State Bank of India has advised customers to complete their important banking transactions in advance, warning that a three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to September 30 could disrupt services at branches. The country’s largest lender has also filed a regulatory disclosure with the stock exchanges about the possible impact.

The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions, or UFBU, an umbrella body of bank employee unions that claims to represent around 90 per cent of the banking workforce. Since September 26 and 27 fall on a weekend, customers could effectively face up to five consecutive days of constrained branch-level services.

Why the unions are going on strike

The unions are pressing a set of long-pending demands. The central demand is a five-day banking week with all Saturdays as holidays, an issue that has been on the table for years. They are also seeking an updation and improvement of pension benefits, a uniform dearness allowance formula for all pensioners, and an option for employees covered under the National Pension System to switch back to the Old Pension Scheme.

This is not a one-off protest. The unions had already observed a nationwide strike on September 11 over the same demands, and they have announced a continuous, indefinite strike beginning October 26 if the dispute remains unresolved. The September 28 to 30 walkout is the second phase of an escalating agitation.

What could be affected

Branch-dependent services are the most likely to face delays. These include over-the-counter cash deposits and high-value withdrawals, physical cheque clearing, demand draft issuance, trade finance processing, letter of credit issuance, and loan documentation. Government challan payments and transactions needing physical document verification could also slow down.

SBI said it has made arrangements for normal functioning at its branches and offices, but cautioned that operations could still be constrained depending on the extent of employee participation on the strike days.

Digital services should keep working

Customers have been urged to rely on digital channels during the strike period. Internet banking, mobile banking, YONO, and UPI are expected to keep functioning for routine transfers and payments, since these do not depend on branch staffing. For cash requirements, SBI pointed customers to ATMs, Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines, and Customer Service Points.

The bank has asked anyone with time-sensitive work that needs a branch visit, document submission, or manual verification to finish it before the weekend of September 26 and 27.