Bank Strike on January 27, 2026: Are Banks Closed Today and Why?

Bank employees and officers across the country are on strike to press for their long-pending demands. The strike has been called by bank employee unions, leading to confusion among customers over whether banks will be open on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar, January 27 is not a bank holiday. However, banking services are likely to be disrupted in several parts of the country due to the nationwide strike by bank employees.

Are Banks Closed Today?

Customers planning to visit banks today should note that while there is no RBI-declared holiday, many bank branches may remain closed or operate with limited staff because of the strike. As a result, normal banking operations could be disrupted.

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Banks are not closed due to any government or RBI-announced holiday. The disruption is solely due to the nationwide strike called by bank unions. In many cities and districts, banking operations are expected to come to a halt.

Which Banks Are Affected?

The strike is expected to impact major public sector banks, including the State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank and Indian Bank. Bank employees have already staged protests in several cities and warned of intensifying the agitation if their demands are not met.

Bank Unions Announce Nationwide Strike

The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), a joint platform of nine major bank unions representing employees of public sector banks and some old private banks. Due to the strike, bank branches may remain shut in many areas, causing inconvenience to customers.

Reason Behind the Strike

The primary demand of the unions is the implementation of a five-day work week with two weekly holidays. Currently, bank employees work six days a week, with holidays on Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays. The unions are demanding that all Saturdays be declared holidays.