Banks to Open on September 27 Despite Sunday Holiday Ahead of Proposed Three-Day Strike

The Reserve Bank of India has approved the opening of public sector banks and regional rural banks on Sunday, September 27, to minimise disruption to banking services. This decision comes ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) from September 28 to September 30. All eligible banking facilities, including branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests, will operate normally on September 27, providing customers an additional working day to complete essential transactions.

Bank unions are demanding introduction of a five-day banking week and withdrawal of the Performance Linked Incentive scheme. The government has placed the PLI scheme in abeyance following discussions with employee representatives, though the five-day workweek demand remains under examination. The government and bank managements have appealed to unions to defer the strike and resolve demands through dialogue.