Will banks work only 5 days a week in future? Will banks remain closed every Saturday? These questions are now being discussed a lot among the common people. The reason for this is the huge demand of bank employees across the country and the strike to be held on January 27. Due to holidays and strikes, banks may remain closed for several consecutive days this week. Therefore, it is important for customers to be informed in advance.
Nationwide strike announced over 5-day work week
Bank employee unions across the country have been demanding a 5-day working week and holidays on all Saturdays for a long time. The United Forum of Bank Unions says this was agreed upon during the wage settlement in March 2024, but it has not been implemented yet. To fulfill this demand, a nationwide strike has been announced on 27 January 2026.
Banks will remain closed for four consecutive days from 24 to 27 January.
The strike has been announced on January 27 at a time when there are already bank holidays before and after it. 24 January is the fourth Saturday of the month, 25 January is a Sunday, and 26 January is a national holiday for Republic Day. Therefore, if the strike occurs, banks may remain closed for four consecutive days from January 24 to 27 in many places. This means you can plan a long weekend around Republic Day.
When will banks be closed this month?
A long list of bank holidays is being formed in the last week of January 2026. By looking at this list you will get an idea of when banks will remain closed in your city this week.
Banks will remain closed in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Agartala and Chennai on January 23 due to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti and Saraswati Puja.
Due to January 24 being the fourth Saturday, banks will remain closed across the country.
There will be a weekly holiday on 25th January as it is Sunday.
Banks will remain closed across the country on 26 January due to Republic Day.
Digital banking will continue, but these services may be affected
During the strike and holidays, mobile banking, internet banking and ATM services will continue to function normally. However, branch related operations like depositing cash, clearing cheques, issuing drafts and directly registering complaints may be affected. Its effect can be seen more in government and public sector banks.
Demand for 5-day banking increases on social media
Bank unions have also intensified their campaign on social media before the strike. Millions of posts have been made using the #Implement5DayBanking hashtag, reaching millions of people. The unions claim that public support has been very good, and urge all employees to participate fully in the strike.
Banks will remain closed for more than 100 days in 2026
According to RBI’s list of bank holidays for 2026, banks will remain closed for more than 100 days in different parts of the country throughout the year. This includes Republic Day, Holi, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra, Durga Puja, Diwali and many state-level festivals. Holidays may vary from state to state, so customers should check the list of holidays of their state.
Will the 5-day banking system really be implemented?
At present, no official announcement has been made by the government or RBI regarding 5-day banking. However, due to continuous pressure from unions, this issue has come into discussion again. The general public is hopeful that a clear decision will be taken soon. If you have to do any important banking work this week, then you need to be more careful. Due to frequent holidays and strikes, it may be difficult to go to the bank branch and get the work done. Therefore, it would be better to complete any important work in advance or use digital banking services.
