Significant news is emerging regarding banking services in India. If you have any urgent banking work, complete it promptly, as operations at public and private banks across the country may be halted on January 27, 2026. Bank employees have long been demanding a five-day working week, but the government has yet to take any concrete action.
In protest, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has issued a strong call for a nationwide bank strike on Tuesday, January 27. This strike will directly impact check clearance, cash transactions, and branch services.
📌 Also Read: New Aadhaar Card 2026 Update: Name and Address Removed From Aadhaar, Check What Changes for Users
Bank Strike on January 27
According to a strong circular issued by the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) on January 4, the central government is consistently ignoring the long-standing and legitimate demands of bank employees. A written agreement on a five-day working week was reached during the wage revision agreement between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and employee unions in March 2024.
📌 Also Read: AIBE 20 Result 2026 Soon: Bar Council of India to Release Results in January, Check Details
Almost two years have passed since this agreement was signed, but the government has yet to officially ratify it. To break this ironclad silence, bank unions have decided to hold a nationwide strike on January 27th.
Bank Employees’ Demands
The bank unions’ main demand is that banks should operate from Monday to Friday, and all Saturdays should be declared public holidays. Currently, banks are closed only on the second and fourth Saturdays, while employees are required to work on the remaining two Saturdays. The employees’ firm argument is that when the RBI, LIC, GIC, stock exchanges, and most central and state government offices operate only five days a week, why are banks being treated differently?
📌 Also Read: Pan Card Update - Is your PAN card useless or not? How to check quickly
The unions have also made it clear that they do not want to compromise on customer convenience. They have given the government a firm decision: If a five-day working day is implemented, employees are willing to work an extra 40 minutes daily from Monday to Friday. This will not reduce total working hours and will strengthen the banking system.
Movement on Social Media and Public Support
For the past few months, bank unions have been registering strong protests not only on the streets but also on digital platforms. Recently, a major campaign was launched on the social media platform ‘X’, which received a tremendous response.
📌 Also Read: Credit Card Eligibility 2026: 5 Legal Ways to Get a Card Without Income Documents
According to AIBOC, this digital movement received 1.88 million impressions, and more than 300,000 posts were shared. The unions have called this a successful public outcry, but due to the lack of a concrete response from the government, they have now decided to go on strike on January 27th.
📌 Also Read: Magh Mela 2026 Begins: Railways Give Big Relief, Trains to Halt at Jhunsi & Rambagh
How will this strike affect ordinary customers
If the strike takes place on January 27th, bank branches may remain completely closed. This will have the biggest impact on services like check clearance, cash deposits, and withdrawals. Additionally, over-the-counter services like bank drafts and physical KYC updates will also be halted. However, net banking, mobile banking, and UPI services are expected to function normally. ATMs will also function, but they may face severe cash shortages due to heavy rush. Customers are advised to complete their important financial tasks before January 27th.