Bank customers in India could face disruption in branch-based services later this month when the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) announces a national strike from September 28 to September 30.
The strike will be conducted on the day of the regular weekend holidays on September 26 and 27, so the bank branch could be shut down for as many as five consecutive days in some places. But in the end, we will depend on the individual banks, the employee participation, and the local arrangements.
The Finance Ministry has already taken note of the proposed strike and convened a meeting with the heads of public sector banks and regional rural banks to discuss contingency measures. The meeting was focused on the continuity of essential banking and customer services during the strike period. Branch operations may be disrupted, but some digital and alternative banking channels are expected to be operational.
A national union of seven bank employees and officer unions called the strike for a few long-standing demands. The unions said that they represent a majority of bank employees and officers.
One of the main demands is for a five-day banking week. Pension-related benefits should be improved, and a dearness allowance system should be uniform among bank pensioners, and it should be possible to return to the old pension system for all bank pensioners who are under the National Pension System (NPS). Bank unions also held a nationwide strike on September 11 as part of their campaign to meet these demands.
For customers, the main concern is likely to be services that require a physical visit to a bank branch or direct assistance from bank employees. State Bank of India (SBI) and Union Bank of India are among the banks that have advised customers to do important branch-related work in advance. Services such as obtaining a bank draft, submitting physical documents, discussing loan applications, and certain cheque-related activities could be delayed if branches are closed or employees participate in the strike.
As such, customers who have applications, documentation, or other time-sensitive work on which bank staff would need to work should do so before September 26. This might help avoid inconvenience caused by weekend holidays on top of the proposed strike.
However, the strike will not completely eradicate banking services. Depending on the bank and the infrastructure available for customers, there will be many alternative channels for them to access and take part. At some point, ATMs, Customer Service Points, and Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines are expected to be in place to conduct routine transactions.
Digital banking services are also expected to continue. Internet banking, mobile banking, UPI payments, digital money transfers, and services offered through banking applications such as YONO can be used for many everyday transactions. Customers can therefore continue making payments, transferring money, and carrying out other routine banking activities without visiting a branch.
Digital channels may not replace every branch service. Physical documentation, verification, specialised assistance, or direct interaction with bank employees may still be delayed until the branch can resume operating normally. Bank customers who are in need of urgent banking services should consult with their bank in advance and plan accordingly.
With the strike occurring just before a weekend, customers who depend on branch services must make sure they do not leave work until the last minute. Cheque-related submissions, documentation, applications, and other employee-assisted services before the close time can help to minimize disruption. For the most routine transactions, customers can use UPI, mobile banking, internet banking, and ATMs during the period, but in all cases, services are not the same for banks and locations.
