Bank unions under the UFBU have called a nationwide strike for January 27 to push public sector banks toward a 5-day banking week. With January 25 and 26 already declared holidays, the timing could force an effective three-day branch shutdown if the strike goes ahead as planned.
The unions frame this as a structural alignment issue, not a demand for reduced work. RBI, LIC, GIC, and most government offices already operate on a 5-day schedule. Bank staff have agreed to work an extra 40 minutes Monday to Friday to preserve total man-hours and service levels.
The #5DayBankingNow campaign has gained significant online momentum, with 18.8 lakh impressions and 2.85 lakh posts on X. The push reflects growing industry consensus that the six-day branch model may be outdated in an increasingly digital banking landscape.
India's financial ecosystem has shifted substantially toward digital and UPI-based transactions. The strike raises a fundamental question: whether maintaining six-day physical branch schedules remains operationally necessary or represents legacy infrastructure.
For public sector banks, the strike timing coincides with a holiday window, potentially amplifying its impact on retail banking services and borrower access during a critical liquidity week.
