Gujarat bank strike Sept 28-30: Complete key transactions by Sept 25, SLBC urges
Synopsis
A proposed three-day UFBU bank strike from 28-30 September, combined with a weekend shutdown on 26-27 September, could leave customers without branch services for up to five consecutive days. SLBC Gujarat and SBI have urged customers to act by 25 September — and the RBI has approved Sunday bank operations on 28 September to ease the crunch.
Key Takeaways
SLBC Gujarat , coordinated with Bank of Baroda , has advised customers to complete all critical transactions and cheque work by 25 September .
A proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from 28 to 30 September has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) over its demand for a five-day banking week.
The strike coincides with the fourth Saturday and Sunday (26-27 September) , creating an effective five-day branch closure window .
The Finance Ministry has directed all public sector banks and regional rural banks to remain open on Sunday, 27 September ; the RBI has approved branch and ATM operations on that day.
The strike window overlaps with the half-yearly bank closing on 30 September , when reconciliation, provisioning, and treasury operations are conducted.
Customers are advised to use ATMs, UPI, internet banking, and mobile banking to manage routine needs during the disruption.
The State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) of Gujarat has urged bank customers to complete all critical transactions by Friday, 26 September 2025 — and step up use of digital channels — ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from 28 to 30 September. The advisory, coordinated with convenor bank Bank of Baroda, follows a strike call by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) centred on its demand for a five-day banking week.
What the SLBC Advisory Covers
SLBC-Gujarat has specifically asked customers to clear all pending cheque-related work and important branch transactions by 25 September, before the disruption begins. On the cash side, customers have been advised to assess their liquidity needs for the three-day window and draw on ATMs and cash recycler machines as required.
For routine needs, the committee has encouraged the use of internet banking, mobile banking, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to avoid unnecessary branch visits. The State Bank of India (SBI) has issued a parallel advisory along similar lines, urging customers to wrap up essential branch work beforehand and rely on digital and ATM-based options for remote-serviceable transactions.
Why the Disruption Window Is Wider Than Three Days
The impact period is effectively longer than the three-day strike itself. 26 and 27 September fall on the fourth Saturday and Sunday of the month, meaning branches are already closed under standard scheduling. This creates a potential five-day gap in branch-based services for customers who do not act before 25 September.
To bridge this, the Finance Ministry has directed all public sector banks and regional rural banks to operate normally on Sunday, 28 September — a departure from the usual weekend closure — so that customers retain access to essential services immediately before the strike window. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the opening of bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches, and currency chests on that day.
Why the Timing Is Especially Sensitive
The government has flagged that the proposed strike from 28 to 30 September coincides directly with the half-yearly closing of banks on 30 September — a critical date when reconciliation, provisioning, and treasury and market operations are carried out. A significant drop in employee participation on that day could disrupt backend financial processes beyond routine retail inconvenience.
The UFBU, which represents several major bank employee unions, has called the strike primarily to press its demand for a five-day banking week. The government and bank managements have not yet indicated a resolution to the standoff.
What Customers Should Do Now
Banking authorities have outlined a clear action checklist: complete all branch-dependent transactions and cheque submissions by 25 September; stock adequate cash through ATMs before the weekend; and shift routine payments — utility bills, fund transfers, EMIs — to digital channels. Customers with time-sensitive needs tied to the 30 September financial year half-close should plan well in advance, as branch queues are expected to be heavy on 25 September itself.
With no resolution in sight between the UFBU and bank managements, the three-day disruption appears likely to proceed — and the five-day effective gap makes advance preparation the only reliable buffer for retail banking customers.
Point of View
The half-yearly closing date that drives critical backend reconciliation. The Finance Ministry's Sunday-opening directive is damage control, not resolution. Until the five-day banking week demand is formally addressed through bipartite talks, strikes like this will recur — and their timing, whether by design or coincidence, will keep landing on the most operationally sensitive dates in the banking calendar.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the nationwide bank strike and who called it?
The nationwide bank strike is proposed from 28 to 30 September and has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) . The primary demand is a five-day banking week. Whether services are affected depends on employee participation levels at individual branches.
Why should Gujarat bank customers complete transactions by 25 September?
SLBC Gujarat has advised customers to finish all important branch transactions and cheque-related work by 25 September because the strike (28-30 September), combined with the fourth Saturday and Sunday (26-27 September), could mean up to five consecutive days without branch services.
Will banks be open at all before the strike begins?
Yes. The Finance Ministry has directed all public sector banks and regional rural banks to operate normally on Sunday, 27 September — one day before the strike — to allow customers to access essential services. The RBI has approved the opening of branches, offices, ATM-linked branches, and currency chests on that day.
Why is the timing of the strike particularly disruptive?
The strike from 28 to 30 September directly coincides with the half-yearly bank closing on 30 September , when reconciliation, provisioning, and treasury and market operations are carried out. This makes the timing especially sensitive for both retail customers and backend financial operations.
What digital alternatives can customers use during the strike?
Customers can use internet banking, mobile banking, and UPI for routine transactions such as fund transfers, bill payments, and EMIs. ATMs and cash recycler machines can be used for cash needs. Only transactions that require physical branch presence — such as cheque deposits or document submissions — need to be completed before 25 September.
