Public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) will remain open and function normally on Sunday, September 27, 2026, the Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday.

The decision has been taken ahead of the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to 30, called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).The move comes as the proposed strike falls immediately after the weekend holidays on September 26 and 27.

If the strike goes ahead as announced, customers could face disruptions in branch-based banking services for several consecutive days. The government has therefore opened banks on Sunday to provide customers with an additional opportunity to complete essential banking work.

RBI Approves Sunday Banking Operations

The Reserve Bank of India has approved the operation of bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and Currency Chests on September 27. The Finance Ministry said the step has been taken to safeguard the banking needs of citizens and prevent prolonged disruption to the services.

The government and bank managements have also appealed to the unions to defer the proposed strike. Public sector banks have advised customers to complete important transactions in advance and make use of digital banking channels where possible.

Five-Day Banking Week Remains the Key Demand

The UFBU is primarily seeking the implementation of a five-day banking week. The unions have maintained that there has been no concrete progress on the demand and have therefore decided to continue with their September 28 to 30 strike call. 

The government has said the issue remains under consideration. The proposed strike also coincides with the banking sector’s half-yearly closing on September 30, adding to concerns about possible disruption during an important period for banks

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Will the Strike Definitely Happen?

As of September 23, the strike remains proposed, but the situation could still change if negotiations lead to an agreement or the unions decide to defer. UFBU has currently maintained that the three-day strike will proceed, despite appeals from the government and bank managements.

The exact extent of disruption is also not yet certain and could depend on employee participation and arrangements made by individual banks. Customers are advised to complete urgent branch-related work on September 27 and follow official updates from their respective banks.