Indian banks may face a disruption in services later this month, potentially leading to a four-day closure, as bank employees have called for a nationwide strike on January 27, 2026. This action is to push for the implementation of a five-day work week.

The strike is planned for January 27, a Tuesday. Banks will already be closed on January 24 (fourth Saturday), January 25 (Sunday), and January 26 (Republic Day). The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organization representing nine bank employee unions, has called for the strike. They are demanding that the government act on a previously agreed-upon settlement regarding the five-day work week.

In March 2024, the UFBU and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) reached an agreement to declare all Saturdays as holidays. However, the government has yet to approve the agreement. The All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) stated that the strike is due to the government's lack of response to the demand for a five-day work week.

Union leaders argue that the five-day work week is a reasonable and overdue demand. They highlight that many other institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), and General Insurance Corporation (GIC), already operate on a five-day week. They also point out that central and state government offices are closed on Saturdays.

The UFBU contends that a five-day week will not affect customer convenience, as over 99% of banking transactions occur through digital channels like UPI, mobile banking, internet banking, and ATMs. The AIBOC has stated that employees have agreed to work an extra 40 minutes per day from Monday to Friday to compensate for the reduced hours, ensuring no loss of man-hours.

Prior to announcing the strike, bank unions held demonstrations across the country and launched a social media campaign using the hashtag #5DayBankingNow to garner support for their demand. AIBOC called the social media campaign a "super hit," reporting that the hashtag had over 1.8 million impressions.

Customers are advised to complete any urgent banking work before January 23 to avoid inconvenience due to the extended closure. While online and digital banking services may remain available, branch services will be significantly affected. It is recommended that customers withdraw or deposit cash and complete necessary paperwork in advance.