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Public Sector Banks to Open on Sunday Ahead of Three-Day Strike
Public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks across India will open on Sunday, September 27, in an unusual move aimed at helping customers complete essential transactions before a proposed three-day nationwide strike.
The Finance Ministry said the Reserve Bank of India has approved Sunday operations for branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests. The decision follows a strike call by the United Forum of Bank Unions for September 28–30. Without the special opening, the fourth-Saturday holiday on September 26 and the Sunday closure could have left many customers facing five consecutive days of disruption to branch services.
The unions are pressing demands that include a five-day banking week and changes to employee incentives and pensions. The government and bank managements have appealed to them to defer the walkout, but customers have been advised to prepare in case it proceeds.
Sunday’s opening gives people an extra opportunity to handle work that requires a branch visit, such as depositing documents, arranging a demand draft or discussing an urgent account matter. Customers should check their bank’s branch notice for local hours before travelling.
If employees strike, counter services and cheque processing could be delayed from Monday through Wednesday. ATMs, UPI, mobile banking and net banking are expected to remain available, although individual services may still face operational issues.
The Sunday arrangement applies to public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks; it should not be taken to mean every private bank branch will open. The final extent of disruption will depend on whether the unions proceed with the strike and how many employees participate.
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