Banks to Open on Sunday, September 27: PSU and Regional Rural Bank Branches to Operate Ahead of Strike

Bank customers may get an additional opportunity to complete important branch-related work before the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike at the end of September. Public sector banks (PSBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are set to keep their branches open on Sunday, September 27, 2026, according to the information cited in the report.

The special Sunday opening is aimed at reducing inconvenience to customers ahead of the proposed bank strike scheduled from September 28 to September 30, 2026.

Normally, September 27 would be a weekly bank holiday because it falls on a Sunday. Moreover, September 26 is the fourth Saturday of the month, which is also a regular bank holiday. Combined with the proposed three-day strike, customers could otherwise have faced disruption to branch-based banking services for five consecutive days.

The special arrangement for September 27 is therefore intended to provide customers with a window to complete essential work requiring a physical bank branch.

Bank Branches to Operate on September 27

According to the report, public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks have been permitted to keep their branches open on Sunday, September 27.

Branches covered by the arrangement are expected to conduct normal banking operations on that day, allowing customers to handle work that may otherwise be affected by the proposed strike.

Customers with urgent requirements such as branch-based documentation, account-related requests, cheque-related work or other services requiring an in-person visit may consider completing them on September 27.

However, customers should confirm the operating status and business hours of their specific branch before travelling, particularly because Sunday opening is a special arrangement rather than part of the normal banking calendar.

Why Is September 27 Normally a Bank Holiday?

Banks in India generally remain closed on Sundays. In addition, bank branches are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

September 26, 2026, falls on the fourth Saturday, making it a scheduled bank holiday. September 27 is Sunday, which would ordinarily make it another non-working day for branches.

The proposed strike is scheduled to begin immediately afterwards on Monday, September 28, and continue through Wednesday, September 30.

Without the special Sunday opening, the sequence would therefore have been:

• September 26: Fourth Saturday — scheduled bank holiday

• September 27: Sunday — normally a weekly holiday, but branches are set to open under the special arrangement

• September 28: Proposed strike

• September 29: Proposed strike

• September 30: Proposed strike

Opening branches on September 27 effectively breaks what could otherwise have become five consecutive days without normal branch operations.

Three-Day Bank Strike Planned From September 28

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has announced the proposed three-day strike from September 28 to September 30.

If the strike proceeds as announced, branch-level services at participating public sector banks could face significant disruption during these three days.

The government and bank managements have reportedly appealed to bank unions to reconsider or defer the strike. Discussions or other developments before September 28 could therefore affect the final situation.

Customers should consequently check the latest communication from their bank before assuming that a particular branch or service will definitely remain unavailable during the strike period.

Will ATMs and Online Banking Continue to Work?

The proposed strike primarily raises concerns about branch-based services. According to the information provided, ATMs are expected to remain operational, while internet banking facilities of public sector banks are also expected to remain available.

Customers should therefore still be able to use many digital banking facilities, including services accessible through net banking and other online channels.

However, ATM cash availability can depend on replenishment and local conditions, while some banking activities cannot be completed entirely online.

Customers who know they need branch assistance around these dates may find it useful to complete their work on September 27 rather than waiting until the strike period.

What Should Bank Customers Do?

Customers with important banking work scheduled for the final week of September should plan carefully.

September 26 is the fourth Saturday and therefore a scheduled holiday. Public sector bank and RRB branches covered by the special arrangement are expected to open on September 27. The proposed strike then runs from September 28 through September 30.

Those requiring an in-person visit should confirm their branch's Sunday operating hours and complete urgent transactions where possible.

Digital services can be used for routine transactions that do not require branch assistance. Customers should also avoid postponing time-sensitive work until the final day if it can be completed earlier.

Important Point About the Proposed Strike

The September 28-30 action is a proposed strike, and developments could still occur before it begins. The government and bank managements have reportedly asked the unions to withdraw or postpone the action.

Therefore, customers should distinguish between scheduled bank holidays and potential disruption caused by the proposed strike.

For now, the key update is that public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks covered by the arrangement are expected to open their branches on Sunday, September 27, 2026, giving customers an additional opportunity to complete branch-related work ahead of the planned three-day strike.