Public sector banks may face disruption on January 27 as bank unions go on strike demanding implementation of a five-day work week and all Saturdays off.

Banking services at public sector banks across India are expected to face disruptions on January 27, as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has announced a nationwide strike pressing for the immediate rollout of a five-day work week.

The decision comes after a conciliation meeting held on January 23 with the Chief Labour Commissioner failed to secure assurances from the authorities. UFBU represents nine unions of bank officers and employees and said the strike was unavoidable after talks reached a deadlock.

With banks already closed on January 25 (Sunday) and January 26 (Republic Day), the strike is likely to disrupt branch-level services for three consecutive days. According to All India Bank Employees Association General Secretary C. H. Venkatachalam, unions were left with no option but to proceed after repeated assurances failed to translate into action.

Union leaders argue that the demand for declaring all Saturdays as holidays was agreed upon during the 12th Bipartite Settlement with the Indian Banks’ Association in March 2024. All India Bank Officers’ Confederation General Secretary Rupam Roy said employees had even agreed to work longer hours on weekdays to offset the change.

Public sector banks such as State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, and Bank of Baroda are likely to see interruptions in services including cash transactions, cheque clearing, and administrative work. Private lenders like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank are expected to function normally as their staff are not part of the strike.

Digital services such as UPI and internet banking will remain operational, though ATM cash availability could be uneven in some areas. SBI has already cautioned customers through a stock exchange filing that normal operations may be affected despite contingency arrangements.

The strike highlights growing pressure within the banking workforce for work-life balance reforms, a demand already implemented in several global financial systems. Customers are advised to plan branch visits in advance and rely on digital platforms where possible to avoid inconvenience during the disruption window.