Banks Open On Sunday: Confusion Over September 27 Banks Working Day Ahead Of 3-Days Strike? All Details Here

Ahead of the three-day banks union strike from September 28th to September 30th, the government has asked banks to remain functional on Sunday. Due to the upcoming bank strikes, many banking services are expected to be hampered for five consecutive days if the coming Sunday is declared as a holiday. However, the bank officers association has retaliated, saying that employees should not report to work on Sunday.

Banks Open On Sunday?

"In view of the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) from September 28 to 30, 2026, coinciding with the preceding weekend holidays of September 26 and 27, the government has taken proactive steps to safeguard the banking needs of citizens," said the Finance Ministry.

To ensure that the genuine banking needs of the public are not adversely affected for an extended period, the FinMin said, "All public sector banks and regional rural banks will function normally on Sunday, the 27th of September, 2026."

Furthermore, the apex regulator of banks, RBI, has also granted approval for all bank branches, offices, ATM-link branches, and currency chests to remain fully operational on September 27, 2026.

Also, the Finance Ministry reiterates that the welfare and convenience of bank customers remains the government's foremost priority. The government and bank management have appealed to unions to defer the proposed strike and have also taken measures to ensure that essential banking services continue uninterrupted.

Bank Employees Don't Come To Work On Sunday: Associations Demand

Following the latest decision, the banks association asked employees not to work on Sunday.

If banks remain closed on Sunday, they will be closed for a five-day period, starting from September 26th as its fourth Saturday, followed by September 27th because of the weekend Sunday, and to September 28, 29, and 30th due to bank union strikes.

That is nearly a week-long disruption to normal banking services for Indian citizens.

However, as per reports, the All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA) has advised bankers to not to report to work as Sunday is generally seen as an holiday. The UFBU also tweeted, saying, "We strongly opposes IBA's unilateral enlargement of strike exemptions, violating the Bipartite Settlement." IBA must withdraw its 23.09.2026 letter or face industrial action!"

It added, "​What is settled bilaterally cannot be enlarged unilaterally." Hence, reaffirming their stance to carry out the strike from September 28th to 30th.

Bank Strike From September 28-30

The upcoming 3-days bank strike will be carried out by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) consisting of seven unions: AIBEA, AIBOC, BEFI, NCBE, AIBOA, INBEF, and INBOC.

UFBU which claims to represent 90% of banking employees force, is leading the strike. The strike earlier took place on September 11, 2026, and will be further extended to September 28th, 29th and 30th. The unions have warned that the strike will be continuous from October 26, 2026.

The union has called for the withdrawal of the government's Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which they describe as unilateral and discriminatory, its modification through bilateral talks, and resolution of a wider set of residual issues. They also demand improvement in pensions, dearness allowance formula for all pensioners and an option for employees to switch from national pension scheme (NPS) to old pension scheme.

Apart from this, they demand 5-day working week.