Bank Strike in India on February 12: Are Banks Closed or Open Tommorow? Check Latest Update From Banks

On Thursday, Feb 12 a nationwide bank strike has been called by major public sector bank unions across India which is raising concerns among customers about whether banks will remain open or closed and how routine banking services may be affected. While no official bank holiday has been announced so far, several lenders including Bank of Baroda, SBI, PNB & more have warned of possible service disruptions on the day of strike.

Which Bank Unions Have Called the February 12 Strike?

Leading employee and officer bodies such as the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) have joined hands with 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) to participate in the India-wide general strike.

The main reason behind the strike are the four new Labour Codes notified in November 2025, which replace 29 existing labour laws. Trade unions argue that the new codes are anti-worker, impose stricter union registration conditions, and weaken labour protections.
Bank unions are also asking for long-pending demands such as the implementation of a five-day banking week and improved work-life balance for employees.

Will Banks Be Open or Closed on February 12?

So far, no major bank or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has declared February 12 as an official banking holiday. This means banks are expected to remain open, but branch-level services may be partially disrupted if a large number of employees participate in the strike.
Public sector lenders such as State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank (PNB), and Indian Bank have indicated the possibility of operational impact, especially at physical branches and service counters.

Private sector banks like HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are likely to remain largely unaffected, as union participation there is limited.

What Did Bank of Baroda Tell BSE?

As reported by ET, In an official communication to the BSE, Bank of Baroda stated that it is taking necessary steps to ensure smooth functioning of branches and offices. However, the bank cautioned that operations could be affected if the strike proceeds as scheduled.

How Customers May Be Affected During the Bank Strike On Feb 12

If participation increases, customers could face delays or temporary disruption in routine branch-based banking services, including Cash deposits and withdrawals at counters, Cheque clearance and passbook updates. Also in-branch customer service requests may be disrupted.
However, digital banking channels such as ATMs, UPI, mobile banking, internet banking, and debit/credit card transactions are expected to function normally.