Bank Strike: Will UPI, Mobile Banking and ATMs Work During the 3-Day Nationwide Walkout?
A three-day nationwide bank strike called by UFBU from September 28 to 30 will disrupt branch services. PSBs will remain open on Sunday, September 27 to ease inconvenience, while digital payments and ATMs remain functional. Physical branch operations, cash handling, and paper-based clearance work may experience delays or closures during the strike period.
Bank customers across India may face significant in-branch service disruptions from Monday, September 28 to Wednesday, September 30, as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) proceeds with a three-day nationwide strike. The coordinated industrial action has been called to press long-standing employee demands, prominently featuring the implementation of a five-day work week and crucial pension reforms.
Core Demands and Union Stance
The upcoming strike is backed by the UFBU - an umbrella body representing major employee and officer unions that accounts for roughly 90 percent of the country's banking workforce. Bank Strike Update: UFBU Confirms 3-Day Nationwide Walkout Starting September 28.
In addition to advocating for a five-day banking week aligned with schedules maintained by regulatory bodies like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and SEBI, union leaders are seeking a resolution to issues concerning pension updates, improved dearness allowance formulas for retirees, and options for personnel under the National Pension System (NPS) to switch back to the old pension scheme.
Government Measures and Special Working Arrangements
Because the three-day bank strike follows immediately after the routine weekend closures on September 26 and 27, it raised serious concerns over an extended multi-day halt in customer services. To mitigate widespread inconvenience, the Ministry of Finance announced that all Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) will remain open and operate normally on Sunday, September 27. The RBI approved the opening of bank branches, administrative offices, currency chests, and linked ATM networks to allow customers to complete physical banking tasks ahead of the shutdown.
Status of Digital and ATM Services
While physical branch operations, cash handling, and paper-based clearance work may experience delays or closures during the strike period, digital infrastructure remains unaffected.
- Digital & Mobile Banking: Unified Payments Interface (UPI), internet banking portals, and mobile applications will function continuously for routine fund transfers and online transactions.
- ATMs and Cash Machines: Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Automated Deposit-Withdrawal Machines (ADWMs) are expected to remain stocked and operational for cash withdrawals.
- Automated Payments: Scheduled loan EMIs, credit card settlements, and electronic mandates set to clear digitally will process as usual, provided accounts maintain adequate balances. Banks Open on Sunday: Public Sector Branches To Function on September 27; Here's Why.
While physical branch services face temporary closures, digital platforms, UPI networks, and ATM services are expected to remain fully functional, ensuring that routine consumer transactions continue uninterrupted despite the nationwide industrial action.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2026 02:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).