The proposed three-day nationwide bank strike has been deferred after the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) held late-night discussions with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) on Sunday. The strike was scheduled to begin on September 28 and continue through September 30.
The decision came after a meeting between the two sides at around 9:30 pm on Sunday. Following the discussions, the UFBU said that the planned protests and strike action would be deferred as both sides reached an understanding on several issues.
Bank strike deferred after the meeting between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) tonight. https://t.co/SPJUwp63p2
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2026
A joint committee comprising representatives of the IBA and UFBU will now be formed to examine the demand for a five-day banking week. The committee will consider different options and consult stakeholders, including those concerned about the impact on banking customers.
Five-day banking has been one of the main demands of bank unions. In March 2024, the IBA had agreed in principle to making all Saturdays holidays, with additional working hours from Monday to Friday proposed to compensate for the change. The proposal was subsequently sent for government approval. The two sides also agreed to hold discussions on changes to the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme applicable to senior bank officers. Other pending issues covered under earlier discussions will also be taken up as part of the negotiations.
The proposed strike was expected to involve around eight lakh bank officers and employees and could have affected more than 1.81 lakh bank branches across the country. Banks and customers had been preparing for possible disruption, particularly because the proposed strike period coincided with the half-yearly closing of banks on September 30. With the latest agreement between the IBA and UFBU, the three-day bank strike has been deferred for now. Further discussions between the banking association and employee unions are expected to determine the next steps on five-day banking and other outstanding issues.