Are banks open today, 29 September? Here’s all you need to know after 3-day nationwide strike deferred
Bank customers who were previously dreading a possible delay in their salary due to the proposed three-day strike from Monday to Wednesday can breathe a sigh of relief after the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) deferred the proposed strike following talks with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) on 27 September.
Are banks open on 29 September?
After the strike was called off for the time being, bank branches across India were open on Monday and will continue operations today, 29 September. With the proposed strike being deferred, the move has also removed the immediate disruption that customers could have faced.
For customers, the relief is that bank branches will remain operational on 29 September, with no strike-related closures planned. Customers can access branch services during regular working hours, while mobile banking, internet banking, and UPI services will also remain available, subject to individual banks’ systems.
What are bank timings and services available today?
Banking operations will continue as usual, with public dealing hours from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Meanwhile, online banking services, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and banks’ mobile application services will function as usual.
Why did banks propose nationwide strikes?
The now-deferred strike called by the UFBU was expected to begin on Monday. The strike was announced by the UFBU and several other unions and associations representing public sector bank employees, who are seeking a five-day banking week and the withdrawal of the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
Why was strike deferred?
The three-day nationwide strike from 28 to 30 September was called off late on 27 September following an agreement between the IBA and the UFBU. The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) said in a social media post that the decision followed a meeting between the IBA and UFBU, the umbrella body representing seven bank unions.
Under the understanding reached, a high-level committee will be constituted immediately, comprising representatives from both sides. The committee would examine the proposed demand for declaring a five-day banking week. In a statement to PTI, UFBU said, “A high-level committee of the IBA and UFBU will be formed immediately to deliberate on the issue of declaring the remaining Saturdays as holidays. This committee will explore all possible alternatives, discuss with all the stakeholders, and work out a solution acceptable to all the stakeholders, more importantly, the customers.”
After the strike was called off, banks will remain open for five days this week, since 2 October is a gazetted holiday for Gandhi Jayanti.
