The State Bank of India (SBI) on Friday, 25 September 2026, announced it will waive all ATM transaction charges from 28 to 30 September to cushion customers against disruption during the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). The move ensures customers can withdraw cash and carry out ATM-based transactions at any bank's ATM without incurring any fee during the strike window.

What SBI Has Announced

In a post on social media platform X, SBI confirmed that its banking services would remain accessible throughout the proposed strike period. The bank stated that the waiver covers transactions at ATMs of all banks — not just SBI machines — offering broader relief to account holders across institutions.

Beyond the ATM fee waiver, SBI said all its branches will remain open on Sunday, 27 September, a day otherwise designated as a holiday. Digital payment channels — including UPI, IMPS, RTGS, and NEFT — will continue to function normally throughout the strike period.

Government Steps In to Limit Disruption

The Finance Ministry has directed all public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to operate normally on Sunday, 27 September. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval for all bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches, and Currency Chests to remain fully operational on that day.

In a formal statement, the Finance Ministry said: 'In view of the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) from September 28 to 30, coinciding with the preceding weekend holidays of September 26 and 27, the government has taken proactive steps to safeguard the banking needs of citizens.'

The ministry added that the welfare and convenience of bank customers remain the government's foremost priority, and both the government and bank managements have appealed to the unions to defer the proposed strike.

Why the Timing Makes This Strike Unusually Disruptive

The UFBU strike is scheduled to begin on 28 September, a Sunday, and run through 30 September, a Tuesday. Since 26 and 27 September — Saturday and Sunday — are already bank holidays, the combined effect would have meant five consecutive days of banking disruption had no corrective steps been taken. The government's directive to keep banks open on Sunday, 27 September effectively breaks that stretch, limiting the uninterrupted closure window.

This is not the first time the UFBU has called a nationwide strike; the forum, which represents multiple bank employee and officer unions, has historically used strike action to press demands on wages, pension, and staffing norms. The government's pre-emptive response — directing banks to open on a rest day and getting the RBI to green-light branch operations — signals the administration's intent to prevent even a two-day service gap from compounding into a prolonged economic disruption.

What Customers Should Know

Customers need not rush to ATMs or bank branches before the weekend. ATM transactions will carry no charges from 28 to 30 September at ATMs of any bank. Digital transfers via UPI, NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS will be unaffected. Physical branch services, however, may still face partial disruption if a significant share of staff participates in the strike, and customers requiring specialised in-branch services are advised to plan accordingly.

All eyes are now on whether the UFBU will heed the government's appeal to call off or defer the strike before 28 September.