Banks Open Sunday: Good news for bank customers. If you have any urgent bank-related work pending, you can still go to the branch today, September 27, to get it done, despite it being a Sunday. On the recommendation of the Finance Ministry, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) yesterday issued a special order to keep all public sector banks and regional rural banks open as usual.
Sundays are typically a weekly holiday for banks across the country. However, the primary reason behind this unprecedented decision is the nationwide bank strike scheduled from September 28th to 30th.
Why did RBI and the government order the opening of banks?
Banking unions have announced a three-day strike scheduled for September 28th through 30th (Monday to Wednesday). Since September 26th fell on the fourth Saturday and September 27th was Sunday, this would result in banks being completely closed for five consecutive days.
With branches shut down for five consecutive days, customers would have encountered major challenges accessing cash, processing checks, handling loan paperwork, and conducting business transactions. To tackle this situation, the RBI, following guidance from the central government, has given approval for banks to open on Sunday as well.
September 30th is also the date of the semi-annual bank closing, which plays a vital role in financial and market operations. Having a working day before the strike begins will enable staff to finish any outstanding tasks.
Which banks and services will be open today?
Per an RBI circular, all public sector banks—including SBI, PNB, BOB, Canara Bank, and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)—will be fully open on Sunday, September 27. Bank branches, administrative offices, ATM-connected branches, and currency chests will all be staffed during standard business hours.
Private banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank are not participating in the strike. Their branches will likely follow their regular Sunday holiday schedule.
What’s driving the bank employee strike?
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), representing roughly 90% of banking sector workers, has organized a three-day strike. The primary demands from employees include:
5-Day Banking: Making all Saturdays official non-working days.
Pension Reforms and OPS: Offering the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) as an option and establishing consistent dearness allowance for retirees.
Despite appeals from the government and bank leadership urging unions to cancel or delay the strike, the possibility of a strike persists because no agreement has been reached.