Starting tomorrow, many bank branches across India are likely to be closed for four consecutive days, potentially disrupting banking services for both individuals and businesses. This is due to a combination of scheduled holidays and a proposed nationwide strike by bank unions.

The All India Bank Strike is scheduled for January 27, 2026. The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organization comprising nine major unions representing bank employees and officers. The primary reason for the strike is to press for the long-pending demand for a five-day work week in the banking sector.

The strike on January 27th is positioned within a series of holidays. January 24th is the fourth Saturday of the month, a designated bank holiday. January 25th is a Sunday, another regular holiday, and January 26th is Republic Day, a gazetted national holiday. Consequently, if the strike proceeds as planned, many banks will be closed from January 24th to January 27th.

The UFBU's demand for a five-day work week has been a long-standing issue. The unions argue that a five-day week was recommended by the Indian Banks Association (IBA) in a memorandum of understanding signed on December 7, 2023, and reiterated on March 8, 2024. Reportedly, an agreement was reached in 2023 to extend daily working hours from Monday to Friday by 40 minutes in exchange for declaring all Saturdays as holidays. However, the government has yet to formally approve the proposal. The unions point out that institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), General Insurance Corporation (GIC), stock exchanges, and government offices already observe a five-day work week.

While branch banking services will be unavailable, digital banking services, including online banking and ATMs, are expected to remain operational. Customers are advised to plan their transactions in advance to avoid potential inconvenience during this period.

It is important to note that bank holidays can vary by state based on local festivals and events, as per the Reserve Bank of India's holiday calendar. For example, banks are closed today, January 23, 2026, in Tripura, Odisha, and West Bengal, due to regional holidays. These include observances such as the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Saraswati Puja, Vir Surendrasai Jayanti, and Basanta Panchami. Banks in Tripura, Odisha and West Bengal will remain closed for four consecutive days. Branch banking services are expected to resume on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.