Bank Strike Alert: Banks To Shut On Multiple Days in September; Check All Dates & Reason

Banking services all over India are going to be disrupted this month as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has announced multiple phases bank strikes over a range of long-pending demands which includes the implementation of a five-day banking week, pension-related issues and changes to the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

The first bank strike in September 2026 is scheduled for Friday, September 11th after which a three-day bank strike from September 28 to September 30. Bank unions have also warned of an indefinite bank strike from October 26th if their demands are not addressed.

Reason Behind the Bank Strike September 11th

The September 11 bank strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), which represents major bank employees' and officers' unions. The unions are protesting against many pending issues involving bank employee.

One of the biggest demands is the long-standing proposal for a five-day banking week, under which banks would operate from Monday to Friday and be closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

The demand for a 5-day banking week in India has been pending for years. The introduction of holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays was seen as an initial step towards the proposal.

However, the issue has continued to remain unresolved, leading to repeated demands and industrial action by bank unions.

PLI Scheme Also Among Bank Strike Demands

Another major issue is the revised Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. The unions have demanded the withdrawal or modification of the revised PLI framework directed by the Department of Financial Services for Scale IV officers and above.

Pension Demands and Old Pension Scheme

The bank unions are asking for pension updation and improvement, along with a uniform dearness allowance formula for all bank pensioners.
They have also demanded an option for employees covered under the National Pension System to shift to the Old Pension Scheme.

Will ATM and Online Banking Work During the Bank Strike?

The ATM services, UPI, mobile banking and internet banking during the September 2026 bank strike may be operational since digital banking services generally operate separately from physical branch operations.