Banks to be closed for 4 days in a row? Here’s what customers need to know

Banks across India are set to remain shut for multiple days next week, potentially disrupting normal banking services, after the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) reiterated its call for an all-India strike on January 27, 2026.

If the strike goes ahead as planned, customers could see banks closed for four consecutive days nationwide, starting from Saturday, January 24, and stretching through Tuesday, January 27.

Four-day shutdown likely across India

Add Zee Business as a Preferred Source

Banks are already scheduled to remain closed on January 24 due to the fourth Saturday, followed by the weekly holiday on Sunday, January 25. January 26 is a nationwide bank holiday on account of Republic Day. With the UFBU strike planned for January 27, banking operations are likely to come to a standstill for four straight days in most parts of the country.

The development comes at a time when banks are already dealing with high transaction volumes ahead of month-end, raising concerns for retail customers, businesses and corporates that rely on branch-based services.

Longer closure in three states

The disruption could be even longer in Tripura, Odisha and West Bengal, where banks are already closed on Thursday, January 23, due to regional holidays marking Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary, Saraswati Puja, Vir Surendrasai Jayanti and Basanta Panchami.

In these three states, banks will remain shut on January 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, translating into a five-day continuous closure if the strike is implemented as announced.

Why bank unions are going on strike

The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella body representing nine major bank unions, covering employees of public sector banks and select old private sector banks.

The primary demand relates to the long-pending proposal for a five-day working week, with banks operating from Monday to Friday.

In a communication to its member unions, UFBU said that in 2015, the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) had agreed to designate second and fourth Saturdays as holidays, but the decision was never formally notified by the government.

Later, in February 2023, UFBU agreed to an increase of 40 minutes in daily working hours from Monday to Friday, in return for all Saturdays being declared holidays. While the IBA accepted the proposal and forwarded it to the government, the unions say the matter has remained pending for nearly two years.

UFBU noted that it had earlier deferred the strike in anticipation of a resolution, but has now decided to go ahead citing “inordinate delay” in implementation.

Services likely to be impacted

If the strike proceeds, branch-based banking services such as cash withdrawals and deposits, cheque clearing, loan documentation and customer service counters are expected to be affected.

However, digital banking services, including UPI, internet banking, mobile banking and ATMs, are likely to remain operational, though customers may face delays in certain transactions dependent on branch processing.

What customers should do

Bank customers have been advised to plan essential transactions in advance, especially those requiring branch visits. Businesses and traders, in particular, may need to factor in the extended closure while scheduling payments, cheque clearances and cash requirements.

UFBU has asked all affiliated unions to participate fully in the all-India strike on January 27, keeping the possibility of disruption firmly on the table unless there is last-minute intervention by the authorities.

For now, the banking sector is bracing for another round of labour action, even as talks over a five-day workweek remain unresolved.