors, small business owners and rural residents, are exposed to extended periods of closure that can create operational challenges.
During the holiday, the SBI is urging customers to arrange ahead of time, finish their necessary branch-related efforts, and hold digital banking options at their disposal so they don’t have to deal with a waste of time during the potential disruption window as the holiday and strike start.
