India
Nationwide Bank Strike Disrupts Branch Services in Hyderabad; Normal Operations to Resume September 15
Branch banking services across Hyderabad were significantly disrupted on Friday, September 11, 2026, as thousands of employees and officers from public sector banks took part in a one-day nationwide strike organized by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). Many branches remained closed, while those that opened operated with minimal staff, limited lighting, and very few customers. Prior to the strike, the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) had advised customers to rely on digital banking channels to avoid disruption. With the strike coinciding with the weekend and the Ganesh Chaturthi holiday, normal branch operations are expected to resume on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Employees from some older private sector banks and regional rural banks also joined the protest. According to a source at Telangana Grameena Bank, less than five percent of its staff abstained from the strike. Private banks, however, continued normal operations. As part of the protest, a large number of bank employees gathered for a demonstration on Bank Street in Koti, demanding implementation of a five-day work week. The unions have long sought enforcement of an earlier agreement between bank management and employees to keep all Saturdays as holidays. Currently, banks remain closed only on the second and fourth Saturdays, in addition to Sundays. To offset lost working hours under the proposed five-day system, branches would extend working hours by 40 minutes daily. The strike was also called to protest the proposed implementation of a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Earlier in the week, the government announced it would keep the scheme's implementation in abeyance. All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) general secretary C.H. Venkatachalam stated that the strike was a resounding success nationwide, with employees and officers actively participating. He noted that several banking services, including cheque clearance, were significantly affected. The UFBU comprises several unions, including AIBEA, the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), the National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), the All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), the Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC), and the Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF). Two other unions, the National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) and the National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO), were previously part of the UFBU but are no longer affiliated. The one-day strike marks the beginning of a larger series of planned protests. The UFBU intends to hold a three-day strike from September 28 to 30, which, combined with the preceding fourth Saturday and Sunday, would result in a five-day suspension of branch banking services. The unions have also announced plans for an indefinite strike starting October 26, 2026.