Bank employees across India are planning a nationwide strike on January 27, 2026, to demand the implementation of a five-day work week. The strike is called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organization of nine major bank unions representing employees and officers across public sector banks and some older private banks.

If the strike proceeds, it could significantly disrupt the operations of public sector banks for three consecutive days, as January 25 and 26 are already scheduled holidays. Currently, bank employees have holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, in addition to Sundays.

The UFBU argues that their demand for a five-day work week is justified and long overdue. They emphasize that implementing a five-day week would not result in a loss of total working hours. The unions have proposed compensating for the reduced working days by extending the daily working hours from Monday to Friday by 40 minutes. This commitment aims to assure stakeholders that operational efficiency will be maintained.

The UFBU also points out that other major financial institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC), already operate on a five-day week schedule. Furthermore, central and state government offices, as well as financial markets like foreign exchange, money markets, and stock exchanges, are closed on Saturdays. The union argues that there is no valid reason for banks not to adopt a similar five-day work week.

The Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and UFBU had previously agreed to declare the remaining two Saturdays as holidays during the wage revision settlement in March 2024. However, the government's approval or implementation seems to be the unresolved issue.

UFBU has expressed disappointment over the government's lack of response to their demand. The union's social media campaign, #5DayBankingNow, has gained significant traction, garnering over 1.8 million impressions and approximately 285,200 posts on X, indicating strong employee support for the cause.

With the January 27 strike date approaching, the government is under pressure to address the UFBU's demands. The coming weeks may involve further negotiations or escalations, depending on the government and banking authorities' response.